In Ninh Binh, Vietnam, on June 22, 2024, a significant workshop titled “Women, Peace, and Cyber Security – Enhancing Awareness and Capacity for Women and Girls in Responding to Cyber Challenges” was organized by the Department of Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention, the Women’s Union of Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security (MPS), and UN Women. This event aimed to address the specific cyber threats faced by women and girls and to empower participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively counter these challenges.
The workshop gathered notable attendees, including leaders from the Department of Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention, the Party and Political Work Department, the Ninh Bình Provincial Police, and various units within the MPS. Representatives from the Central Vietnam Women’s Union, the MPS Women’s Union, and delegates from 24 Northern provinces, along with students, teachers, and staff from Luong Van Tuy High School, also participated. The event encouraged critical discussions on pressing cyber security issues affecting women and girls.
This workshop marked the commencement of Vietnam’s first National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS). The NAP outlines tasks and solutions, such as enhancing the prevention and response to gender-based violence, including technology-facilitated violence, and promoting the meaningful involvement of women in addressing the aftermath of war, disaster response, and tackling non-traditional security threats.
Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Manh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention at the Ministry of Public Security, highlighted the workshop’s role in the Ministry’s broader campaign to combat cybercrime. He emphasized the importance of collective effort across all sectors, branches, levels, and organizations to fight against cybercrimes. The workshop provided a platform for dialogue among leaders, cybersecurity experts, local authorities, and Women’s Union officials, aiming to boost the ability of women and girls to tackle cyber challenges and to share best practices in supporting them.
Major General Ngo Hoai Thu, Deputy Director of the Department of Party and Political Work at the Ministry of Public Security and Head of the Women’s Department, noted that the ongoing support and practical guidance from Vietnam Women’s Union members would extend the workshop’s impact, especially among students.
Gaelle Demolis, a Governance, Peace, and Security Policy and Programme Specialist from UN Women’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, remarked on the growing digital ecosystem’s challenges. She pointed out the increasing threats of cybercrime, cyberattacks, and online harassment and emphasized the urgent need to protect vulnerable groups, particularly women and girls, from these security issues.
