Vietnam, U.K. exchange U.N. peacekeeping expertise

Addressing the opening ceremony, VNDPKO Deputy Director Senior Colonel Mac Duc Trong said that it was the fifth event of this kind jointly held by the department and the U.K. Defense Attaché Office. It aimed to provide Vietnamese troops to be deployed to U.N. missions with knowledge and raise their awareness to ensure their strict observance of International Humanitarian Law, International Human’s Rights Law and U.N. Security Council’s resolution.

Sr. Col. Mac Duc Trong addresses the opening of the activity.

Sr. Col. Trong spoke highly of the U.K.’s precious and practical support for Vietnam, saying that it helped promote the fine cooperative ties between the two defense ministries, particularly in U.N. peacekeeping.

Sr. Col. Trong and Col. Tim O’ Brien at the event

For his part, Colonel Tim O’ Brien, U.K. defense attaché to Vietnam, highly appreciated Vietnam’s commitment to participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations and pre-deployment training for its peacekeeping force. He said that Vietnam's peacekeeping force has quickly gained prestige thanks to their dedication and professionalism and Vietnamese troops participating in peacekeeping operations are well trained, meeting the U.N.’s high standards.

During the activity, which lasts till June 12, U.K. experts share experience in CRSV and SEA-related issues.

U.K. experts share expertise and experience with Vietnamese officers to be deployed to U.N. missions.

The activity is expected to help improve capacity of Vietnamese trainers so that they could soon build contents on sexual violence-related conflicts on their own to lecture forces to take on U.N. peacekeeping operations and to equip Vietnamese peacekeepers with knowledge of CRSV and SEA - main contents of pre-deployment training session - to avoid future violations at U.N. missions.

The U.K. is one of the leading important partners supporting Vietnam in the phase of force preparation, deployment and field operations in both individual and unit forms at U.N. peacekeeping missions.

Delegates in a group photo

Since 2018, the two sides have jointly organized training activities, built capacity, exchanged expertise and experience. The U.K. side has also supported Vietnam to hold field exercises for its peacekeeping force before deployment.

Translated by Mai Huong