Collective Action to Strengthen the Role of Women in Peace and Security

At COP29, a key outcome was the agreement to extend the Enhanced Lima Work Programme on Gender (LWPG) and establish a new Gender Action Plan (GAP). Accordingly, countries agreed to mainstream gender responsiveness into policies and national climate programmes, as well as promote financial and technical support to enhance the adaptive capacities of women and vulnerable groups to the increasing impacts of climate change.  

In recent years, climate change has not only caused environmental degradation but also exacerbated security threats including political instability, poverty, hunger and conflicts. Women’s equal participation plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges. Therefore, Viet Nam took a significant step by approving the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security in January 2024.  The Programme aims to enhance gender equality, strengthen women’s participation, role, voice and responsibilities in maintaining national and international peace, security and sustainable development. To achieve this goal, the plan outlines five specific missions as follows: (i) Revise and complete policies, regulations to strengthen women’s participation in Peace and Security sectors and address challenges related to non-traditional security; (ii) Increase the effectiveness of preventive measures against gender-based violence; (iii) Enhance capacity building for women in responding international peace and security issues; (iv) Promote initiatives, solutions in the framework of bilateral and multilateral cooperation on Women, Peace and Security ; (v) Boost knowledge and experiences sharing, as well as embrace the international support for the implementation of the Programme. 

In August, the National Action Programme on Women, Peace and Security was officially announced at a launch event in Da Nang city, attended by representatives from 63 provinces and cities in Viet Nam, as well as experts and Viet Nam’s international partners. Through knowledge and experience sharing among participants, the event provided stakeholders with an opportunity to develop the programme with specific goals and a roadmap, tailoring to the demands and contexts of each province.

Currently, at the provincial level, various provinces are integrating the programme’s missions into their activities. For instance, in Tien Giang province, the local authorities have deployed several plans to size up women’s potential in the economic and social activities, protect women and girls from domestic violence and raise awareness about gender equality within provincial agencies and departments. By 2025, the province aims to increase women’s participation on management boards to 60% in provincial agencies. In Hue city, a detailed action plan has been promulgated to mainstream the National Action Programme on Women, Peace and Security across all provincial departments, including Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Department of Home Affairs, Provincial Military Command, etc. Accordingly, each department, with its specific mission will collaborate to successfully empower women and address their barriers.

Discussions at COP 29 affirmed the importance of local solutions developed by women and regional communities, which will significantly contribute to enhancing resilience capacities to climate change. These collective actions across all levels, from central to local, reflect Viet Nam’s commitment to promoting gender equality and ensuring the active participation of women in all areas of society, particularly in peace and security sector and addressing the climate change crisis.