The United Nations and the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense on November 23 held the first-ever international conference on Vietnam’s peacekeeping operations in Hanoi to help the country realize its aspirations to actively engage in peacekeeping, as part of a more active foreign policy agenda it is pursuing.The conference, titled “Enhancing the capacity of Vietnam in UN peacekeeping operations”, was co-organized by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) under the Ministry of National Defense, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations – Department of Field Support (UNDPKO-DFS).
The international conference was attended by leaders from the Ministry of National Defence, Office of the President, Office of the Government, relevant committees of the National Assembly, Departments from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Public Security. Heads of Missions and Defence Attaches from relevant embassies and representatives of UNDPKO, UN Police and UNDP were also present.
Participants at the conference. Photo: UNDP Vietnam
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The Discussion Paper, developed by UNDP at the request of the Ministry of Defence and in close consultation with Vietnam DPKO and UNDPKO-DFS, identified priorities for Vietnam’s engagement in UN peacekeeping during 2019-2025 and areas of collaboration between the Government and international partners in Vietnam.
To meet Vietnam’s objectives to efficiently deploy and perform in missions as well as make Vietnam DPKO a regional training hub and Centre of Excellence for peacekeeping training, the Discussion Paper identified a number of key challenges that needed to be addressed, including financial challenges, incomplete legal and policy framework, language skills, pre-deployment training capacity and mindset.
“I highly appreciate the Discussion Paper for having defined the fundamental challenges, which are very close to the reality that Vietnam has been working to address,” Vietnam's Vice Minister of National Defense Sr. Lt. Gral. Nguyen Chi Vinh, told the conference.
The Discussion Paper offered 14 recommendations for Vietnam to achieve a high degree of professionalism and motivation to operate in difficult terrain with sound leadership at a tactical level.
UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra said the Discussion Paper provided key findings and recommendations to enhance the capacity of Vietnam to participate in global peacekeeping in the most strategic and comprehensive way. He called on UN member states and community to provide support for Vietnam in this area and coordinate with the UN to make the support most coherent, holistic, strategic and efficient.
“The UN in Vietnam had the honour to receive a request from the Ministry of National Defense to support peacekeeping, including legal procedures, to facilitate the deployment to peacekeeping missions, build the capacity of Vietnam DPKO to provide quality trainings to Vietnamese troops and those of other countries,” said Kamal Malhotra.
During 2014-2018, Vietnam deployed 29 officers to United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO) in South Sudan and the Central African Republic. In 2017, Vietnam sent its first female officer, Major Do Thi Hang Nga, to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.
On October 1, 2018, Vietnam deployed its first level-two field hospital contingent to the UN Mission in South Sudan. The second level-two field hospital for rotation is being prepared for deployment in 2019. It is intended that Vietnam scales up its involvement in UNPKOs in non-combat fields, including engineering, construction, logistics, demining and medicine.
Kamal Malhotra congratulated Vietnam on its “impressive” global peacekeeping effort. He praised the deployment of the first female officer as a positive step by Vietnam, in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security. “Vietnam has obviously contributed more and more significantly to global peacekeeping,” he said.
