“Vietnam remains strong on its commitments to ensure the full enjoymentof human rights for its people,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Le LuongMinh at the current 19th session of the United Nations Human RightsCouncil (HRC) in Geneva on Feb. 29.
At the four-weeksession that will last till March 23, Minh said in implementingpeople-centred and pro-poor development policies, Vietnam continues toinvest in areas that matter the most to the people.
“These policies have enabled the country to achieve remarkable progressin poverty reduction, education, health care and employment, improvingthe livelihood and social welfare for the citizens,” he said.
“In the context of great difficulties resulting from the impact of theglobal economic and financial crisis, over the past four years,” thehead delegate of Vietnam went on, “our country has managed to maintainan annual economic growth rate of about 6 percent which has provided astrong basis for the enjoyment of human rights for the people.
“Legislative, administrative and judicial reforms continued to be highon the agenda with a view to further strengthening human rights inlaws, regulations and practice, including the right to oversee theimplementation of laws, access to information, etc.
“Socio-economic development, assurance of social equity and building alaw-governed state remain the three pillars of Vietnam’s developmentstrategy.
“As part of the foreign policy aiming toserve its major objective of comprehensive integration, Vietnam has beenengaging in human rights dialogue and cooperation with internationalpartners.
“At the regional level, the country isworking with the other countries members of the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN) to promote the activities of the ASEANInter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), particularly indrafting an ASEAN Declaration on Human Rights.
“Lastyear, Vietnam received the Independent Expert on the effects offoreign debt and other related international financial obligations ofStates on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic,social and cultural rights and the Special Rapporteur on the right ofeveryone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physicaland mental health and are now expecting the visits by the SpecialRapporteur on the right to food and the Special Rapporteur on the rightto education.
“Vietnam believes such interactiontogether with the regular dialogues the country is conducting withseveral countries do contribute effectively to the betterment of mutualunderstanding which was essential for any appropriate solution of humanrights issues of mutual concern.
“The protection andpromotion of human rights is the responsibility for all countries. Whileupholding the purposes and objectives enshrined in the UniversalDeclaration on Human rights, as a candidate endorsed by the regionalorganization, ASEAN, for membership on the Human Rights Council for theterm 2014-2016, Vietnam is committed to working with theinternational community to build a world which would be more secure,more prosperous and more just for everyone.”
Speakingabout the world situation, Minh said the global economic and financialcrisis had been causing serious consequences in every aspect of life ofthe people in almost every nation. Political and social instabilitieshad yet to abate, but had shown a trend to increase and widen in anumber of regions, leading to crises and internal conflicts.
He said, “The turbulent and violent situations in a number ofcountries in the Middle East and North Africa have brought home the factthat the promotion and protection of human rights could only besustainably implemented on the foundation of peace, stability anddevelopment.
“While happy to note that peace andnormalcy had been restored in other affected countries, Vietnam isdeeply concerned with the escalation of tension and violence in Syriaresulting in the loss of so many innocent lives. Vietnam calls uponall parties concerned to show good will, demonstrate constraint andconduct constructive dialogue to find a prompt political solution inline with the aspirations of the Syrian people. Vietnam supports allinternational efforts aimed at contributing to national reconciliation,restoring peace and stability in Syria and shares the view that anysolution to the present situation in Syria has to be based on theprinciples of the United Nations Charter, international law,particularly the principles of respect for national independence,sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-coercion and non-interference.”
Mentioning the operation of the Human Rights Councilforum, the Vietnamese deputy foreign minister said, “As a supreme organof the United Nations established to replace a body having lost itslegitimacy for the outdated manner it conducted its work, the HumanRights Council must truly be a forum to promote co-operation anddialogue among nations on the basis of the principles of transparency,democracy, objectivity, impartiality and non-selectivity, avoiding theapplication of double standards.
“The Council mustmanage to avoid the very major mistake leading to the failure of itspredecessor, which is the politicisation of human rights issues.Furthermore, the root causes of the recent and ongoing turbulentsituations in developing countries point to the need for the Council toassure a balanced implementation of economic, cultural social rights andpolitical rights.
“We note with satisfaction thatover the past few years, the Council has proved itself more effective,serving as a forum of dialogue and cooperation for all countries indealing with all human rights issues in a comprehensive and morebalanced manner and on the basis of equality.
“Wewould support efforts aimed at strengthening the Universal PeriodicReview mechanism which is based on the principle of equal treatment ofall member states. Last year, the General Assembly completed the reviewof the Council’s work and functioning by adopting resolution A/65/L.78supplementing resolution 60/251 in further strengthening the Council andimproving its effectiveness. Vietnam will continue to engage itselfin a constructive manner with other countries in implementation ofthese two important resolutions,” Minh concluded.-VNA
At the four-weeksession that will last till March 23, Minh said in implementingpeople-centred and pro-poor development policies, Vietnam continues toinvest in areas that matter the most to the people.
