Vietnam's first female officer to join UN peacekeeping mission

Major Do Thi Hang Nga of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre under the Ministry of National Defence has become the country’s first female officer to join the UN (United Nations) peacekeeping mission in South Sudan.

The Ministry of National Defense granted a decision of the State President for the first female official to UN peacekeeping missions on October 30. The move aims to realize the policy on gender equality, which is one of the UN millennium development goals.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh (L) hands over to Major Do Thi Hang Nga a decision sending her to UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan
Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh (L) hands over to Major Do Thi Hang Nga a decision sending her to UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan

Accordingly, Major Do Thi Hang Nga was assigned to begin working as a staff officer in charge of overseeing military operations for 12 months from October 29. Before embarking on the task, Nga partook in various training courses in Sri Lanka, China, the Netherlands and the Republic of Korea.

Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh said that the dispatch of a female officer to the UN peacekeeping mission shows gender equality and affirms the role of women in global activities.

Deputy Minister Vinh asked Nga to try her best and well coordinate with colleagues in order to promptly be in tune with the job, improve her knowledge and competence, strictly abide by the UN and mission’s regulations and ensure safety while being on duty. 

Colonel Hoang Kim Phung, Director of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre, said Vietnam is making preparation for launching the second-level field hospital in South Sudan with a total of 70 staff, including female officers.

"The UN has encouraged Vietnam to send more female officers in order to increase the numbers of female staff in UN peace keeping missions. Vietnam’s dispatch of the first female officer and plan to send 9 more to second-field hospital in South Sudan show the country’s active participation in UN peace keeping activities," Phung said, adding that Vietnam has sent 20 officers on missions to Central Africa and South Sudan.

Specific nature of the job has created an apparent gender imbalance within the U.N. Peacekeeping Forces around the world. The UN passed a resolution in 2000 in an attempt to resolve the gender equality issue. However, as of January 2016, women still constitute only 4.8 percent of 107,000 U.N. peacekeepers across the world.

The UN aims to increase the proportion of female soldiers engaged in the peacekeeping operations up to 35 percent while the current ratio is sitting at 8 to 10 percent.

    By Phung Nguyen

    Other News

    National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

    National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

    The NA's Committee for Cultural and Social Affairs has moved fast to reshuffle its organisation after the 14th National Party Congress and the election of deputies to the 16th NA, updating its work agenda to match new directives set out in the resolutions of the 14th National Party Congress and the first Congress of the NA Party Organisation for the 2025–2030 term.

    Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

    Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

    Vietnam and Croatia should strive to double bilateral trade turnover from the current level of 161 million USD; study the establishment of a Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation to create a long-term, stable, and effective framework for collaboration, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

    President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

    President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

    Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Jesús Faria expressed deep admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s indomitable struggle for national independence. He described President Ho Chi Minh as an immortal symbol of 20th-century national liberation movements, whose legacy continues to inspire leftist parties, progressive movements, and peoples across Latin America, including Venezuela.

    Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

    Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

    Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang shared Vietnam’s approach to building an independent and self-reliant economy linked to deep international integration, while proposing several key areas for enhanced cooperation between BRICS and partner countries at the Expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting that opened on May 14 in India.

    Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

    Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

    PSNews - The spokesperson stated that the dispatch of personnel by relevant parties to features belonging to Truong Sa without Vietnam’s permission constitutes a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty under international law. She stressed that such actions run counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as ongoing efforts by countries to negotiate a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

    Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

    Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

    PSNews - Vietnam’s proposals placed the highest priority on ensuring a peaceful and stable environment conducive for continued sustainable development and improving the well-being and happiness of the ASEAN people. They were praised by member states and incorporated into the core contents of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the response to the Middle East crisis.

    Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

    Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

    Vietnam highly values the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in strengthening national capacity in crime prevention and criminal justice, drug control, and addressing emerging challenges, particularly cybercrime, said Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang.

    Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

    Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

    Consolidating the central steering committees for institutional and legal reform and for judicial reform is necessary in order to streamline organisational structures without reducing responsibilities, while ensuring clear accountability, measurable outputs and concrete results. Following the restructuring, the body will be renamed the central steering committee for institutional improvement and law enforcement, with the Party General Secretary and State President serving as its head.

    Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

    Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

    At the meeting this week, Ambassador Viet briefed the UNGA President on developments during the first two weeks of the conference. He stressed that the current international geopolitical landscape poses numerous complex challenges, while reaffirming Vietnam’s determination, together with other member states, to promote substantive and balanced outcomes at the conference.

    Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

    Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

    The host leader stressed that cooperation between localities, particularly between the capitals of Hanoi and Vientiane, plays an especially important role as a pioneering force in effectively implementing the foreign polices of the two Parties and States, while also serving as a bridge between politics and development, as well as between strategy and concrete action.