Event marks International Human Rights Day, launches new cycle of UPR

Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on December 12 held a ceremony in Hanoi to mark the International Human Rights Day and launch Vietnam’s universal periodical review (UPR) process for the fourth cycle.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc held that Vietnam, sharing progressive ideas on human rights as affirmed by the UN in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other important documents, has been determined to develop and implement policies on the protection and promotion of the rights, achieving outstanding results recognised and appreciated by the international community.

As a result, Vietnam was recently elected to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2023-2025 tenure, the diplomat noted.

The nation has to date completed 82.6% of recommendations from the 3rd cycle of its UPR process and is to complete the workload and launch the preparations for the building of the national report on the 4th cycle in 2023, he said.

He requested UN agencies, development partners and related parties continue accompanying and cooperating with Vietnam to complete the process on schedule with the highest quality.

UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis said the nation’s election to the UNHRC demonstrates concrete efforts to protect and promote economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights in accordance with international human rights standards.

Echoing the view, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Ramla Khalidi said the UNDP will continue to accompany and support Vietnam in the 4th cycle through capacity building for ministries, sectors and all stakeholders, especially NGOs and youth./.