“These policies have enabled the country to achieve remarkable progressin poverty reduction, education, health care and employment, improvingthe livelihood and social welfare for the citizens,” he said.
“In the context of great difficulties resulting from the impact of theglobal economic and financial crisis, over the past four years,” thehead delegate of Vietnam went on, “our country has managed to maintainan annual economic growth rate of about 6 percent which has provided astrong basis for the enjoyment of human rights for the people.
“Legislative, administrative and judicial reforms continued to be highon the agenda with a view to further strengthening human rights inlaws, regulations and practice, including the right to oversee theimplementation of laws, access to information, etc.
“Socio-economic development, assurance of social equity and building alaw-governed state remain the three pillars of Vietnam’s developmentstrategy.
“As part of the foreign policy aiming toserve its major objective of comprehensive integration, Vietnam has beenengaging in human rights dialogue and cooperation with internationalpartners.
“At the regional level, the country isworking with the other countries members of the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN) to promote the activities of the ASEANInter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), particularly indrafting an ASEAN Declaration on Human Rights.
“Lastyear, Vietnam received the Independent Expert on the effects offoreign debt and other related international financial obligations ofStates on the full enjoyment of all human rights, particularly economic,social and cultural rights and the Special Rapporteur on the right ofeveryone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physicaland mental health and are now expecting the visits by the SpecialRapporteur on the right to food and the Special Rapporteur on the rightto education.
“Vietnam believes such interactiontogether with the regular dialogues the country is conducting withseveral countries do contribute effectively to the betterment of mutualunderstanding which was essential for any appropriate solution of humanrights issues of mutual concern.
“The protection andpromotion of human rights is the responsibility for all countries. Whileupholding the purposes and objectives enshrined in the UniversalDeclaration on Human rights, as a candidate endorsed by the regionalorganization, ASEAN, for membership on the Human Rights Council for theterm 2014-2016, Vietnam is committed to working with theinternational community to build a world which would be more secure,more prosperous and more just for everyone.”
Speakingabout the world situation, Minh said the global economic and financialcrisis had been causing serious consequences in every aspect of life ofthe people in almost every nation. Political and social instabilitieshad yet to abate, but had shown a trend to increase and widen in anumber of regions, leading to crises and internal conflicts.
He said, “The turbulent and violent situations in a number ofcountries in the Middle East and North Africa have brought home the factthat the promotion and protection of human rights could only besustainably implemented on the foundation of peace, stability anddevelopment.
“While happy to note that peace andnormalcy had been restored in other affected countries, Vietnam isdeeply concerned with the escalation of tension and violence in Syriaresulting in the loss of so many innocent lives. Vietnam calls uponall parties concerned to show good will, demonstrate constraint andconduct constructive dialogue to find a prompt political solution inline with the aspirations of the Syrian people. Vietnam supports allinternational efforts aimed at contributing to national reconciliation,restoring peace and stability in Syria and shares the view that anysolution to the present situation in Syria has to be based on theprinciples of the United Nations Charter, international law,particularly the principles of respect for national independence,sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-coercion and non-interference.”
Mentioning the operation of the Human Rights Councilforum, the Vietnamese deputy foreign minister said, “As a supreme organof the United Nations established to replace a body having lost itslegitimacy for the outdated manner it conducted its work, the HumanRights Council must truly be a forum to promote co-operation anddialogue among nations on the basis of the principles of transparency,democracy, objectivity, impartiality and non-selectivity, avoiding theapplication of double standards.
“The Council mustmanage to avoid the very major mistake leading to the failure of itspredecessor, which is the politicisation of human rights issues.Furthermore, the root causes of the recent and ongoing turbulentsituations in developing countries point to the need for the Council toassure a balanced implementation of economic, cultural social rights andpolitical rights.
“We note with satisfaction thatover the past few years, the Council has proved itself more effective,serving as a forum of dialogue and cooperation for all countries indealing with all human rights issues in a comprehensive and morebalanced manner and on the basis of equality.
“Wewould support efforts aimed at strengthening the Universal PeriodicReview mechanism which is based on the principle of equal treatment ofall member states. Last year, the General Assembly completed the reviewof the Council’s work and functioning by adopting resolution A/65/L.78supplementing resolution 60/251 in further strengthening the Council andimproving its effectiveness. Vietnam will continue to engage itselfin a constructive manner with other countries in implementation ofthese two important resolutions,” Minh concluded.-VNA
