Vietnam looks to int’l cooperation in human rights protection

Director of Foreign Service Information Department Doan Cong Huynh speaks at the press conference. (Photo:VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam has made various contributions to and served as a bridge to increase cooperation and dialogue among countries with a view to accelerating a fair and progressive approach of the United Nations Human Rights Council.

At the forums, Vietnam advocates dialogue and cooperation with other countries in the protection of the human rights. International cooperation in this area is even more important for Vietnam as the nation is running for election to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2023-2025 tenure.

The information was revealed by Doan Cong Huynh, Director of the Foreign Service Information Department under the Ministry of Information and Communications, at a press conference on September 28 to review the human rights work as well as to update the result of the election campaign by Vietnam to the council.

According to the official, Vietnam has always taken an active and responsible part in the activities of the UNHRC since its establishment. The country has made various contributions to increase cooperation and dialogue among countries. The idea is to accelerate a fair and progressive approach towards the people by the council, including the rights to reproductive health, against violence against women, and eradication of treatment discrimination and gender violence.

With a balanced and comprehensive approach of supporting dialogue and cooperation, Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening the provision of information to the international community on its policies, efforts and achievements in ensuring the human rights, the official said.

Vietnam continues to work toward initiatives relating to the common interest of the international community, non-traditional security issues of common interest, especially the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. All these attest to the country’s strong commitment to ensuring the human rights as a responsible member of the international community.

In 2020, with 112 co-sponsors, Vietnam for the first time proposed and pushed for the adoption of a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on designating December 27 as the International Day against Epidemics, making practical contributions to the common effort of the world to raise awareness on the need of readiness to cope with epidemics.

At the press conference, Assistant to Director of the International Organisations Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Vu Minh briefed the press on the international context as well as current operation of the UNHRC.

Minh said the running for election to the council will help realise the Secretariat’s directive on elevating multilateral foreign relations towards 2030. This affirms Vietnam’s commitments and achievements as well as its ability to contribute to the protection and boosting of human rights. It also refutes slanders and distortions of democracy and human rights situation for subversive purposes.

From the diplomatic perspective, the election also helps raise the position and image of a Vietnam proactive and active in international integration, a responsible member of the international community; and further strengthen bilateral cooperation relations with friendly countries and partners, including those having differences concerning the human rights./.

Recently, a number of foreign human rights organisations raised adverse ideas against Vietnam’s running for election to the UNHRC, and Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang highlighted that Vietnam’s consistent policy is to protect and push up the basic rights of the human being. This is enshrined in the country’s 2013 Constitution and other relevant legal documents. Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in this field have been recognised and highly valued by the international community.

Vietnam has always actively manifested a cooperative spirit with the special procedures of the UNHRC and at the same time maintained bilateral human rights dialogue mechanisms with a number of countries; and remained ready to provide and exchange ideas on issues of mutual concern in the spirit of openness and mutual respect.