UN urges Vietnam to boost women's leadership in peacekeeping missions

Pratt made the remarks at an international forum co-hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and UN Women in Hanoi on Thursday, which welcomed over 100 participants including senior officials from Vietnam and the UN, female police peacekeepers, and delegations from the U.S., Canada, the UK, Italy, Norway, Australia and Indonesia.

“Increasing women’s representation in peacekeeping is not only a matter of gender equality, it also improves the effectiveness of peace operations,” Pratt emphasized.

Vietnam now deploys female police officers to UN missions at over 30 percent of its personnel, significantly exceeding the UN’s 20-percent minimum target — an achievement recognized and commended globally.

However, delegates stressed the need to sustain these efforts through policy refinement, deeper international cooperation, and greater internal awareness of women’s roles in peacekeeping.

“We encourage Vietnam to continue its efforts, particularly in advancing women’s leadership and ensuring their presence in key mission positions,” Pratt added.

In opening remarks, Le Quoc Hung, Deputy Minister of Public Security, noted that the ministry has implemented policies and strategies to increase female representation in UN peacekeeping operations.

“This not only reflects Vietnam’s international commitment but also demonstrates a modern, human-centered approach to security,” he commented.

Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, praised Vietnam’s steadfast support and its commitment to the goal of greater female participation, especially among police officers.

He outlined several avenues to advance this, such as expanding training opportunities, nominating more women—including for leadership roles—and creating more inclusive work environments.

Since joining UN peacekeeping operations in 2014, Vietnam has deployed nearly 1,100 professional officers and soldiers to various missions, both as individuals and as part of units, all of whom have fulfilled their assigned responsibilities.