Workshop spotlights female police officers' role in UN peacekeeping operations

Officers of Vietnam's Engineering Unit Rotation 1 and Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 4 depart for the UN missions in Abyei and South Sudan, respectively, in late April 2022. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – An internationalworkshop held in Hanoi on May 30 stressed the crucial role of female policeofficers in UN peacekeeping operations as well as the importance of promotingdiversity in conflict settlement and post-conflict peace building.

The event was organised by the People’sSecurity Academy and the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment ofWomen (UN Women) with support from the Canadian Government. It was part of aregional project named “EmpoweringWomen for Sustainable Peace: Preventing Violence and Promoting Social Cohesion in ASEAN” funded by theCanadian and Republic of Korean governments.

Vietnamese and foreign participantsdiscussed measures for promoting female police officers' engagement along with gender equality in UN peacekeeping operations.

They looked into barriers andchallenges to female officers' participation in UN peacekeeping operations butalso pointed out improvements generated by the officers' presence such asenhancing community solidarity, boosting gender-sensitive access to justice, anda gender-sensitive approach to conflict settlement, thereby building uptrust and promoting peace in conflict-hit countries and territories.

The international workshop takes place in Hanoi on May 30. (Photo: congthuong.vn)

Caroline Nyamayemobe, acting representativeof UN Women in Vietnam, said the workshop was a precious chance to honour women’sindispensable role in peacekeeping operations and share experience of Canadaand other countries that have succeeded in promoting female officers' engagement in peacekeeping efforts.

With knowledge and good practices shared,gender equality and women’s meaningful participation in peace and security arebeing bolstered, she added.

Jacqueline O’Neill, CanadianAmbassador for Women, Peace and Security, who is on a visit to Vietnam, saidthe Southeast Asian country is building its first national action plan forwomen, peace and security, which reflects its commitment to further increase theparticipation of women from security and defence forces in peacekeepingoperations.

Concluding the workshop, Col. TrinhNgoc Quyen, Director of the People’s Security Academy, called for assistance tohelp the academy expand cooperation with suitable training establishments orlaw enforcement bodies of Canada in the fields of common concerns, including trainingpolice officers for UN peacekeeping operations./.

VNA