Vietnam has lauded the efforts of the international community in implementing the 1993 Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA) on the protection of human rights.

In a speech delivered at the March 24 discussions on the VDPA, part of the ongoing 25 th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, a Vietnamese spokesman called on countries to better ensure people’s full enjoyment of their rights and freedoms.

Human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent, and interrelated, the representative reiterated, stating that in Vietnam, all citizens are equal and the government spares no effort to observe and promote the rights of citizens regardless their ethnicity, sexuality, religion, belief or gender.

Vietnam affirmed that the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) group deserves full support and respect of their legitimate desires for equal engagement and integration with the community.

The representative also called on the international community to continue open, proactive and constructive dialogues to prevent discrimination against the group, while strengthening regional and international coordination to protect their rights in association with the unique traditional values, culture, history and religions of each country.

Adopted by the consensus at the World Conference on Human Rights on June 25, 1993 in Vienna, Australia, the VDPA reaffirms human rights as universal.-VNA