In a globalized world, the impact of conflict and climate change on human rights and civil rights is very real. Vietnam, an active and responsible member of the UN Human Rights Council, has affirmed its determination to "contribute to global peace and development and ensure all human rights for all."
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the World Economic Forum (WEF) policy dialogue session "Vietnam: Towards a Global Vision" on January 16th as the main guest. (Source: VNA) |
1. It is truly a source of pride that, in the early months of 2024, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos (Switzerland) – a gathering of national leaders and hundreds of leading global economic corporations – the name Vietnam was mentioned as "not only a star in the East Asian region but also in the process of transforming into a nation with global economic influence"; and as "a prime example of reform and development, internationally recognized as a model for rapid and sustainable economic development".
Vietnam's role, international standing, achievements, vision, and development prospects have been recognized by the international community after nearly 40 years of relentless reform efforts, especially the increasing attention to the poor and vulnerable groups, demonstrating a strong commitment to leaving no one behind.
In particular, policies supporting and facilitating the rights of people with disabilities are implemented in accordance with the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which Vietnam ratified on November 22, 2007. Each year, the State spends approximately 15,000 billion VND to support and provide monthly social allowances to over 1 million people with disabilities.
With its socio-economic development strategy for the period 2021-2030, and a vision to 2045, Vietnam has also implemented many initiatives to remove barriers, open up more opportunities, and ensure the effective participation of vulnerable groups in national exploration, innovation, and sustainable development.
The economic growth achievements in 2023 (over 5%) are proof of the effectiveness of sound macroeconomic policies. Maintaining economic growth means opportunities for Vietnam to continue protecting and promoting human rights more effectively, most notably the continuous reduction in the poverty rate to 3%; and the high priority and sustained social welfare spending at nearly 3% of GDP for many years.
Along with ensuring human rights domestically, in 2023, Vietnam continued to export over 8 million tons of rice, contributing to ensuring food security and access to food for millions of people in regions around the world.
As a country most severely affected by climate change, Vietnam has proactively enhanced its ability to adapt to landslides, droughts, and natural disasters. Simultaneously, it has implemented a new initiative on the sustainable development of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice cultivation, aligning with sustainable development trends while also playing a crucial role in ensuring global food security.
| The 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council took place from February 26 to April 5, considering 10 items and discussing issues such as the rights of persons with disabilities, the rights of children, combating religious hatred, and dialogue with special rapporteurs. |
After a turbulent year marked by the impacts of the global economy, Vietnam's GDP growth achievements have earned it recognition as a new model, simultaneously maintaining existing growth drivers while strategically shifting towards new ones such as artificial intelligence (AI), automotive technology, semiconductor technology, and ecosystems.
Throughout the first few months of the year, news about Vietnam's exports, especially rice exports, and foreign direct investment (FDI) has been providing further impetus to the economy amidst global economic fluctuations.
Speaking at the opening session of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council on February 26, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son shared: “What we have learned over the years is that the human rights of the people can be best guaranteed when there is peace, stability, and respect for international law, in which the State places the people at the center of all its policies to ensure comprehensive and sustainable development.”
This is also true at the global level to promote the enjoyment of all human rights for all people.” At the same time, the Vietnamese representative also shared Vietnam's recent efforts, such as through the Roadmap for the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, fulfilling climate change commitments at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP), including the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).
Vietnam has always attached great importance to and implemented many concrete measures to protect human rights, and shared information on the completion of its national report under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, cycle IV. Vietnam has submitted its UPR cycle IV report, with nearly 90% of the recommendations fully implemented, including information on the recent visit to Vietnam by the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development.
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| Minister Bui Thanh Son speaks at the High-Level Session of the 55th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, February 26 in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo: Nhat Phong) |
2. It is time for all global citizens to join hands and for urgent efforts to ensure human rights in the face of the myriad risks today – this was one of the messages emphasized by UN leaders at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis particularly highlighted this point when referring to the reality 75 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: conflict, the impacts of climate change, including the existential threat of rising sea levels, have left 300 million people in dire need of humanitarian assistance, including approximately 114 million refugees.
Particularly concerning is the crisis in the Middle East, where over 90% of the region's population has been displaced and is now "on the brink of starvation and trapped in the abyss of public health disaster." The suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza has reached an "unbearable peak."
To help the most vulnerable, not only in Gaza but also in Ukraine, Haiti, Yemen, Sudan, and other countries, the President of the UN General Assembly emphasized: “We must not let down the victims – the victims of human rights violations… We must never fail.”
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| High-level meeting of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. (Source: Getty Images) |
The determination not to fail in addressing ongoing human rights violations globally requires the joint efforts of all nations, and the Human Rights Council is part of this larger process.
In the context of a world still witnessing multiple crises simultaneously, the top priority issues that need to be focused on are: (i) ensuring the full enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development; (ii) protecting vulnerable groups; (iii) calling on countries to practice mutual respect and understanding, promote tolerance, inclusiveness, solidarity and respect for diversity, dialogue and cooperation to ensure all human rights for all, as stated in Resolution 52/19 chaired by Vietnam, which calls on countries to promote mutual respect and understanding, tolerance, inclusiveness, unity and respect for differences, dialogue, cooperation and international solidarity in promoting and protecting human rights.
As a member of the UN Human Rights Council and the principal sponsor of the aforementioned Resolution, the Vietnamese representative affirmed that it has and will continue to cooperate with all member states to promote this mission. Later this year, Vietnam, along with Bangladesh and the Philippines, will submit a draft annual resolution on promoting and protecting human rights in the context of climate change at the 56th Session.
Promoting dialogue, seeking comprehensive common solutions that meet the interests of developing countries on climate change, fostering gender equality, protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, providing humanitarian assistance to people in conflict, and addressing the root causes of discrimination, racism, and the consequences of colonialism are contemporary issues that require the shared will, interests, and joint efforts of all nations.
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