Vietnam highlights women’s role in peacekeeping, peacebuilding

A Vietnamese diplomat has highlighted the role of women in peacekeeping and peacebuilding and underscored the need to enhance the participation of women in all political, social and economic aspects during a meeting of the UN Security Council on October 21.

Vietnamese female military peacekeeping officers. (Photo: phunuvietnam.vn)

New York (VNA) – A Vietnamese diplomat highlighted the roleof women in peacekeeping and peacebuilding and underscored the need to enhance the participation of women in all political, social and economic aspects during a meeting of the UNSecurity Council on October 21.

It is crucial to value the women’s experience,knowledge, understanding and expertise in all fields, including peace andsecurity, by removing barriers and facilitating transition to promote women as equal partners since the start of any peace and political process, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy told the UNSC’s open debate on “Investing in women inpeacekeeping and peacebuilding.”

The event was attended by Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General;Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality andEmpowerment of Women (UN Women); and Bineta Diop, Special Envoy of theChairperson of the African Union Commission on Women, Peace and Security (WPS).

Women’s rights, interests and needs must be guaranteed and promoted atprovincial, national and international levels, and women should be givennecessary skills and knowledge to meaningfully participate in all aspects oflife, he said.

Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy delivers a speech at the UNSC’s open debate on “Investing in women in peacekeeping and peacebuilding.” (Photo: VNA)

Quy emphasised that it is the responsibility of all member states toimplement the WPS Agenda. All the states must take more specific and drasticactions to ensure women’s role incorporated in legal frameworks, policies,strategies and initiatives on peace and security at the national, regional andglobal levels, he stated.

The diplomat went on to call on the community of donors to contribute aminimum of 15 percent of its official development assistance (ODA) to advancinggender equality in conflict-affected countries. 

One of Vietnam’s priorities is to foster theparticipation of women in all aspects of life, he said, noting that with theirknowledge, wisdom, tolerance and understanding, women play a vital part inpromoting a culture of peace and educating young people to appreciate peace.

Quy also took the occasion to highlight thecontributions made by Vietnamese female military officers to peacekeepingmissions in the Central African Republic and South Sudan./.

VNA