Women’s participation and gender equality enhanced in military

PANO - Chief of the General Staff Sr. Lt. Gen. Phung Si Tan and Leigh McCumber, Chargé d'affaires at the Embassy of Canada to Vietnam, co-chaired a ceremony on June 2 to kick off a refresher course on enhancing the participation of women and promoting gender equality in the military. The course is jointly organized by Vietnam and Canada at the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

Women advancement and gender equality work in the military in 2024 reviewed

Women advancement and gender equality work in the military reviewed

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Taking place from June 2 to 6, the course includes 47 instructors, coordinators, and officers from various countries under the framework of the Canadian Military Training and Cooperation Program (MTCP).

Sr. Lt. Gen. Phung Si Tan speaks at the event.

The course aims to equip officers from Vietnam and partner countries within the MTCP with knowledge and experiences related to enhancing women's participation, gender equality, and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in military and U.N. peacekeeping operations. After the course, participants are expected to apply this knowledge to staff work, planning, and force preparation for deployment in U.N. peacekeeping operations.

Ms. Leigh McCumber addressing the event

In his remarks, Sr. Lt. Gen. Phung Si Tan emphasized that during more than 11 years of preparing and deploying forces for U.N. peacekeeping duties, Vietnam has consistently received strong support from Canada, particularly in training and capacity building for peacekeeping operations.

On behalf of the Ministry of National Defense of Vietnam, Gen. Tan expressed his thanks to Canada and partner countries for their support of Vietnam’s participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations. He also hoped for continued and expanded cooperation to make more effective contributions to the mission.

Vietnamese and international trainees participating in the course

For her part, Ms. Leigh McCumber noted that the friendship and partnership between Canada and Vietnam over the past 50 years have continued to grow steadily in all fields, particularly in defense cooperation.

Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Military Training and Cooperation Program in 2018, 320 officers of the Vietnam People’s Army have participated in training programs in Canada or abroad through Canadian support.

Gen. Tan in a joint photo with delegates, instructors, coordinators and trainees

During the course, both Vietnamese and international trainees are equipped with knowledge related to U.N. Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), as well as key human security issues, including conflict-related sexual violence, sexual abuse and exploitation, human trafficking, children and armed conflict, and the importance of integrating women’s participation and gender equality into military operations.

Gen. Tan in a discussion with Ms. Leigh McCumber

A highlight of the course is the participation of guest instructors from the Vietnam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC). Trainees and instructors will have the opportunity to visit VNMAC and engage with its officers in discussions on the course’s topics, especially the role of women in these missions.

After the ceremony, Sr. Lt. Gen. Phung Si Tan received Ms. Veronique Fortin, Director of the Military Training Cooperation Department of Canada.

Gen. Tan receives Ms. Veronique Fortin.

Gen. Tan presents gifts to Ms. Veronique Fortin.

Both sides agreed to continue effectively implementing the MoU on military training and cooperation signed in 2018, as well as the MoU on peacekeeping cooperation signed in 2023, and to further expand collaboration in U.N. peacekeeping operations.

Translated by Quynh Oanh