UN accompanies future teachers to promote gender equality in climate action

Disaster preparedness skills go hand in hand with professional competence and teaching ethics

Speaking at the forum "Future teachers equipped with knowledge on disaster prevention and climate change adaptation - Women and children in disasters," Mr. Ly Phat Viet Linh, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Programme Manager at UNICEF Viet Nam, emphasized that pedagogy students - the teachers of the future - should start with themselves to spread the spirit of learning and taking action for the environment.

He encouraged integrating content on climate change, environmental protection, and disaster response skills into lessons to help students understand that “small actions today can create big changes for tomorrow.” In addition, teachers should lead students to engage in community activities such as environmental clean-ups, tree planting, or “green school” initiatives, while guiding them to take proactive actions for the environment and climate.

“We need to raise public awareness through creative communication messages, share knowledge with families and friends, and advocate for adults and local authorities to implement environmentally friendly solutions,” he emphasized. “Every student is an environmental ambassador. Therefore, we must strengthen child protection and build safe, green, and resilient schools in the face of disasters. Future teachers will not only impart knowledge but also inspire, motivate, and nurture a generation of students who are responsible toward the environment and society.”

Ms. Duong Thi Thuy Nga, a lecturer at Hanoi National University of Education, affirmed that disaster prevention is not a “distant topic” to be added to the curriculum, but a vital life skill for every teacher. Such skills must go hand in hand with professional competence and ethics so that teachers can truly fulfill their responsibilities to students and society.

“To ensure that the knowledge and skills on disaster prevention and climate change adaptation are effectively applied, I suggest that the university continue strengthening students’ capacity through diverse and practical approaches. The school can build a digital learning resource hub on disaster prevention and climate change, organize annual crisis response simulation forums, and expand partnerships with general education schools and relevant agencies.

At the same time, developing competitions and initiatives on disaster prevention and climate change adaptation will encourage students to be creative and proactive in taking action. These activities not only help them sharpen professional skills and decision-making abilities in emergencies but also contribute to building a safe, equitable, and sustainable learning environment - ultimately promoting the safety and resilience of the community and society as a whole,” Ms. Nga proposed.

Integrating gender-based violence into all phases of disaster management

According to the United Nations, women and children are 14 times more likely than men to be affected by natural disasters driven by climate change, while numerous global studies show that intimate partner violence often increases following disasters or conflicts.

In Viet Nam, gender-based violence remains a serious and persistent issue: more than half of women have experienced at least one form of violence from their husbands or partners, yet up to 90.4% of victims do not seek help from external sources, and half never tell anyone. The consequences of such violence extend beyond individuals and affect the next generation - 60% of children witness or hear violence between their parents.

At the same time, climate change severely impacts children’s health and development. Shifts in temperature, rainfall, and humidity foster the breeding of mosquitoes that transmit malaria and dengue fever - two deadly diseases among young children. Stagnant water caused by heavy rains, floods, or extreme weather events also increases the risk of water- and food-borne diseases such as diarrhea, cholera, and meningococcal meningitis. Air pollution is responsible for one in ten deaths among children under five and 20% of newborn deaths, mostly linked to complications from preterm birth and low birth weight.

In response to this alarming situation, Ms. Nguyen Phuong Thanh, Gender-Based Violence Programme Officer at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Viet Nam, emphasized that preventing and responding to gender-based violence must be considered an integral part of humanitarian assistance and incorporated into all phases of disaster management.

According to her, key measures include capacity-building training for disaster prevention and response officers, strengthening communication to raise public awareness, and establishing intersectoral coordination mechanisms. At the same time, it is essential to maintain and expand emergency support services for women and children, as well as to collect and analyze data to ensure that interventions are appropriate, timely, and effective.

At Hanoi National University of Education, knowledge and skills on disaster prevention and climate change adaptation are implemented through a clear, goal-oriented roadmap with specific integration points in the training curriculum.

Within each major, these topics are incorporated in a structured sequence - identifying potential courses, defining the content and placement of integration, and determining appropriate teaching methods. In addition, students participate in extracurricular activities that place them in real-life contexts and engage them in community projects on climate change.