The 55th regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN) ended on April 5, completing the agenda set out at the beginning of the session, with 32 resolutions and 2 decisions adopted.
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk. Photo: Anh Hien/VNA reporter in Switzerland
The UN Human Rights Council has completed its 55th Session with a large workload and a record-long meeting time, in the context that humanity is still facing many challenges such as strategic competition, the war in Ukraine, the Hamas-Israel conflict, climate change, food insecurity, energy, water resources and many other social injustices. This session of the UN Human Rights Council has successfully organized a high-level meeting; 7 thematic discussions - on universalizing human rights, combating religious hatred leading to incitement to discrimination, hostility, violence, challenges and good practices to ensure the right to social security and provide quality public services, rights of people with disabilities; 2 discussions on children's rights; commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination; discussions and dialogues with about 36 special procedures and human rights mechanisms of the UN; discussions and dialogues on the human rights situation in countries around the world .
At the Session, the UN Human Rights Council also reviewed and discussed about 80 reports; consulted and approved 32 draft thematic resolutions; approved reports of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of 14 countries; approved the decision to postpone some activities of the Human Rights Council and the form of combined online and in-person meetings.
The Vietnamese delegation, led by Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, attended the 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term. In his opening speech, Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that human rights can only be best guaranteed when peace, stability, international law are maintained and respected, the State puts people at the center of all policies and ensures inclusive and sustainable development. The Minister reaffirmed Vietnam's priorities when participating in the UN Human Rights Council, including protecting vulnerable groups, gender equality, digital transformation and human rights. In order to continue to make positive contributions and strongly commit to the work of the UN Human Rights Council, Minister Bui Thanh Son declared and called on countries to support Vietnam's re-election as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term.
In addition, the Vietnamese delegation actively spoke at many meetings and discussions on ensuring specific rights such as the right to a clean and sustainable environment; the right to food; cultural rights; the rights of people with disabilities; the rights of children, etc. In addition, the Vietnamese delegation also actively contacted, exchanged, and consulted with delegations of other countries, co-sponsored a number of initiatives in the spirit of dialogue and cooperation; performed the duties of a member of the Human Rights Council in consulting and voting to approve 32 draft resolutions and 2 decisions of the Human Rights Council.
Together with ASEAN countries, the Vietnamese delegation delivered a joint speech on topics of common concern and sharing among ASEAN countries in the fields of fisheries exploitation and ensuring the right to food. Vietnam also spoke on behalf of the Core Group on Human Rights and Climate Change - including Vietnam, Bangladesh, and the Philippines - in the dialogue session related to the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the topic of measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the enjoyment of the right to food. In addition, on behalf of the inter-regional group, Vietnam delivered two joint speeches with high co-sponsorship from countries, calling for accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals to promote gender equality and protect essential infrastructure for people in armed conflicts.
In their speeches, the Vietnamese delegation highlighted the consistent policy, efforts and achievements in promoting and protecting human rights; affirmed Vietnam's commitment to sustainable development for the benefit of the people; stressed the need to address inequality and protect vulnerable people; called for addressing global challenges such as climate change and protecting human rights in armed conflicts; affirmed Vietnam's commitment to strengthening constructive cooperation with countries, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Human Rights Council and the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council to promote and protect human rights for all on the basis of respect for the UN Charter, international treaties on human rights, ensuring national sovereignty and the principles of objectivity, fairness, constructive dialogue and cooperation.
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