Vietnam works hard to promote human rights

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The Vietnamese government has put in place various guidelines and policies for the protection of people and human rights, an international workshop heard in Hanoi on October 22.

A view of the workshop.

The international consultation workshop on the draft voluntary mid-term report on the implementation of the UPR third cycle recommendations was jointly organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Development Program ( UNDP).

In his opening remarks, Do Viet Hung, assistant to the foreign minister, said that this was the first time that Vietnam had devised such a voluntary mid-term report to be sent to the Human Rights Council of United Nations (UNHRC).

Through this report, Vietnam has demonstrated its responsibility, transparency and seriousness towards the UPR mechanism in particular and the implementation of international human rights commitments in general, in particular in the context of Vietnam’s candidacy for a seat on the CDH for 2023-2025.

He highlighted the challenges of protecting and promoting human rights in Vientam over the past two years, such as climate change, natural disasters and COVID-19.

The report is expected to give delegates an overview of Vietnam’s ongoing commitments and efforts to stabilize, recover and boost socio-economic activities, and fulfill UPR recommendations on human rights, especially vulnerable groups in the world. middle of COVID-19.

This mid-term report serves as a basis for Vietnam to assess the implementation of the approved recommendations, draw lessons from them and prepare for the construction of the national report for the UPR cycle IV scheduled for 2024.

United Nations Acting Resident Coordinator Kidong Park and Acting UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Terence D. Jones commended Vietnam’s commitments and efforts to protect and promote human rights , including the implementation of the recommendations of the third cycle of the UPR and the preparation of the voluntary mid-term report.

Delegates provided specific views on the document, which is expected to be sent to the 49th session of the HRC in March 2022.

According to the draft mid-term report on the implementation of the recommendations accepted during the 3rd cycle of the UPR, Vietnam accepted 241/291 recommendations (around 83%) during the session of adoption of the report of the 3rd UPR cycle at the United Nations Human Rights Council. (July 2019).

On December 31, 2019, the Vietnamese Prime Minister approved the master plan for the implementation of the recommendations accepted in Decision No. 1975 / QD-TTg, which led the preparation and submission of the mid-term report on the implementation of the 3rd cycle of the UPR. recommendations.

To date, Vietnam has implemented 199/241 recommendations; of which 32/241 recommendations are ongoing or have been partially implemented and 10/241 recommendations will be considered for implementation at the appropriate time.

Vietnam will continue to implement the accepted recommendations of cycle III of the UPR on the basis of the master plan for the implementation of the recommendations approved by the Prime Minister in Decision No. 1975 / QD-TTg in 2019.

In the times to come, Vietnam is willing and willing to share information and experiences to strengthen international cooperation, improve capacities to prepare national report and implement approved UPR recommendations.

Vietnam shows excellent progress in securing socio-economic rights (foreign officials)

Vietnam continues to make excellent progress in securing socio-economic rights, as evidenced by the draft voluntary mid-term report on the implementation of the recommendations of the third round of the UPR, as well as others. information and data, said a UNDP official.

Diana Torres, Deputy Resident Representative and Head of the Governance and Participation Unit at UNDP Vietnam, offered the praise during an interview with the Vietnamese News Agency (VNA) on the sidelines of an international consultation workshop on report to Hanoi on October 22.

She said Vietnam and many other countries have been hit hard by COVID-19, expressing hope that with the measures taken by the government to contain the pandemic and mitigate its socio-economic impacts, more progress would be made in times to come.

Quoting the report, she said Vietnam has recorded inclusive results, even compared to other countries in the region, in social protection, health insurance, poverty reduction and gender quality.

Stephen Taylor, head of the internal politics section at the British embassy in Hanoi, echoed Torres, saying Vietnam has recorded positive results in securing socio-economic rights.

He said Vietnam is developing very quickly and people have more opportunities to access health care and food. The general economy opens.

Vietnam has performed very well in the containment of COVID-19, especially during the first stage when Vietnam locked down very quickly, he said.

Ambassador Giorgio Aliberti, head of the EU delegation to Vietnam, also said the Southeast Asian nation has handled COVID-19 well, especially in the first year the pandemic hit. bursts.

He highlighted Vietnam’s outstanding achievements in ensuring human rights in socio-economic aspects, and pledged that “we are here to help Vietnam improve all aspects of human rights” with the commitments that the country has made in international agreements.

Vietnam is also making great efforts to try to take into account vulnerable groups, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities, he said.

“There is a real commitment to trying to work to be more inclusive,” he said.

Vietnam’s voluntary spirit applauded

This mid-term report serves as a basis for Vietnam to assess the implementation of the approved recommendations, draw lessons from them and prepare for the construction of the national report for the UPR cycle IV scheduled for 2024.

In this regard, Torres commended the Vietnamese government for voluntarily taking steps to review the implementation of the UPR recommendations during the third cycle.

“It is a very good expression of goodwill, of political will to ensure that Vietnam is on the right track to implement the recommendations that have been adopted,” she noted.

From the discussions at the workshop and the mid-term report as well, more action should be taken to make the necessary improvements in some areas that are still lagging behind, she suggested.

Aliberti said the report shows good commitment and commitment on the part of the Vietnamese government to deal with difficult issues.

“And this is a voluntary process and a positive step,” he said.

Taylor also praised Vietnam’s positive spirit in compiling the document although the country does not have to.

“The overall structure and content is good,” he said of the report.

In his remarks at the workshop, UNDP Acting Resident Representative in Vietnam, Terence D. Jones, said it is important to recognize that the context in which the report was prepared is still very difficult.

Appreciating Vietnam’s efforts, he said the report provided a framework for discussing these important issues, showing progress in many areas and related work that needs to be done.

He suggested that the report be more specific on the actions to be taken over the next two years, to allow Vietnam to show more success.

Good steps to become a member of the Human Rights Council

Vietnam is running for election to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2023-2025 term in the hope of further contributing to the world’s joint efforts to promote and protect human rights.

The country is honored to be nominated by ASEAN countries with high consensus to become the bloc’s candidate for a seat on the HRC – the United Nations intergovernmental agency made up of 47 members charged with promoting and protecting human rights around the world.

Asked whether Vietnam could win a seat on the council, Torres said “it is very possible,” adding that the country is taking good steps to achieve this goal.

“It will be very important to have Vietnam in this forum,” she continued. “This will benefit the country in terms of aligning this national legal framework with international obligations and standards, and also help Vietnam position itself as a global human rights defender.”

The official also described the mid-term report as a voluntary gesture and an initiative by Vietnam to demonstrate its commitments to human rights at the international level.

Regarding Vietnam’s ratification of a number of international human rights conventions, Torres said “this is a big step” towards greater integration into the world and into society. global, and the fulfillment of its commitments to international standards.

She stressed the importance of creating a strong and robust legal framework and judicial system in line with international standards.

Source: VNA

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