Training course opens for female peacekeepers in Hanoi

The course, which will runs until November 14 at the department’s headquarters in Hanoi, is designed to provide fundamental knowledge and professional skills in UN peacekeeping for female officers from the Vietnam People’s Army and several other UN member countries. It aims to help them prepare for deployment to UN peacekeeping missions while and promoting women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in global peace operations – a key goal of the United Nations.

The training also reflects Vietnam’s growing cooperation in UN peacekeeping with international partners, including Australia, UN Women, the UN Integrated Training Service (ITS), and other participating nations.

Thirty female officers from 15 countries are taking part in the course. They will receive training in leadership, empowerment, and networking for women in UN peacekeeping operations, along with basic and advanced instruction on staff officer duties, situational exercises, and mission readiness.

Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said this is the first time UN Women, Australia, and Vietnam have jointly held a specialised peacekeeping course for female officers from 15 countries in the region and beyond. The event comes as Vietnam deepens its engagement in UN peacekeeping activities, with an increasing number of well-trained and capable female officers joining missions.

This demonstrates Vietnam’s strong commitment to and support for the UN’s Women, Peace and Security Agenda, he said.

Australian Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Renee Deschamps highlighted the course as a strong example of the growing partnership between Australia and Vietnam under their bilateral Peacekeeping Partnership Agreement.

She emphasised that women’s participation is vital to peace and security worldwide, saying the training would empower female officers, enhance their professional capacity, and better prepare them to address current and future security challenges.

UN Women Representative in Vietnam Caroline Nyamayemombe noted that peacekeeping was traditionally a male-dominated field, but the active participation of female officers shows a positive shift toward inclusion and effectiveness.

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