Hanoi (VNA) – DeputyMinister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang highlighted Vietnam’s respect, fullparticipation, and consistent attention to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)process while addressing a workshop in Hanoi on July 14.

The event, held by the Ministryof Foreign Affairs and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), introduced good practicesand methods for building a voluntary mid-term report on the implementation of theUPR third cycle recommendations.

It was the first in a seriesof activities preparing for the compilation of Vietnam’s voluntary mid-termreport and promoting the realisation of the master plan for implementing theUPR third cycle recommendations, approved by the Prime Minister in 2019.

In his opening remarks, Giang affirmed that Vietnam strongly supportsmultilateralism with the UN playing a central role, along with the principlesof equality, transparency, non-discrimination, practical dialogue, andeffective cooperation in the field of human rights.

Vietnam has respected, fullytaken part in, and paid consistent attention to the UPR process, he said,stressing its strong commitment to continue making active and responsiblecontributions to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC).

The country is running for aseat in the HRC in the 2023 - 2025 term, he noted.

The voluntary mid-term reportwill provide true and comprehensive information reflecting Vietnam’scommitments and consistent efforts to continue maintaining socio-economicstability and ensuring human rights, especially for vulnerable groups amid theCOVID-19 pandemic, Giang said.

Kamal Malhotra, UN ResidentCoordinator in Vietnam, welcomed the country’s strong commitment to multilateralismand human rights protection as seen in its decision to make a voluntarymid-term report.

The UN highly values Vietnam’sproactive actions to cope with challenges in human rights protection andpromotion, along with its readiness to accept and implement the recommendationsin certain fields, he said, adding that UN agencies in Vietnam are proud tohave jointly helped the country implement at least 75 percent of the acceptedrecommendations.

He also suggested Vietnamprotect vulnerable groups and guarantee human rights in digital transformation,affirming UN agencies’ continued enhancement of cooperation to assist theVietnamese Government and people in this regard.

At the workshop, experts fromthe HRC Secretariat and the foreign ministries of Thailand, the Republic ofKorea, and Japan shared experience in implementing UPR recommendations andmaking voluntary mid-term reports. They also gave opinions on the reportcompilation in Vietnam.

Since the UPR mechanism wasset up in 2008, Vietnam has participated in three UPR cycles - in 2009, 2014,and 2019. It is working to implement the recommendations it accepted under theUPR third cycle.

Since each UPR cycle lastsfor about five years, to make timely updates on their recommendationimplementation and demonstrate their sense of responsibility towards the UPRmechanisms and the human rights promotion, some countries submit mid-termreports to the HRC, which is a voluntary practice highly valued by theinternational community./.