The Armed Forces of the Philippines and Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense exchanged policies and best practices on advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda during a study visit aimed at strengthening bilateral defense cooperation.
The AFP, through its Gender and Development Office, hosted the Vietnamese delegation and representatives from UN Women Vietnam and UN Women Philippines from July 13 to 17.
The delegation was formally welcomed at Camp Aguinaldo on July 14 by Capt. Venus G. Gualdaquever, chief of the AFP GAD Office, and the gender and development chiefs of the military’s major services.
The Vietnamese group was led by Senior Col. Nguyễn Thị Lan Hương of the Military Institute of Radiology and Oncology under the Vietnam People’s Army.
During the engagement, the AFP presented its policies and programs on integrating gender and development and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda into military operations and institutions.
The Vietnamese delegation also shared its approaches to institutionalizing the agenda within its defense organization, allowing both sides to discuss lessons learned and areas for further cooperation.
The AFP said the visit reinforced the Philippines and Vietnam’s commitment to building inclusive and gender-responsive defense institutions that contribute to lasting peace and regional security.