Putting people at the center of development strategy

Throughout the process of building and defending the Fatherland, people are always placed at the center of all strategies and policies.

This is a new approach not only in theory but also based on the summary of practice after nearly 40 years of renovation and the entire history of building and defending the country. The view that the People are the center, the subject in the development strategy, has clarified the subject of human rights (human rights) - that is the People. This is a new approach - this approach is based on human rights in development policy making; it is an approach that is being widely used by the United Nations (UN) and many developed countries in planning programs, strategies, and development plans.

Throughout the process of building and defending the Fatherland, people have always been placed at the center of all strategies and policies. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Vietnam's achievements in the field of human rights

Throughout the process of building and defending the Fatherland, people have always been placed at the center of all strategies and policies. Immediately after becoming a member of the United Nations (in 1977), Vietnam actively and proactively participated in international conventions on human rights.

For the current comprehensive renovation in Vietnam, the consistent policy of the Party and State is to recognize, respect, protect and ensure human rights, "respect and care for the happiness and comprehensive development of people, protect and ensure human rights and legitimate and legal interests of people, respect and implement international treaties on human rights that our country has signed"; people are the center of the development strategy and are always integrated into all development strategies and programs of the country to meet the needs and aspirations of all classes of people.

The Vietnamese State has implemented synchronous measures, prioritizing resources to invest in people; Vietnam has made efforts to implement human rights principles and standards and achieved many encouraging results in all areas, which have been recognized and highly appreciated by the international community. Based on international standards and taking into account the country's conditions, Vietnam has revised and supplemented its legal system to ensure compatibility with international standards and create an important legal basis for promoting and protecting human rights.

In the legal field . Vietnam has made tireless efforts to build and perfect the legal system on human rights, fully reflecting the civil, political , economic, social and cultural rights recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and key international conventions on human rights of the United Nations to which Vietnam is a member. To date, Vietnam has ratified 7/9 basic conventions of the United Nations on human rights; joined 25 conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO), including 7/8 basic conventions.

The Vietnamese State has actively internalized international principles and standards on human rights; ensuring harmony between national law and international law. In particular, the 2013 Constitution is considered the pinnacle of constitutional activities, affirming the consistency of human rights and citizens' rights in the Constitutions of 1946, 1959, 1980, 1992; at the same time, supplementing new, more complete, profound and comprehensive awareness in institutionalizing the Party's viewpoint on human rights, basic rights and obligations of citizens, in accordance with Vietnamese practice and international standards.

Vietnam has been promoting the promulgation, amendment and supplementation of legal documents on human rights to ensure compatibility with the 2013 Constitution . From 2019 to November 2023 alone, Vietnam has passed 44 laws, including many important laws related to human rights and civil rights.

In the political field, Vietnam has recognized and guaranteed the implementation of basic human rights such as the people's right to mastery; the right to participate in managing and supervising the activities of the State and the political system; the right to equality, solidarity, respect and mutual development of ethnic groups living in Vietnam; the right to live in an independent and sovereign country...

In the economic field . The State actively and synchronously implements national programs, goals and policies such as: poverty reduction; employment, income; social security. The State recognizes and guarantees basic human rights such as the right to ownership, the right to labor, the right to employment, the right to production and business, the right to equality between economic sectors, etc.

In the fields of culture , society and ideology , Vietnam always recognizes, respects and ensures that in reality every Vietnamese citizen enjoys the rights to freedom of belief and culture; the right to freedom of movement; the right to access information; the right to study and education; the right to health care; the right to participate in cultural life; the rights to social security; and basic civil rights.

Ensuring the rights of vulnerable social groups , such as women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, etc., has also achieved many positive results, in terms of criteria such as anti-discrimination; equal access and quality of services and opportunities.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son speaks at the High-Level Session of the 55th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland on February 28. (Photo: Bao Chi)

In the field of foreign affairs and international cooperation . Vietnam has always been active and proactive in fulfilling its obligations under international conventions on human rights to which Vietnam is a member; at the same time, promoting its role and responsibility in promoting and protecting human rights in the region and the world at the Human Rights Council, the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee of the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and other forums of the United Nations. Vietnam's role is highly appreciated by the international community, demonstrating the trust in being elected as a member of the UN Human Rights Council (2 terms 2014-2016, 2023-2025) and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (2 terms 2008-2009, 2020-2021).

