Vietnam makes its mark in 2023 as an active and responsible member of the UN Human Rights Council

2023 continues to be a year with many marks in Vietnam's foreign affairs. In Geneva, Vietnam has many activities that clearly mark its presence, notably its contributions and initiatives within the framework of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council (HURC) at all three regular sessions of the 52nd, 53rd and 54th, and other activities.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang led the Vietnamese delegation to attend and speak at the high-level meeting of the 52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on February 27. (Photo: Hai Minh/VGP)

2023 is the first year that Vietnam assumes the position of a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, the second term after the first term from 2014-2016. The world situation has many fluctuations, competition between major powers is complicated, the issue of promoting and ensuring human rights continues to attract the attention and priority of countries and international organizations, while there are still different views, the work of the UN Human Rights Council has increased in terms of volume, meeting time as well as discussion issues.

In that context, implementing the foreign policy of the Party and State, Directive 25 of the Secretariat on promoting and elevating multilateral diplomacy, Vietnam has actively and responsibly participated in the activities of the UNSC, making efforts with other countries to promote dialogue, cooperation, enhance mutual understanding, build consensus in discussions and adopt resolutions and decisions of the UNSC.

Also as a member of the UNSC, the Vietnamese Delegation actively participated in the Troika to support the review of National Reports of a number of countries at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

Notably, Vietnam has proactively proposed many cooperation initiatives on human rights at all three regular sessions this year, with the participation, support and co-sponsorship of many countries and international organizations. Vietnam’s efforts and contributions have been recognized, supported and highly appreciated by countries and international organizations.

Notably, on February 27, at the High-level Session of the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang proposed an initiative to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action with a Resolution of the Human Rights Council to reaffirm the great and comprehensive goals and values ​​of the above important international documents and the common commitment of the international community to the human rights of all mankind.

The Vietnamese delegation actively implemented this initiative at the Session and achieved the result of the Resolution Commemorating the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th Anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, which was adopted by consensus by the Human Rights Council, with 121 co-sponsors.

This resolution is an important milestone of the HDNQ, creating the basis for organizing HDNQ anniversary activities throughout 2023 at national, regional and global levels.

The above-mentioned Resolution of the Human Rights Council proposed by Vietnam is also the basis for the highlight activity at the end of the year that just took place - the High-level Event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, held at the UN Office in Geneva from December 10-12, 2023.

Assistant Minister Nguyen Minh Vu, Head of the Vietnamese delegation, attended and spoke at the 53rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. (Source: VNA)

In addition, at the 53rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council this year, Vietnam and the Core Group drafted and negotiated the annual Resolution on Climate Change and Human Rights (the Group includes Vietnam, the Philippines and Bangladesh), focusing on the topic "Negative impacts of climate change on livelihoods and their impact on human rights".

This is a highly topical resolution, adopted by the UN Human Rights Council by consensus with 80 co-sponsors. At the same time, Vietnam and this Core Group co-organized a Thematic Discussion on Climate Change and Human Rights with the theme “Negative impacts of climate change on the full realization of the right to food”.

Also at the 53rd Session, implementing the priorities set out during the campaign for the Human Rights Council, in addition to speaking to discuss promoting labor rights, the Vietnamese Delegation organized an international seminar on "Combating discrimination, violence and harassment based on gender in the workplace" with the co-sponsorship of the US and Argentine Delegations, and the participation and speeches of representatives of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and representatives of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai and representatives of countries at the International Dialogue on Promoting the Human Right to Vaccination, at the 54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. (Source: VNA)

In addition, at the 54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, Vietnam launched two initiatives to promote the human right to vaccination, including the Joint Statement and the International Dialogue on “Promoting the Human Right to Vaccination”, co-organized by the two Delegations of Vietnam and Brazil together with Gavi - the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, with the participation and speech of a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO).

This Joint Statement and Discussion highlight the important links and impacts between immunization and the right to health, the importance of immunization, and call for multilateral efforts to strengthen international solidarity and cooperation, technical support, and capacity building to ensure equitable, affordable and timely access to vaccines, as well as the promotion of the right to immunization and the full implementation of immunization programs to ensure the right to health at the highest possible standard.

In addition to many national statements, joint statements of ASEAN and groups of like-minded people, as well as constructive consultations, the above-mentioned specific activities are part of a series of initiatives and practical contributions of Vietnam as an active and responsible member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, contributing to introducing Vietnam's achievements and efforts in promoting and ensuring human rights, while actively contributing to the work of the Human Rights Council on issues of common concern to the international community.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai and the Vietnamese delegation with the President, three Vice Presidents of the 2023 UNSC and a number of ambassadors from other countries at the closing session of the 54th session of the UNSC on October 13. (Source: VNA)

Closing 2023 with many vibrant multilateral activities of Vietnam in Geneva, the Vietnamese Delegation coordinated with the United Nations Office in Geneva to organize the Photo Exhibition "Cultural Colors: Natural and Cultural Heritage in Vietnam" (December 10-12, 2023).

This photo exhibition demonstrates Vietnam's efforts to promote the connection between preserving and developing cultural and natural heritages of ethnic and religious communities in Vietnam and protecting human rights of all people in all fields.

This activity is part of the national and religious propaganda program, aiming to enhance mutual understanding, dialogue and cooperation, as well as commitments to common values ​​of human rights, peace, development and happiness for all.

Vietnam has actively contributed to the High-level Event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights with the above-mentioned Commemorative Resolution of the Human Rights Council. At the same time, the Vietnamese delegation actively attended this High-level Event, reaffirming Vietnam's strong commitments to promote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through more efforts and actions to better ensure human rights in all political, economic, cultural and social aspects, leaving no one behind.

Key priorities include: strengthening the rule of law by continuing judicial reform to improve the institutional, judicial and policy foundations related to human rights, and translating the provisions of international human rights treaties into national laws; promoting effective measures and allocating sufficient resources to better ensure economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights; participating responsibly in the work of the Human Rights Council and promoting the role and effectiveness of the Human Rights Council, paying special attention to the rights of vulnerable groups and the impact of climate change on the enjoyment of human rights.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai led the Vietnamese delegation to attend and speak at the High-level Event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, December 10-12. (Source: VNA)

The success and mark in participating in the activities of the UNSC, especially in implementing these initiatives, is thanks to the participation and close and synchronous coordination between domestic ministries, departments and branches, the coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the direct implementation of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam in Geneva.

In 2024, Vietnam will continue to promote its role as an active and responsible member of the UN Human Rights Council. The Permanent Mission in Geneva will not only actively participate in regular sessions of the UN Human Rights Council, but also focus on implementing a number of cooperation initiatives to promote and ensure human rights, including presiding over the development and negotiation of a draft resolution on climate change and human rights at the June 2024 session.

In addition, Vietnam will submit and defend its National Report under the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism (participating in the UPR cycle IV). At the same time, the Mission will continue to act as a member of the Group of 3 countries supporting the review of the National Reports of a number of countries in the UPR cycle IV.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-ghi-dau-an-nam-2023-tren-cuong-vi-thanh-vien-tich-cuc-va-trach-nhiem-cua-hoi-dong-nhan-quyen-lhq-254171.html