Vietnam has pursued a consistent policy of ensuring and promoting human rights, including minority rights, said Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem.
Khiem, who doubles as Minister for Foreign Affairs, made the statement while receiving the UN Independent Expert on minority issues, Gay J. McDougall, in Hanoi on July 7.
Vietnam supports the UN declaration on the rights of persons belonging to minority groups by adopting laws, specific policies, programmes and mechanisms, he said.
The deputy PM highlighted Vietnam ’s important achievements in ensuring the rights of minority groups, citing improvements in their living conditions as well as in the religious life in the country.
Ethnic minority people and religious followers have participated in all social aspects, while ethnic cultures and languages have been preserved through education and communications programmes, he stressed.
Khiem also spoke of difficulties and challenges that have hampered the country’s efforts to better promote the human rights, such as the heavy war consequences, low level of economic development and hardships in terms of natural, geographical and weather conditions.
However, he said, Vietnam is willing to share its experiences and learn from other nations in ensuring the rights of minority groups. Vietnam always attaches importance to international cooperation, including UN mechanisms, in the field of human rights, Khiem added.
McDougall, who is paying a visit to Vietnam from July 5-15 at the invitation of the Vietnamese Government, praised the country’s achievements in implementing the Millennium Development Goals, as well as its endeavours in reducing poverty and improving the living conditions of minority people.
The UN expert also shared experiences in ensuring the minority rights in other countries.
McDougall was appointed to the current post in 2005, with the mandate of promoting the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities./.
Khiem, who doubles as Minister for Foreign Affairs, made the statement while receiving the UN Independent Expert on minority issues, Gay J. McDougall, in Hanoi on July 7.
Vietnam supports the UN declaration on the rights of persons belonging to minority groups by adopting laws, specific policies, programmes and mechanisms, he said.
The deputy PM highlighted Vietnam ’s important achievements in ensuring the rights of minority groups, citing improvements in their living conditions as well as in the religious life in the country.
Ethnic minority people and religious followers have participated in all social aspects, while ethnic cultures and languages have been preserved through education and communications programmes, he stressed.
Khiem also spoke of difficulties and challenges that have hampered the country’s efforts to better promote the human rights, such as the heavy war consequences, low level of economic development and hardships in terms of natural, geographical and weather conditions.
However, he said, Vietnam is willing to share its experiences and learn from other nations in ensuring the rights of minority groups. Vietnam always attaches importance to international cooperation, including UN mechanisms, in the field of human rights, Khiem added.
McDougall, who is paying a visit to Vietnam from July 5-15 at the invitation of the Vietnamese Government, praised the country’s achievements in implementing the Millennium Development Goals, as well as its endeavours in reducing poverty and improving the living conditions of minority people.
The UN expert also shared experiences in ensuring the minority rights in other countries.
McDougall was appointed to the current post in 2005, with the mandate of promoting the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities./.
