Vietnam has made many achievements in ensuring human rights in all fields of civil affairs, politics, economics, culture and society, which has been recognised by the international community.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi made the statement while answering queries regarding Vietnam’s bid for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council at a regular press briefing in Hanoi on November 7.

The promotion of human rights and the active participation of the people in all aspects of the country’s socio-economic life are important factors that lead to the success of Vietnam’s renewal process, Nghi added.

Vietnam wishes to participate in the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 tenure to make more positive contributions to the international community’s joint efforts in promoting and protecting human rights in the world, the spokesman said.

Vietnam believes it is capable of undertaking the role as a member of the UN Human Rights Council and commits to positively contributing to the council’s activities to improve its effectiveness, transparency, objectiveness and equality on the basis of dialogue, cooperation, equality and mutual respect, he stated.

In response to a question on when Vietnam will join the UN Convention against Torture, Nghi said Vietnam always plays a positive part in and makes practical contributions to three sectors of UN concerns, i.e. peace-security, development and ensuring human rights.

He further said that on November 5, 2013, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung signed Resolution 118/NQ-CP, authorising the head of the Vietnam permanent mission to the UN to sign the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

The country’s participation in the convention shows its respect and strict implementation of human rights commitments within the framework of the universal periodic review (UPR), as well as its commitments when it voluntarily nominates itself to the UN Human Rights Council, Nghi said.-VNA