At the exchange (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese peacekeeping sappers are studying the UK’sexperience about sexual violence prevention in doing peacekeeping missions at anexchange programme held from March 17-21 in Hanoi.
Theevent is jointly held by the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department (VPD) under theMinistry of National Defence and the UK Defence Attache Office in Hanoi toassist Vietnam in deploying a peacekeeping sapper unit by 2020.
Itwill also help improve capacity of VPD lecturers to organise training course onthe matter for Vietnamese peacekeeping forces before taking up missionsoverseas.
Main contents in the exchange programme include basic principles of the InternationalHumanitarian Law, especially those regarding preventing and fighting sexual andgender violence against civilians, and how to prevent discrimination againstvictims and support them to reintegrate into the society.
Participantsare also equipped with knowledge about international laws and resolution of theUN Security Council relating to human rights, and international instructions onthe protection of civilians, focusing on women and children.
The exchange is also set to raise the soldiers’ awareness about theirresponsibility towards women and children while fulfilling their UNpeacekeeping tasks.
Addressingthe opening ceremony in Hanoi on March 18, Colonel Nguyen Nhu Canh, deputy headof the VPD, said the exchange is particularly useful in the context of the fruitfuldevelopment of defence ties between Vietnam and the UK, as well as theircooperation in UN peacekeeping operations.
Colonel David Houghton, UK Defence Military Attache, said information sharedduring the exchange is essential to countries joining UN peacekeeping missions,and noted his hope that Vietnamese forces will apply effectively the knowledgeduring the operations.-VNA
VNA
