Building on the momentum and commitments from the International Conference on Women, Peace and Security which was successfully hosted by Vietnam in Hanoi in late 2021, this international workshop brought together WPS experts and more than 100 representatives from the Vietnam National Assembly, Government ministries, United Nations, and other agencies, both offline and online, to discuss how to accelerate the development of a National Action Plan on WPS for Vietnam, as part of its international commitment to implement the WPS Agenda.

By examining six different NAP models from Canada, Norway, Sudan, Uganda, Indonesia, and Thailand, the Workshop raised further awareness among Vietnamese stakeholders about the strategic importance of having a clear plan of action on WPS. 

Sharing good international practices on NAP implementation and relevant decision-making processes, the workshop also called for cross-ministerial collaboration by related government agencies to develop a NAP roadmap that articulates the vision and ambition of Vietnam to advance the WPS Agenda.

The development of a well-resourced National Action Plan on WPS was a key provision in the Hanoi Commitment for Action, which is the outcome document of the global conference on WPS held in Vietnam in December 2020.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Do Hung Viet, Assistant Foreign Minister of Vietnam, emphasized that national action plans on WPS will help connect, orient and coordinate efforts at the national level with a view to promoting the role of women and girls in peace processes.

He affirmed that the study of these plans opens a new direction to continue Vietnam's initiatives at the United Nations Security Council, promotes Vietnam's active role and affirms its strong commitment in the field of gender equality in general and Women, Peace and Security in particular. 

"The National Action Plan elevates for attention and action the multiple security needs faced by women in Vietnam, including to cope with emerging threats like COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated pre-existing gender inequalities in many countries. Strong political will and commitment can further the determination of the Government of Vietnam to enhance the implementation of the WPS Agenda," said Rana Flowers, United Nations Resident Coordinator ad interim of Vietnam, and Representative of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

"The formulation of the NAP on WPS will allow the government of Vietnam to reflect on its existing efforts for gender equality and the WPS agenda, identify future priorities and opportunities, and ensure policy coherence. It will also help generate synergies between national strategies such as the National Strategy for Gender Equality and the National Action Plan to implement the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", indicated Elisa Fernandez Saenz, UN Women Vietnam Representative./.