Closing Ceremony of “The United Nations Certified Instructor Development Course”

• Major General Nguyen Sy Quang, Chief of Office for UN Peacekeeping Operations, Ministry of Public Security,
• Major General Trinh Ngoc Quyen, Director of Viet Nam People’s Security Academy,
• Mr Ryan McKean, INL Director, US Embassy in Viet Nam,
• Representatives from Embassies and diplomatic corps,
• UN Colleagues,
• Training course participants,

On behalf of the United Nations Country Team in Viet Nam, I am honored to participate in the closing ceremony of UN Certified Instructor Development Course at the Viet Nam People’s Security Academy.

Earlier this morning, I also had the privilege to represent the UN in another important event jointly organized by the Ministry of Public Security and the UN to launch the “16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence entitled “Towards Beijing +30: UNITE to End Violence Against Women and Girls”.

This year, together with the Government of Viet Nam, we commemorate the 79th anniversary of the UN, and the 47th anniversary of Viet Nam’s membership in the UN.

Why do I mention these events and milestones?

I do so to share meaningful examples of the strong and effective cooperation between the Government of Viet Nam and the United Nations.

Last Sunday, the Prime Minister, H.E Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, hosted the annual dialogue with the UN Country Team to celebrate our partnership and to discuss areas for deeper collaboration. At the annual dialogue, both sides expressed deep appreciation for the partnership between the Government of Viet Nam and the United Nations over the past 47 years. His Excellency Prime Minister also shared the priorities, advantages, as well as challenges -- so that we could address them and together identify creative and strategic solutions to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs -- and ultimately achieve Viet Nam’s ambitious development priorities.

From a poor and isolated country, devastated by decades of prolonged war, Viet Nam has gone through a remarkable journey to become a lower-middle-income country assuming a high profile at regional and global stages, including as a member of the Human Rights Council. Viet Nam equally importantly is actively participating in the noble mission of peacebuilding led by the United Nations.

From 2022 to present, the Ministry of Public Security has sent 4 Working Groups with 12 police officers to join UN peacekeeping operations at UNMISS (UN Mission in South Sudan) and UNISFA (UN Interim Security Force for Abyei) and 1 police officer to work at the UN HQ Police Department on an individual basis.

It is important to note that among the above-mentioned police officers, there were 4 women police officers -- 32.5%, higher than the goal of women’s participation in Peacebuilding set by the UN. When participating in UN peacekeeping missions, police officers from Viet Nam have demonstrated their qualities, capacities, professional qualifications, and quickly adapted to the complex conditions and challenging operating environment of the UN missions. In addition, they have spread the beautiful image of the country and people of Viet Nam as friendly, hospitable, and peace-loving to the UN and international friends.

Along with the deployment of individual police officers, Viet Nam’s Ministry of Public Security pledged the Formed Police Unit (FPU) in support of UN peacekeeping operations and set the goal to update it to the UN Level 3 readiness level from current Level 2.

This UN Certified Instructor Development course aims to enhance a pool of United Nations-certified instructors, who can further deliver similar courses for the benefit of future police peacekeepers in the national training centres across the region.

I am very pleased to learn that in addition to those from the host country – Viet Nam, there are 9 participants from Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal and Sri-Lanka have joined the training.

I would like to express our sincere thanks and appreciation to the Government of Viet Nam, the Ministry of Public Security, the Viet Nam People’s Security Academy for hosting this course, to the United States Department of State and its Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs for supporting this event.

Last but not least, big congratulations to the Course Director, Deputy Course Director, the entire facilitating team and all participants for successfully concluding this iteration of the UN Job-Specific Certified Instructor Development course.

At a time of grave challenges in the history of mankind, the UN system needs enhanced support from all Member States, especially from emerging powers such as Viet Nam. In this regard, we very highly appreciate Viet Nam’s increasing contributions to the UN, particularly UN peace operations. We commit our continued support to the Government of Viet Nam, and the Ministry of Public Security in this noble journey.

I wish you all good health and success.

Xin Cam On!