Vietnam undertakes UNHRC membership soundly

Vietnamese delegation at the 28th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has been contributing to protecting and advancing the value of human rights in a direct, responsible and constructive manner during its membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council from 2014-2016. 

Vu Anh Quang, head of the Foreign Ministry’s Department of International Organisations was speaking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of World Human Rights Day (December 10).

He said since the early days entering the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Vietnam had devised a careful master plan to clarify policies, goals and a roadmap for her UNHRC membership.

When acting as an observer previously, Vietnam delivered between 40-50 speeches covering all issues of global concerns at the UNHRC as well as other specialised mechanisms, he recalled.

The number of speeches then rose to 100 in a year since Vietnam became a member of the UNHRC, he said, adding the country has made her voice heard in the issues relating to the improvement of rights for vulnerable groups, the right to economics, social and cultural affairs, development, job, and poverty elimination.

In addition to that, Vietnam has also taken part in negotiating and consulting the contents of resolutions passed by the UNHRC with the aim of protecting her interests and viewpoints on human rights along with making comments on the progressive contents suitable for developing countries in the course of ensuring human rights.

Those contributions displayed Vietnam’s responsible, active and constructive participation in the issues of international concerns, which was in line with the 11 th Party Congress Resolution, the Political Bureau’s Resolution 22 on international integration and the Party Central Committee’s Resolution 28 on national defence strategy in the new circumstances, Quang stressed.

Despite complications in the global situation and at the UNHRC, Vietnam has soundly undertaken its UNHRC membership, accomplished the set goals and requirements, and especially defended her principles, viewpoints and interests on human rights at forums, thus heightening her image and position on the international stage.

That proactive and active participation has acquired appreciations from other countries so Vietnam’s bilateral cooperation with other partner countries have been furthered, the official said.

Regarding the concretisation of human rights in Vietnam’s laws and policies in recent time, Quang asserted that human rights in Vietnam have been written down in the Constitution and defended by laws.

The 2013 Constitution, adopted by the National Assembly on November 28, 2013 and taken effect from January 1, 2014, built on and developed regulations mandating human rights and the right of citizens that conform with the contents and spirit of international conventions on human rights to which Vietnam is a member.

It can be said that human rights have, for the first time in Vietnam’s law-making history, been acknowledged as a natural and inherent right and recognised and implemented by the State, Quang reckoned.

He affirmed that the completion of a legal system on human rights in Vietnam has been carried out in a uniform and consistent manner, evidenced by the National Assembly’s law and ordinance making programmes as well as policies and mechanisms to put laws into life to ensure human rights and citizens’ right are better protected and promoted.

Many important codes have been promulgated or revised to create a comprehensive and sound legal foundation for the respect and enforcement of human rights in Vietnam, the official stressed.

He cited the National Assembly’s adoption or revising of laws and codes pertaining to human rights, with the Penal Code (revised), the Criminal Procedure Code (revised), the Civil Code (revised), the Civil Procedure Code (Revised), the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, and the Health Insurance Law, as a few to name.

These efforts have reflected Vietnam’s achievements across realms, especially in economics, politics, socio-cultural affairs, people’s improved living conditions and their right to enjoy various rights and freedom, which have been recognised by the international community.

In reality, socio-economic attainments and increased cooperation and international exchanges have created material conditions and pooled resources for Vietnam to ensure human rights are better exercised.

Economic difficulties sparked by global recession and the Government’s public spending cut in recent time have not made Vietnam ignore the safeguard of social welfare as one of its top priorities, Quang said.

State budget allocated to social welfare programmes has not been curbed but risen in several areas, especially those targeted vulnerable groups, he noted.

In November, 2014 the National Assembly of Vietnam ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention against Torture. Ultimately, Vietnam took part in seven out of the UN’s nine major conventions on human rights. Such efforts reflected clearly Vietnam’s commitments to promoting and defending human rights to standards of international law.

Vietnam has been recognised by the UN and the international community for achieving six out of the eight UN millennium development goals ahead of deadline and accomplishing the remaining goals on schedule.

The country is sparing no effort to contribute to the building and approval of the UN agenda by 2030 and commits to seriously and fully executing sustainable development goals.-VNA