Int’l conference strengthens women’s role in building, sustaining peace

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations, opened an international conference on women, peace and security themed “Strengthening women’s role in building and sustaining peace: from commitments to results” on December 7.

The three-day conference is organised in the in-person format in Hanoi and via video conference in over 70 nations.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said that women over the world continue to affirm their role in conflict prevention and settlement and post-conflict reconstruction, actively participate in building and maintaining peace, and lead in orienting and promoting social development and progress.

However, women's lives and dignity are still threatened and many girls are not allowed to go to school as many countries and regions are facing wars, conflicts, poverty and epidemics, Minh stated, adding that gender violence remains a problem.

Women are also facing many political, economic and cultural barriers, and lacking necessary support to bring into full play their role. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening the progress towards the realisation of sustainable development goals, and depriving resources used for protecting and promoting women’s rights on the globe.

Therefore, through the conference, Vietnam hopes the international community will continue affirming commitments to promoting gender equality, putting forward effective measures and attracting necessary resources to facilitate women’s engagement in building and consolidating peace and security, Minh stressed.

He suggested participants discuss the results achieved in the implementation of the global agenda on women, peace and security over the past 20 years and review the implementation of the UN Revolution 1325 on women, peace and security and related resolutions of the UN Security Council.

He affirmed that Vietnam considers promoting gender equality and intensifying women’s role and contributions to peace building important policy priorities both at home and in the international arena, especially at such multilateral forums as the UN and ASEAN.

Permanent Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Tong Thi Phong said that the Vietnamese Party and State’s consistent policy is to promote the role and great potential of women in nation building and safeguarding, increase their position, and promote gender equality in the political, socio-economic and cultural aspects.

In a pre-recorded message sent to the conference, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said that the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening women’s interests as well as peace and security, and increasing poverty, inequality and tensions over the world.

She stressed that the world needs to put women at the centre, and listen to those who are contributing efforts to building peace, including the young ones.

It is necessary to reduce global military expenses and invest more in gender equality, she said./.