It can be affirmed that, although there are still many difficulties, challenges and limitations such as: the legal institutional system to ensure human rights has not yet met the requirements of practice; the operation of some institutions in Vietnam is not really effective, causing significant impacts on the guarantee of human rights, some human rights are only at the level of recognition, the implementation still has certain difficulties..., but the achievements in the field of promoting, protecting and ensuring human rights of Vietnam are undeniable, affirming that the viewpoints, policies and guidelines of the Party, policies and laws of the State of Vietnam on human rights are correct.

To make people and human rights the center, goal, subject and driving force of national development.

In the coming time, our country will enter a new stage of development, implementing the Party's guidelines and viewpoints identified at the 11th National Party Congress as "people are the center of the development strategy and at the same time the subject of development", and the 13th National Party Congress determined that "People are the center and subject of the renovation, construction and protection of the Fatherland; all guidelines and policies must truly originate from the lives, aspirations, rights and legitimate interests of the people, taking the happiness and prosperity of the people as the goal to strive for", the Party and State of Vietnam have been, are and will be determined to achieve the goal of ensuring and better protecting human rights on the basis of the rule of law state and socialist democracy under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, while contributing with the international community to solving regional and global issues on human rights.

Accordingly, it is necessary to organize and implement well the following basic contents and tasks:

Firstly , continue to raise awareness of social actors about human rights and the recognition, respect, protection and guarantee of human rights. Guaranteeing human rights is of decisive significance to the comprehensive human development of each individual and the stability and common prosperity of the community and nation; is a principle and criterion of the rule of law state; is a requirement to ensure the success of Vietnam's innovation and international integration process in the coming time.

Therefore, it is necessary to continue to firmly uphold the ideological stance and viewpoint of the Communist Party of Vietnam on human rights; raise awareness among subjects in thoroughly grasping and implementing the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's policies and laws on respecting and protecting human rights.

In addition, it is important to focus on propaganda, dissemination and education for all subjects in society, especially all classes of people, about human rights to raise knowledge and awareness of law compliance, and at the same time, it is also a way to empower people to protect their own rights and respect the rights and freedoms of others.

Second , continue to improve the legal system on the principle of promoting the human factor, ensuring better implementation of people's fundamental freedoms, and a harmonious national legal system in accordance with international legal standards.

From the viewpoint of “taking people as the center, goal, subject and driving force of national development; the State respects, guarantees and protects human rights and civil rights”, “fundamentally perfecting mechanisms to ensure the people's mastery, guarantee and protect human rights and civil rights. Respect for the Constitution and the law becomes the norm of conduct for all subjects in society”. The State needs to promote the perfection of the system of legal regulations on human rights, continue to consolidate the system of human rights and civil rights that have been enshrined in the Constitution.

This includes supplementing and specifying a number of constitutional human rights; amending regulations on the restriction of human rights to conform with the spirit of international human rights law, for the public interest; strengthening regulations on the rights of vulnerable groups, including women, children, ethnic minorities, migrant workers, etc.

Third , continue to innovate the organization and operation of political system institutions and social institutions to ensure the feasible and effective implementation of human rights. In the coming time, it is necessary to focus on improving the leadership capacity and fighting strength of the Party, continue to innovate thinking and vision in promulgating the Party's policies and guidelines on human rights; it is necessary to emphasize the legislative role of the National Assembly in prioritizing the development of laws on human rights, creating a legal basis to respect, ensure and protect human rights and citizens' rights in all activities of state agencies and the whole society...

Continue to raise awareness among social actors about human rights and the recognition, respect, protection and guarantee of human rights. (Source: VNA)

Fourth , continue to strengthen cooperation with all countries, UN specialized mechanisms and organizations related to human rights in the spirit of equality, respect for international law, national sovereignty, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.

Strengthen cooperation and dialogue with UN human rights mechanisms, especially with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; strictly implement obligations under international human rights conventions to which Vietnam is a member. At the same time, consider joining other international conventions on human rights. Vietnam needs to continue to promote its role as a member of the UN Human Rights Council; increase participation and make practical contributions to promoting cooperation within ASEAN on human rights, especially at the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights AICHR and in implementing the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration; strengthen dialogue to exchange and share experiences with countries and organizations in the field of human rights.

Fifth, actively and proactively protect the Party's ideological foundation and socialist democracy; regularly grasp the situation, promptly forecast the plots and tricks of reactionary and hostile forces in the field of human rights to propose appropriate solutions. Resolutely protect the viewpoints, stances and national interests and effectively fight against activities that take advantage of democracy and human rights issues to interfere in our country's internal affairs.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dat-con-nguoi-la-trung-tam-trong-chien-luoc-phat-trien-296262.html