Empowering women and girls through Vietnamese martial arts and sports

The initiative of empowering women and girls through martial arts, specifically Vovinam, marks a significant milestone in connecting traditional Vietnamese martial arts with efforts to empower women and girls. The event also positions Vietnam as the first ASEAN country, and the first with an international sports federation headquartered in Southeast Asia, to formally join the GGI movement. 

Earlier, on the evening of September 16, at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam, Mr. Shin Koyamada, co-founder and Chairman of the Board of GGI, and Dr. Mai Huu Tin, President of the World Vovinam Federation (WVVF), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), officially initiating the rollout of the GGV project in Viet Nam and globally.

Vietnam joins 22 other countries across five continents where GGI has initiated projects to promote gender equality and prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The GGV is the flagship project of GGI, an international NGO under the Koyamada International Foundation (KIF). The project is implemented exclusively in partnership with WVVF and its network of more than 60 national Vovinam federations worldwide. It harnesses the power of Vovinam, Viet Nam’s traditional martial art—not only a combat discipline combining strikes and holds, but also a symbol of physical strength rooted in philosophy and Vietnamese cultural identity.

Speaking at the event, UNFPA Representative in Viet Nam Matt Jackson emphasized that sustainable solutions to end gender-based violence must be built on local culture, community-led initiatives, and multi-sectoral cooperation. Guardian Girls Vovinam, he said, is a clear example of this vision, as Vietnamese traditional martial arts are applied to equip women and girls with confidence, practical skills, and self-agency.

Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Naoki Ito affirmed Japan’s strong commitment to promoting gender equality and preventing violence against women and girls. In 2021, through cooperation with UNFPA, Japan also supported the establishment and operation of three One-Stop Service Centers, known as Sunshine Homes, in Thanh Hoa, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City to assist women and girls affected by gender-based violence.

“Today, by joining the Guardian Girls Viet Nam project, we reaffirm this commitment while also honoring both innovation and tradition. Through Vovinam, a traditional martial art of Viet Nam, this initiative reflects the shared values of Japan and Viet Nam in promoting the rights, safety, and holistic development of women and girls”, Ambassador Ito stressed.

Therefore, the GGV project has introduced a new approach to bringing Viet Nam’s traditional martial arts to serve the community in a profound and humanitarian way. As Mr. Shin Koyamada shared: “This journey is especially meaningful as it begins in Viet Nam, the birthplace of Vovinam, where culture, tradition, and resilience are deeply woven into national identity. The GGV project is not only about martial arts or sports, but also about creating change, affirming self-worth, and ensuring the right to live free from fear.