Launch Ceremony for an International Initiative to Enhance the Rights and Protection of Women and Girls Through the Traditional Vietnamese Martial Art – Vovinam

        On May 15th, at the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, a launch ceremony was held for a project related to an international initiative aimed at enhancing the rights and protection of women and girls through the traditional Vietnamese martial art – Vovinam. This project, named Guardian Girls Vovinam (GGV), is a collaboration between Guardian Girls International (GGI) – a non-governmental organization established in 2019 – and the World Vovinam Federation (WVVF), with the goal of promoting women's empowerment, ensuring the safety of women and girls, enhancing gender equality, and strengthening women's leadership.

Through the Project, female instructors will be trained according to international standard curricula, and training classes, workshops, and community education activities will also be organized to equip women and girls with self-defense skills, knowledge of gender-based violence prevention, and self-confidence. Previously, this project was launched in Vietnam under the co-organization of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam.

         Attending the GGV launch event in Japan were Ambassador Pham Quang Hieu, Founder and President of GGI Koyamada Shin, Vice President of the World Vovinam Federation Bach Ngoc Chien, former Japanese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Isawa Ichiro, and numerous guests from Japan and Vietnam.

Speaking at the ceremony, Counselor Nguyen Sau emphasized the significance of promoting the development of Vovinam in Japan as a bridge to strengthen cultural exchange and friendship between Vietnam and Japan. It was affirmed that Vovinam is not only a traditional Vietnamese martial art but also carries humanistic values, contributing to helping Japanese friends better understand Vietnamese culture and people.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Bach Ngoc Chien - Vice President of the World Vovinam Federation - affirmed, “By participating in GGV training courses, students will not only learn self-defense skills, but will also learn more about Vietnamese culture and history. To date, more than 2 million people practice Vovinam in over 70 countries, and this number will continue to increase thanks to the development of projects like GGV.”

          GGV is considered to contribute to deepening cultural and sports exchanges and friendship, as well as mutual understanding between Vietnam and Japan, while also promoting the image of Vietnam – a nation with a chivalrous spirit./.