The meeting of UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations . Photo: VOV reporter based in USA

Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, deputy permanent representative of Vietnam to the UN, stressed the requirement, especially amid risks of increased hostilities and intentional attacks on UN personnel. He therefore called on the missions to move to enhance their health capacity to protect the physical and mental health of peacekeeping forces.

As the nation’s experience shows, increasing interactions and trust building with local administrations and communities can be considered important in helping to reduce risks whilst creating a safer and more favorable environment for peacekeeping forces in the field, Minister Counsellor Nguyen continued.

Underlining the importance of promoting women’s role in peacekeeping operations, the diplomat appealed to the UN and the missions to create a safer and more favorable work environment specifically for women’s engagement in peacekeeping forces.
Vietnam therefore pledges efforts to maintain its female participation rate in peacekeeping forces higher than the UN’s set target of 15% whilst striving to raise the rate to 20% by 2025, he remarked.

Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, deputy permanent representative of Vietnam to the UN. Photo: VOV reporter based in USA

In his opening address, Dennis Francis, president of the UN General Assembly, affirmed that peacekeeping is an important tool of the UN to maintain peace and security and protect civilians. He highlighted the contributions and sacrifice made by UN peacekeeping forces over the last 76 years, noting that 4,345 peacekeepers have died.

Amid the increasingly complicated international political and security situations, C34 needs feasible and durable solutions in order to improve the efficiency of peacekeeping missions, Francis added.