Training course opens for female peacekeepers in Hà Nội

HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations under the Ministry of National Defence on Monday launched a training course on United Nations peacekeeping operations for female military officers, with support from UN Women and Australia.

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

The training also reflects Việt Nam’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 fifteen 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 Phạm Mạnh Thắng, Director of the Việt Nam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said this is the first time UN Women, Australia, and Việt Nam have jointly held a specialised peacekeeping course for female officers from fifteen countries in the region and beyond. The event comes as Việt Nam deepens its engagement in UN peacekeeping activities, with an increasing number of well-trained and capable female officers joining missions.

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

Australian Deputy Ambassador to Việt Nam Renee Deschamps highlighted the course as a strong example of the growing partnership between Australia and Việt Nam 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 Việt Nam 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.