(VOVworld)- The UN Human Rights Council (UN HRC) has approved Vietnam’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of human rights in the second cycle, acknowledging the country’s progress in protecting and promoting fundamental human rights. Vietnam’s achievements in human rights have been recognized by 192 UN member countries, international organizations and non-governmental organizations. The recognition reflects Vietnam’s consistent policy on and strong commitment to promoting human rights.
International friends congratulate Vietnam on UNHRC's approval of Vietnam's Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights- Photo: To Uyen/Vietnam+
The UN Periodic Review of Human Rights mandate is to ensure and promote human rights all over the world. The UPR is an important forum for Vietnam to show its consistent policy of ensuring human rights and fighting against distortions and biased views of the human rights situation in Vietnam.
UPR- an important mechanism for Vietnam
When Vietnam first participated in the UPR in May 2009, it received 123 recommendations from 60 countries. In 2nd UPR cycle in February, 2014, 106 delegates from various countries contributed their opinions and 227 recommendations were made. At the 26th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Vietnam agreed to accept 182 out of 227 recommendations- the highest rate of UPR acceptance in the UN Human Rights Council. Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, who participated in the 2nd cycle of the UPR in February 2014, said that because Vietnam considers the UPR an important mechanism, it has cooperated with other countries to clarify their recommendations in a constructive spirit: “Most of the recommendations were constructive and useful and few of them misrepresented the actual situation in Vietnam. However, we consider them part of a dialogue. Vietnam, with the participation of various ministries and sectors, has openly and frankly discussed its situation with other countries to give them a comprehensive and objective perspective on Vietnam”.
Since the first UPR cycle in May 2009, despite socio-economic challenges, Vietnam has made a great effort to strengthen social, economic, cultural, civil and political rights in line with international standards. In addition to trying to achieve its UN Millennium Development Goals, Vietnam has continually refined its legal system, mechanisms, and policies to better ensure people’s rights.
Undeniable progresses
It was no surprise that Vietnam received wide recognition the highest number of votes to become a member of the UN Human Rights Council. Human rights have been stipulated in politics, culture, and society and reflected in Vietnam’s achievements over the past few years. Ambassador Le Hoai Trung is Head of the Vietnamese delegation to the UN: “Vietnam’s social achievements have demonstrated its consistent policies promoting the rights of women, children, and the disabled and ensuring social security and labor rights. Civil and political rights have been discussed in the National Assembly’s Q&A sessions. For every right, we have policies to implement it, stipulated it in the law, and create mechanisms to monitor it”.
At a recent session of the UPR, in contrast to the opinions of a number of NGOs which have denied Vietnam’s human rights achievements, most countries and international organizations hailed Vietnam’s achievements in protecting human rights and praised Vietnam’s acceptance of most of the UPR recommendations and its constructive and cooperative spirit in participating in the UPR.
Vietnam’s high rate of acceptance of the recommendations proves Vietnam’s consistent policy and strong commitment to protecting and promoting human rights. In following 182 UPR recommendations and other voluntary commitments, Vietnam, as a Human Rights Council member, shows its responsibility for protecting and promoting human rights all over the world.
Anh Huyen
Anh Huyen
Đăng ký: VietNam News