Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (Photo: VNA) Vietnam is honoured to be nominated by ASEAN countries withhigh consensus to become the bloc’s candidate for a seat in the UNHRC – theUN’s inter-governmental agency comprising of 47 members in charge of promotingand protecting human rights around the globe.
Ensuring human rightsamidst the pandemic
Addressing a High-level Segment of the 46th Regular Sessionof the UNHRC via video conference last February, Deputy Prime Minister andForeign Minister Pham Binh Minh pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic hasclaimed the lives of millions, and affected the well-being of billions aroundthe world, and has strained public health and social security systems of allcountries, thus triggering and exacerbating various human rights challenges.
However, he said, when the world is moving towards a “newnormal” state, the pandemic is also a chance for it to build a better future,based on the capacity of adaptation and innovation, cooperation and solidarityat the local, national and global levels.
Ensuring a safe society against epidemics like COVID-19 is the best way toensure that each and every member of the society can fully enjoy their humanrights, Minh said.
He stressed that Vietnam continues to “put emphasis on the protectionand promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of our people, evenin this most difficult of times,” adding that the country has tackled thepandemic head on, putting the people at the centre of all its efforts.
Minh also shared that Vietnam has provided medical masks andsupplies to support more than 50 countries and international partners in theirresponse to the pandemic. Under Vietnam’s proposal, the UN General Assemblyadopted by consensus a resolution proclaiming December 27 as the InternationalDay of Epidemic Preparedness to help raise awareness on the importance ofpreventing and responding to epidemics.
In 2020, as the Chair of the ASEAN IntergovernmentalCommission on Human Rights (AICHR), Vietnam exerted efforts to boost solidarity,unity and cooperation in AICHR, including its efforts to ensure human rightsamidst the pandemic. In May 2020, under Vietnam’s initiative, the commissionfor the first time issued a joint press release related to the pandemicreflecting the cooperation and unity within the bloc.
Vietnam – aresponsible member of UNHRC
In November 2013, Vietnam was elected to the UNHRC andofficially become a council member in the 2014-2016 tenure with high votes (184yes votes out of 192 votes – the highest among 14 new members).
The country’s winning the election with high votesdemonstrated its position and prestige reflected through its great achievementsin ensuring human rights, particularly in the fields of ensuring civil,political, socio-economic and cultural rights, and at the same time showing theinternational community’s expectation for the engagement of the country.
During the three years of the first tenure as a UNHRCmember, Vietnam participated in the council’s activities and programmes fully andresponsibly. The country attended all annual high-level meetings of the council,during which Vietnamese delegates participated in not only plenary sessions butalso thematic discussions on issues of Vietnam’s priorities such as theimplementation of Sustainable Development Goals, the impact of climate changeon human rights, and the implementation of international commitments on humanrights.
Vietnam has put forward many initiatives and engaged inpromoting human rights such as promoting the rights of vulnerable groups and respondingto climate change.
Vietnam was also ASEAN’s coordinator at the UNHCR. Thecountry fulfilled the second Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the council in2014 and is carrying out recommendations of the third UPR.
The country’s running for election to the UNHRC is a stepimplementing its Party and State’s foreign policy and is a good chance for itto increase its position and prestige and strengthen its relations with othercountries./.
VNA
