A Vietnamese diplomat has said promoting and protecting human rights are always Vietnam’s consistent policy.

Ambassador Le Hoai Trung, Vietnamese permanent representative to the UN, made the statement at the 66th UN General Assembly – Third Committee meeting on the promotion of human rights in New York on Oct. 27.

Trung said the policy is stipulated in Vietnam’s Constitution and other important laws. It derives from people’s desire to enjoy socio-economic and cultural rights in poor conditions during the colonial period.

The Vietnamese people have rose up for independence and experienced many challenges for fundamental political and civil rights. The people’s endeavours to promote their rights have laid foundations for Vietnam’s achievements in its comprehensive reform over the past 25 years, the diplomat added.

The diplomat went on to say that economic growth, hunger eradication and social justice have boosted socio-economic rights and facilitated the implementation of human rights in other fields. The achievements in enhancing the legislative role and improving legal, judiciary and court systems along with administrative reform have consolidated mechanisms representing people’s benefits, he said.

Overcoming shortages and furthering efforts to promote democracy and people’s legitimate rights and benefits are orientations for a new period of reform, he said.

Vietnam attaches importance to international cooperation in human rights, said Ambassador Trung, adding that the Vietnamese Government is willing to join the UN and other partners in promoting and protecting human rights.

Vietnam has actively held dialogues with international partners on human rights and considered it an effective measure to share experiences, discuss differences and enhance cooperation and mutual understanding, Trung noted.

Vietnam highly values UN’s human rights activities and highlighted the UN Human Rights Council’s role as a forum to promote dialogues and cooperation, said the Vietnamese representative./.