The event brought together representatives from state agencies, international organisations, mine action operators, and experts from Colombia, Laos, and Lebanon.
The workshop aimed to review and validate the findings of a recent report, while discussing its recommendations, with a view to developing an action plan to promote gender mainstreaming and diversity in survey and clearance operations, mine risk education, victim assistance, as well as in policy-making and coordination.
At the workshop, the report Assessment of Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming in Mine Action in Viet Nam — supported by the Government of Canada through the Military Training and Cooperation Programme — was presented. The report indicates that strengthening women’s participation in mine action can significantly improve safety and operational effectiveness for communities across Viet Nam.
It also provides an overview of the extent to which gender and inclusion have been integrated into policies, operations, and community engagement within the mine action sector in Viet Nam.
A key finding highlighted in the report is that full participation of women leads to more effective outcomes. Women contribute diverse skills and perspectives in areas such as data analysis, community engagement, and public administration, thereby improving quality across all stages — from risk assessment and clearance planning to communication, monitoring, and policy development.
The report further notes Viet Nam’s progress in strengthening its legal framework and national standards, as well as enhancing coordination mechanisms. Building on this foundation, it outlines practical pathways to further improve effectiveness by promoting a more inclusive approach that better addresses the diverse needs of different community groups.
Reinforcing this approach, Colonel Nghiem Xuan Long, Deputy Director of the Viet Nam National Mine Action Center, stated that survey, clearance, risk education, and victim assistance activities are all designed to ensure that women, men, children, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable groups have equal access to services, benefit from development, and participate in decision-making processes.
Speaking at the workshop, Ramla Khalidi, Resident Representative of United Nations Development Programme in Viet Nam, emphasised that mine action is not only about clearing land, but also about ensuring that people can live, work, and plan their future safely. When women are fully involved, outcomes improve, making interventions more effective and better aligned with community needs.
Participants also discussed and assessed a practical roadmap for the next phase, including strengthening the collection and use of disaggregated data to support more systematic prioritisation; expanding women’s participation in technical and leadership roles; ensuring community outreach reaches all groups, especially those most at risk; and developing a national action plan on gender and inclusion in mine action.
As Viet Nam continues to address the legacy of unexploded ordnance, promoting an inclusive approach — particularly by increasing women’s participation — will play a crucial role in ensuring that mine action contributes to safer communities, sustainable livelihoods, and long-term development nationwide.
