Vietnam’s human rights achievements undeniable
Paris (VNA) – Former Secretary General of the
France-Vietnam Friendship Association Jean-Pierre Archambault has stated that
achievements in ensuring human rights in Vietnam are undeniable.
In an interview recently granted to Vietnam News Agency in
Paris on the occasion of Vietnam’s run for a seat at the United Nations Human
Rights Council for the 2023-2025 tenure, Archambault said ensuring human rights
is one of the achievements in Vietnam’s renovation.
He recalled that in 1975, Vietnam was a war-hit and poor
country under embargo. But in 2010, it became a middle-income country thanks to considerable
strides during renovation period that began in 1986. Vietnam has so far been
moving forward and entering a new development period toward a rich, strong,
democratic and modern country, he said.
He stressed that in its development policy, the Vietnamese
Government always gives priority to helping the poor, especially Agent
Orange/dioxin victims.
He
lauded relevant Vietnamese agencies for paying attention to gender equality and
ensuring rights of vulnerable groups like the elderly, women, children and the
disabled. Vietnam has also actively joined the United Nations’ conventions to
protect them.
According
to him, the role of the Vietnamese women has changed, evidenced by the election
of many female deputies to the National Assembly.
About
the Vietnamese Party and State’s efforts to ensure human rights in the motto “Leaving
no one behind”, Archambault emphasised that
Vietnam’s effective anti-COVID-19 strategy has been welcomed by the World
Health Organisation and foreign media. The Vietnamese Party, State and
Government offered free medical care and vaccination to citizens, as well as gave
support to disadvantaged firms and people.
As regards Vietnam’s contributions to international community
in human rights, he stressed that the country has done a good job of ensuring the
right to peace, national independence and the right to live. Over the past
years, Vietnam has also actively joined humanitarian activities at the UN
Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan which has been hailed by the UN and international
community./.