Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the 52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Photo: VNA

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN) in Geneva, said that 2023 is the first year that Vietnam participated as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term. This is the second term after the first term of 2014-2016.

The world situation continues to have many fluctuations, and big power competition is complicated.

The issue of promoting and ensuring human rights continues to attract the attention and priorities of countries and international organizations.

While there are still differences of opinion, the work of the Human Rights Council increased in terms of volume, meeting time as well as issues discussed.

In that context, implementing the foreign policy of the Party and State, Vietnam responsibly contributed to the activities of the Human Rights Council.

Vietnam strived with other countries to promote dialogue, and cooperation, improve mutual understanding, and build consensus in discussion and adoption of resolutions and decisions of the Council.

As a member of the Human Rights Council, the Vietnamese delegation participated in the group of three countries (Troika) supporting the review of the national reports of several countries at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai said the highlight is that Vietnam has launched many cooperation initiatives on human rights at all three regular meetings this year, with the support and co-sponsorship of representatives of countries and international organizations.

Vietnam's efforts and contributions are recognized, supported, and appreciated by countries and international organizations.

Vietnam became a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term at the session of the 77th UN General Assembly in New York (USA). Photo: VNA

In particular, at the 52nd session, the Resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action was approved by the National Assembly by consensus, with 121 co-sponsors.

This resolution is an important mark of the Council. It creates the basis for organizing commemorative activities of the Council throughout 2023 at national, regional and global levels, with the year-end highlight being a high-level event commemorating two important documents from December 10-12, 2023.

In addition, at session 53 in the middle of this year, Vietnam and the core group (including Vietnam, the Philippines and Bangladesh) drafted and negotiated the annual Resolution on climate change and human rights.

They focused on the theme "Negative impacts of climate change on livelihoods and their impact on human rights."

This is a highly topical resolution, approved by the Human Rights Council by consensus with 80 co-sponsors.

Vietnam and the core group also organized a thematic discussion session on climate change and human rights with the topic "Negative impacts of climate change on the full realization of the right to food."

At the 54th session of the Human Rights Council, Vietnam implemented two initiatives to promote the human right to vaccination, including a joint speech and an international discussion on "Promoting the human right to vaccination," co-organized by the two delegations of Vietnam and Brazil together with Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance, with the participation of representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO).

According to Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, the above specific activities are part of a series of initiatives and practical contributions of Vietnam as an active and responsible member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term.

They introduce Vietnam's achievements and efforts in promoting and ensuring human rights, and contribute to the work of the Human Rights Council on issues of common concern to the international community.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai assessed that Vietnam's success and highlights in the activities of the Human Rights Council, especially the implementation of these initiatives, are thanks to the participation of domestic ministries, departments and branches, the coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the direct deployment of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN in Geneva.

The Ambassador said that in 2024, Vietnam will continue to promote its role and position as a responsible member of the Council.

The delegation in Geneva will continue to participate in regular meetings of the Human Rights Council, focusing on implementing several cooperation initiatives to promote and ensure human rights.

Vietnam will submit and defend its national report under the Universal Periodic Review. The delegation will also support the review of national reports of some countries in the 4th UPR cycle.

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