The role of the Vietnam Women's Union

The Women, Peace and Security Agenda was founded in UN Security Council Resolution 1325 adopted in 2000, which affirmed the important role of women in conflict prevention, resolution and peacebuilding.

Vietnam has always seriously implemented its international commitments related to women, gender equality, human rights and sustainable development. In particular, as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for two terms (2008-2009, 2020-2021), Vietnam has actively implemented initiatives to promote the Common Agenda on Women, Peace and Security.

Party Central Committee member, President of the Vietnam Women's Union Nguyen Thi Tuyen (5th from right, front row) and delegates expressed their determination to promote gender equality and prevent and respond to gender-based violence (November 16, 2024).

Specifically, Vietnam introduced and advocated for the adoption of Resolution 1889 of the United Nations Security Council in 2008 on women in post-conflict periods and organized a number of international and regional forums on related topics.

In early 2024, the Government issued for the first time the National Action Program on Women, Peace and Security for the period 2024-2030.

Through the ups and downs in the history of building and defending the country, Vietnamese women always cherish the value of peace and have made many positive contributions to the goal of peace and security of the country.

Since its establishment in 1930, the Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) has played a leading role in the Vietnamese women's movement in all fields, including peace and security.

Forum on Advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda: The Role of Women's Organizations (August 16, 2022).

During the war, the Association actively mobilized women to participate in building and defending the Fatherland, typically the "3 responsibilities" movement in the North (responsibility in production and work; in family life; in combat service and readiness to fight when necessary) and the "Long-haired Army" movement in the South.

When peace was restored, the Vietnam Women's Union at all levels encouraged women to actively participate in overcoming the consequences of war, such as supporting victims of bombs and mines, victims of Agent Orange, helping families of war invalids and martyrs and people with meritorious services in general.

Through very specific and practical activities, the Association has made an important contribution to healing and soothing the wounds left by war, both physically and mentally.

In recent years, the Association has promoted the dissemination and legal consultancy work, focusing on areas with complicated social order. The Association initiated and mobilized the society to implement the theme "Safety for women and children", contributing to building a safe and healthy living environment in families and society. Many models have promoted the effectiveness of inter-sectoral coordination such as "Peaceful House", "School Counseling", "Safe Village", "Safe Street", "Trusted Address in the Community" ...

Media campaigns on preventing human trafficking, the Month of Action for Gender Equality and Prevention of Gender-Based Violence have attracted a large number of men and the community to participate.

The Association has also carried out many activities to contribute to raising women's awareness of environmental protection and climate change adaptation.

Photo exhibition of Vietnamese female soldiers in United Nations peacekeeping operations (October 25, 2024).

Faced with the serious impact of natural disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic, the Association at all levels has made efforts to overcome difficulties, promoted creativity and implemented many practical programs such as the program "Millions of gifts to share love", "Godmother", "Resilient Vietnam" to respond to epidemics and natural disasters.

In the context of the 4.0 revolution, the Women's Union at all levels actively raises awareness and capacity to support women in participating in digital transformation, while equipping them with skills to cope with challenges when participating in the online environment.

The Association actively participates in the development, supervision, and social criticism of legal documents and policies related to women and gender equality, including in the fields of foreign affairs, peace, and security. The Association also proactively implements activities in the fields of international integration and United Nations peacekeeping.

In 2021, the Central Committee of the Association issued a Resolution on supporting women's international integration until 2030 with solutions to promote women's participation and contribution in various fields, including security, defense, and foreign affairs. The Association is a member of the Drafting Committee of the National Action Program on Women, Peace, and Security.

With international friends, the Vietnam Women's Union always aims to build solidarity and understanding among nations. In cooperative relations with women in neighboring countries, currently, the Women's Unions of 24/25 provinces with land borders of Vietnam have signed Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding with counterparts of Laos, Cambodia, and China.

Leaders of the Provincial Women's Union and the Thanh Hoa City Women's Union presented support to the centralized quarantine area at the National Defense - Security Education Center. (Source: baothanhhoa.vn)

In multilateral mechanisms, the Association actively shares experiences and speaks out to promote issues of peace, security and sustainable development. Many major international forums such as “Women, Peace and Development”, “Promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals from a gender equality perspective”, “Women of Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia build friendly and cooperative relations”, “Promoting the Women, Peace and Security Agenda: The role of women's organizations”, “Women, Cybersecurity and STEM” have been successfully organized by the Association, creating a deep impression on international friends and effectively contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals in general and peace and security in particular.

The Association also actively implements and participates in reviewing the implementation of international commitments related to women, gender equality, human rights and sustainable development to which Vietnam is a party.

In the current period, the world is experiencing many fluctuations with many traditional and non-traditional security challenges such as pandemics, unusual natural disasters, violence against women and girls, etc.

The Vietnam Women's Union increasingly sees the need to promote a common agenda on PNHBAN for an equal and peaceful world, in which women are both beneficiaries and active contributors.

Lao Cai Provincial Women's Union joins hands to overcome the consequences of Typhoon Yagi, which caused serious damage to people and property in Northern Vietnam in September 2024. (Source: laocai.gov.vn)

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the exhibition “Vietnamese female soldiers with UN peacekeeping activities” organized by the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department in coordination with UNDP and the Central Committee of the Union last October, Vice President of the Union Tran Lan Phuong emphasized that in the coming time, the Vietnam Women's Union wishes to continue exchanging experiences and accompanying domestic and international agencies and organizations to effectively implement activities and initiatives, in order to enhance the role and practical and effective participation of women in building and consolidating peace, contributing to promoting the Agenda on Women, Peace and Security.

The active participation of the Women's Union at all levels in implementing the National Action Program on Women, Peace and Security will contribute to creating a peaceful and safe environment for women, towards an equal and sustainably developed society.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thuc-day-chuong-trinh-nghi-su-phu-nu-hoa-binh-va-an-ninh-vai-tro-cua-hoi-lien-hiep-phu-nu-viet-nam-298693.html