On July 31, 2023, the European Union (EU) published its 2022 Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World . The assessment section referring to Vietnam shows many one-sided, unobjective, and prejudiced contents from previous years. This ill-intentioned report causes a distorted perception of the situation of the country and people of Vietnam, which is an excuse for bad forces to use to sabotage.
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| Citizens - voters have the right to express their opinions and aspirations to the government through the People's Council. In the photo: A meeting with voters of the Provincial People's Council delegates in Tuy An. Photo: KHÁNH UYỀN |
In its assessment of Vietnam, the report finds that restrictions on political and civil rights in Vietnam continued in 2022, particularly on freedom of expression, association and association.
One-sided and unbiased assessment
The report finds that space for civil society in Vietnam is continually shrinking. Evidence is that a number of new laws and decrees have been enacted or are in the pipeline that impose further restrictions on cybersecurity, the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and freedom of religion. Journalists, bloggers, human rights defenders, and environmental activists continue to be arrested and prosecuted on “vague charges” of crimes against national security or tax evasion, and sentenced to long prison terms in trials with little or no public access.
The report found that media freedom remains severely restricted: Print, radio and television, online and electronic media are tightly controlled; access to politically independent websites is blocked and social media companies are forced to close accounts or delete content critical of the Government…
Immediately after the report was published, Radio Free Asia (RFA) edited and edited many contents, continuously propagandizing and distorting the human rights and democracy situation in Vietnam. In particular, hostile forces and reactionary organizations took the opportunity to "follow suit" by constantly speculating, spreading and sharing negative information on cyberspace to attack the implementation of human rights, slander the social regime, and defame the Party, State and People of Vietnam.
It can be seen that the EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World 2022, the part mentioning Vietnam is a one-sided assessment, lacking objectivity and practical basis, causing a distorted perception of the image of the country and people of Vietnam in the eyes of the international community. A report full of prejudice and speculation.
People are at the heart of development strategy
Our Party was born when the country was still enslaved, and led the People to rise up and break the chains, so the Party has always had the sole purpose of building an independent and free country where all people can be happy. This sole goal is clearly stated in the Party's most important documents.
The Platform for National Construction in the Transitional Period to Socialism (supplemented and developed in 2011) affirmed: “People are the center of the development strategy and at the same time the subject of development. Respect and protect human rights, link human rights with the rights and interests of the nation, the country and the people's right to mastery”. Most recently, the 13th Party Congress determined: “People are the center and subject of the cause of innovation, 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 perfection and development of this ideology for the People is not only theoretical but also based on the summary of the practice throughout the history of building and defending the Fatherland of the nation. With the viewpoint and goals of the Party, development programs and policies must all focus on the subject - the people; taking the legitimate rights and interests, taking the happiness and prosperity of the People as the highest goal to strive for in the activities of the Party, the State and the political system.
From a legal perspective, over the past years, the National Assembly has made many efforts to improve the law in general, and the law on human rights in particular, which has been recognized and highly appreciated by the international community. In particular, Vietnam has joined 25 conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO), a special agency of the United Nations related to labor issues, related to the fields of collective bargaining, anti-discrimination, child labor and forced labor.
Vietnam's important efforts and achievements in building and perfecting laws and institutions on human rights strongly demonstrate the implementation of ensuring human rights in general.
Reality over the past years has shown that the entire political system under the leadership of the Party has implemented many major socio-economic programs to ensure and improve the quality of enjoyment of human rights for all people. Up to now, Vietnam has been considered by international organizations as a typical example of the international community in implementing the UN's goal of inclusive development, leaving no one behind.
The World Bank (WB) report “New Leap Forward: Poverty Reduction and Shared Prosperity in Vietnam 2022” affirms that poverty in Vietnam continues to decline, especially among ethnic minorities with a sharp reduction of 13%, the largest reduction in the past decade.
On September 9, 2022, in Hanoi, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) held the launching ceremony of the global Human Development Report (HDR) 2021/2022 with the theme "Uncertain times, uncertain lives: Building the future in a changing world" and stated: "Unlike most developing countries, Vietnam has managed to maintain economic growth during the most difficult years of the pandemic.
Despite slowing average growth and very difficult times for vulnerable groups and individuals, Vietnam has avoided a reversal in human development progress. Vietnam’s HDI (human development index) value of 0.703 in 2021 is essentially unchanged from pre-pandemic 2019.”
Overcoming prejudice
Contrary to the negative assessments made by the EU report, Vietnam's achievements in human rights have been recognized by the United Nations. On October 11, 2022, the United Nations General Assembly elected 14 countries as members of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, including Vietnam.
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| Illustration: Internet |
Being elected to the Human Rights Council, the United Nations' leading body in protecting and promoting human rights, demonstrates the international community's recognition of Vietnam's policies, efforts and achievements in increasingly ensuring people's rights.
More importantly, this is the second time Vietnam has been elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council. In 2013, Vietnam was first elected to the Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 term with the highest number of votes among the 14 new member countries.
The country’s achievements and the recognition of the international community are vivid evidence of a long process of tireless, persistent efforts and struggles by our Party, State and People in all fields, affirming that we always respect, protect and promote democracy and human rights. Only those who deliberately turn a blind eye and live by prejudice can deny this obvious truth.
Being elected as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term demonstrates the international community's recognition of Vietnam's policies, efforts and achievements in increasingly ensuring people's rights.
HUYEN TRAN
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