Vietnam - Bright spot in Implementing International Conventions on Human Rights
	On Human Rights Day, UNDP Welcomes Viet Nam's Commitment to International Cooperation

Organized by the World and Vietnam Reports in collaboration with the Standing Office of the Steering Committee for Human Rights, the workshop celebrated the 76th anniversary of World Human Rights Day (December 10, 1948 - December 10, 2024).

The workshop was chaired by Nguyen Truong Son, Editor-in-Chief of the World and Vietnam Newspaper, and Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Vietnam Human Rights Magazine and Representative of the Standing Office of the Steering Committee for Human Rights.

The event was attended by nearly 80 delegates from various agencies, departments, and sectors directly involved in external information work on human rights.

Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet (center) speaks at the conference.

In his opening remark, Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet emphasized that, alongside the country's significant achievements, human rights communication and external information have been strongly implemented with the attention, direction, and participation of the entire political system.

However, there are several challenges in external information work on human rights. The focus has been primarily on fighting against false claims rather than proactively informing, building trust, and creating information flows. Additionally, the dissemination of information related to human rights has been slow and passive compared to foreign press, and there are objective impacts from the international and regional situation.

Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet called for 'new methods' to enhance external communication work in human rights in today's Vietnam.

Firstly, the implementation of external information work, including on human rights, must be considered a political task requiring synchronization, unity in perception, and innovation in thinking and working methods at all levels.

Secondly, external information on human rights should adopt more creative forms to effectively engage the public, foreign politicians, and international friends, particularly through social networking platforms to convey the desired messages.

Thirdly, domestic human rights communication must possess sensitivity regarding foreign affairs, timing, context of propaganda, and Vietnam's foreign relations with other countries.

Fourthly, the external communication strategy on human rights should highlight areas where Vietnam has achieved significant progress, such as poverty reduction, gender equality, children's rights, rights of people with disabilities, and access to education and healthcare.

The Deputy Minister is optimistic that sharing specific stories and featuring real people can be highly influential and convincing among international friends.

At the event.

Nguyen Hung Viet emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation with international organizations and foreign press in the field of external communications to defend and protect human rights in Vietnam. This cooperation aims to promote the national image, raise international awareness of Vietnam's human rights situation, and foster an environment of fair dialogue in international forums.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Vietnam Human Rights Magazine, affirmed that Vietnam has achieved significant accomplishments in ensuring and promoting human rights, recognized by the international community. These achievements have contributed to enhancing the country's position on the global stage.

To combat false claims from hostile forces regarding democracy and human rights, Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong highlighted the crucial role of external information in helping the international community accurately understand the viewpoints, guidelines, policies, and achievements of Vietnam's Party and State on human rights. This effort also involves fighting and refuting false and distorted information, thereby gaining support for the country's development and protection.

She further emphasized that external information work on human rights faces new challenges and tasks, requiring innovation in both content and methods, especially as the country enters a new era of development.

Delegates took a group photo.

The workshop featured two sessions: 'External Information and Human Rights: Where is the Connection?' and 'Solutions to Promote External Information on Human Rights in the New Situation.'

Dinh Tien Dung, Deputy Director of the Department of External Information, Ministry of Information and Communications, noted that external information is currently disseminated primarily through cyberspace. To adhere to the Politburo's motto for external information—'proactive, synchronous, timely, creative, effective'—it is essential to prioritize leveraging the strengths of digital communication platforms.

This approach aims to provide transparent information to both domestic and international audiences about the State's efforts and achievements in ensuring human rights, explain, clarify, and refute false and distorted information about the human rights situation in Vietnam, and harmoniously combine 'building' and 'fighting.' Ultimately, these efforts contribute to creating a positive image of human rights and enhancing Vietnam's position and prestige on the international stage.

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