Part 2: Recognizing, Respecting, Protecting and Ensuring Human Rights - From Commitment to Action

Respect dialogue and cooperation for human rights

Towards the highest goal of promoting and protecting human rights, Vietnam has been actively participating in the process of international, regional, multilateral and bilateral cooperation in many fields.

Currently, Vietnam is a member of 7 out of 9 important international conventions on human rights. Vietnam is also a member of 25 International Labor Organization Conventions, including 7 out of 8 basic conventions; is working on ratifying the other fundamental Convention, Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and on the Protection of the Right to Organize. Vietnam has always fully and seriously implemented its obligations under these conventions, including the obligation to report on the implementation of the Conventions in Vietnam.

Bilaterally speaking, Vietnam advocates promoting cooperation and dialogue in order to share information and experiences, enhance mutual understanding, and support capacity building to better ensure human rights in Vietnam and related countries.

In Southeast Asia, Vietnam has made practical contributions to strengthen solidarity and cooperation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on human rights, especially in the process of formulating the ASEAN Charter and Community, the ASEAN Declaration of Human Rights, and the establishment and operation of ASEAN mechanisms related to human rights. As a result, affirming ASEAN's commitments to promote and protect human rights in the region in line with generally recognized international standards, creating a framework for strengthening cooperation within ASEAN in this area.

At a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Photo: AFP

Vietnam attaches great importance to the role and contributions of the UNHRC in promoting the implementation of human rights in the world over the past time. Always participate actively and responsibly in the activities of the UNHRC, especially during the period of being a member of the UNHRC for the 2014-2016 term.

On the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, equality, and mutual benefit, Vietnam upholds and promotes the spirit of cooperation and dialogue at the UNHRC, improves understanding to narrow differences, and seeks effective and long-term solutions to human rights challenges.

Vietnam will continue to actively work with other countries to contribute to the common work of the Council in the direction of improving the effectiveness, transparency, objectivity and balance, in the spirit of dialogue, cooperation, equality and respect for each other. Based on its past experience, commitment and strong determination, Vietnam firmly believes in its ability to assume the role of a member of the Council, with positive and constructive contributions to the overall work of the Council.

Toward the realization of commitments

In ensuring and promoting human rights, Vietnam always makes serious efforts to fulfill its commitments and obligations under international human rights conventions to which Vietnam is a member as well as international human rights mechanisms.

In particular, special attention is paid to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the UNHRC. This is one of the most important mechanisms of the Council, established in 2008 with the task of reviewing the human rights situation in all UN member countries, on the principles of dialogue, cooperation, equality, objective, transparent and non-discriminatory, thereby promoting countries to fully fulfill their international obligations and commitments on human rights.

Accompanying the UPR since its establishment, Vietnam has always attached great importance to and fully and seriously implemented its obligations and commitments under the UPR mechanism, including the implementation of the UPR recommendations it has accepted. favorable in all three cycles. The serious and effective implementation of UPR recommendations has also brought many positive impacts in the process of perfecting the legal system, ensuring the enjoyment of human rights, social security policies, improving people's lives in Vietnam.

Vietnam expressed its support of 241/291 recommendations at the UN Security Council's Approval of the UPR Report Cycle III (July 2019) (reaching 83 percent). The Prime Minister of Vietnam authorized the Plan to Implement the Recommendations in Decision No. 1975/QD-TTg on December 31, 2019, which directed the formulation and submission of the Mid-Term Report to Implement and Update the Progress of the UPR Report Cycle III Recommendations. Prior to moving on with the development of the National Report in accordance with National Report Cycle IV, identifying early issues that need to be prioritized, obstacles and challenges posed, and offered solutions to best and most effectively execute the UPR recommendations (expected 2024).

This is the first time that Vietnam developed a Mid-term Report on voluntary implementation of UPR recommendations to submit to the Council. Vietnam is also one of the few countries to develop this report (as of September 7, 2021, there are 79 countries that have submitted at least one voluntary Mid-term Report) and is expected to be among the top 20 countries in the world which first to submit a voluntary midterm report for cycle III.

Vietnam is committed to making active and effective contributions to the common efforts of the international community in promoting and protecting human rights.

Up to date, Vietnam has implemented 199/241 recommendations, is implementing or partially implementing 32/241 recommendations, is considering implementing at the appropriate time 10/241 recommendations.

In the future, Vietnam pledges to continue making efforts to guarantee that all Vietnamese people have better access to basic rights and freedoms, leaving no one behind, while also actively and effectively contributing to the international community's combined efforts to promote and preserve human rights.

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