Together with running for a
seat in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the
2014-2016 tenure, Vietnam has made numerous efforts to realise its view
of human rights as a common value and aspiration of human beings as well
as represent its consistent policy of respecting and ensuring human
rights, and enhancing international cooperation in this field.
From achievements and experience from its
comprehensive renewal process based on three pillars: economic growth,
social progress and equality, and guarantee of human rights, Vietnam has
made positive contributions to joint efforts by the international
community to fostering and better protecting human rights in the world
over the past 26 years.
In Vietnam , humans are
both the target and motivation of its development. Every policy of the
country aims to serve the people. Vietnam’s Constitution fully and
comprehensively acknowledges all human rights on economic, social,
cultural and civil issues.
Basic rights and
freedom of human beings have been guaranteed in a more effective and
fuller manner. Over the past five years, the country has maintained a
high economic growth rate (about 6 percent on average), created
additional 8 million jobs. The unemployment rate in urban areas fell to
4.5 percent while the rate of poor households dropped to 9.5 percent.
Social security has been ensured and people’s access
to health care services has been improved, especially for children, poor
and ethnic minority groups, while the human development index has been
raising continuously.
Vietnam has fulfilled
many Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) ahead of schedule and is on
track to reach the remaining goals.
Together with
those achievements, the people’s active participation and voice have
been heightened, with their rights being better guaranteed through the
more effective performance of direct democracy rights, including the
right to stand for election and to vote, and indirect ones via
people-elected bodies such as the National Assembly and People’s Council
at all levels.
The people also have the right to
express their ideas and supervise the operations of the complaint and
denunciation mechanism.
Press activities in Vietnam
have developed strongly in both quantity and form while the access to
and application of information technology and the Internet have boomed,
making Vietnam one of the leaders in this field as valued by UN
professional bodies.
Religious life has become
busier with the development of all major religions in the world and
locally-born ones, which was reflected by the increasing numbers of
religious organisations, followers, worshipping places, training
facilities and publications.
Vietnam is member
to eight important international conventions on human rights, including
the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; the International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination;
and the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of
Discrimination against Women.
Vietnam was the
first country in Asia to ratify the International Convention on the
Rights of the Child. In addition, the country joined 18 treaties of the
International Labour Organisation (ILO).
In December
2011, Vietnam ratified the United Nations Convention against
Transnational Organised Crime and the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and
Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children; and the UN
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It recently
signed the United Nations Convention against Torture.
The country has also voted for the Resolution on building the
comprehensive and integral international convention to promote and
protect the rights and dignity of older persons and will actively
participate in the building of this convention.
Vietnam has proactively participated in international activities on
human rights at UN agencies and forums to which it is a member. The
country made active contributions to the affairs of the Human Rights
Committee (2001-2003), the Socio-Economic Council (2000-2002), the
Social Development Committee (2002-2004 and 2012-2014), and the UN
Security Council (2008-2009).
In the framework of
the UN Security Council, Vietnam hosted negotiations on the
Statement of its President on “children and armed conflict” and
Resolution 1889 on “women and peace and security”.
Vietnam highly values the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) under the
Human Rights Council, considering it an effective mechanism to share
information and experience as well as strengthen mutual understanding
among countries, thus fostering and better guaranteeing human rights.
The Human Rights Council and its member countries
appreciated Vietnam for its serious preparations for the first UPR
Report in 2009 with plentiful contents and a constructive approach.
Vietnam accepted 93 out of 123 recommendations of the UPR Working Group and is actively implementing them.
In addition, regional countries acknowledged Vietnam ’s practical
contributions to enhancing ASEAN solidarity and cooperation, including
cooperation in human rights, especially in the building of the ASEAN
Charter and Community as well as the establishment and operation of the
ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR).
Vietnam actively contributed to drafting the ASEAN Human Rights
Declaration, which was adopted at the ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh,
Cambodia in November 2012. The declaration affirmed that ASEAN
commitments on human rights are in line with international standards,
creating a framework for increasing ASEAN cooperation in promoting and
protecting human rights in the region.
Vietnam
has also strengthened bilateral cooperation and dialogue with many
countries to share information and experience in order to better
guarantee human rights. Especially, the country has set up an annual
human rights dialogue mechanism with the US, the EU, Switzerland,
Norway and Australia. Relevant parties have had positive
assessments on the results of the dialogues.
With
its policy of active and proactive international integration, Vietnam
has actively contributed to the common affairs of the Human Rights
Council, especially in issues of its strength and expertise. Thanks to
this, the country has heightened its voice and position, and together
with other countries struggled to protect and promote progressive
principles and contents on human rights.-VNA