Issues to be debated at UNHRC’s 30th session

The 30th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) opened in Geneva on September 14 with a busy agenda for its 17 scheduled days.

The event gathered ambassadors and representatives from 47 member countries of the HRC, more than 100 observing countries, UN agencies and international and non-governmental organisations on human rights.

The Vietnamese delegation to the event was led by Ambassador Nguyen Trung Thanh, Head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the UN.

The session marks the second year of Vietnam’s service as a dynamic and responsible member of the council during the 2014-2016 tenure.

Ambassador Thanh is also working as the co-coordinator of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the HRC this year.

In his remarks, UN High Commissioner of Human Rights Zei Ra’ad Al Hussein stressed the need for the countries to expand their cooperation in settling urgent issues, especially those regarding the migrant crisis in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.

He called on nations to abide by recommendations in line with the Universal Periodic Review and tighten collaboration with UN human rights mechanisms, including the UNHRC special procedures.

Al Hussein also suggested the countries pay attention to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other global matters – including climate change and poverty – in building and implementing human rights policies.

At the opening session, representatives of several countries and international and non-governmental organisations showed interest in protecting and promoting human rights, including those of normal citizens, migrants and and refugees who are victims of armed conflicts and terrorism.

Other delegates, particularly those from developing nations and members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), voiced their hope that the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights and other relevant UN mechanisms would step up affiliations and make information transparent to member countries.

The session is due to hear 70 reports presented by UN agencies and organise six panel discussions along with a range of dialogues.

It will consider and make decisions on more than 40 draft resolutions and decisions on other human rights-related issues.

Other matters such as migration, refugees, sustainable development, rights to clean water access, environmental hygiene, the death penalty and drug use are expected to be the highlight discussion topics for participants.-VNA