Vietnam is confident in its re-election to the Human Rights Council for the next term.

As a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2023-2025 term, Vietnam continues to have many initiatives that align with Vietnam's priorities and the common concerns of the world , which are highly appreciated by the international community.

Overview of the 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council High-Level Meeting in Geneva.

And at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council, which took place over six weeks from February 26 to April 5, 2024, and was the longest session of the Human Rights Council to date, Vietnam also proactively and actively contributed to and spoke both as a nation and on behalf of four groups of countries on various topics, contributing to the overall activities of the session.

Speaking to TG&VN , Ambassador Mai Phan Dung, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, WTO and other international organizations in Geneva, said that the session reviewed more than 80 reports and discussed and negotiated on various areas related to human rights, from climate change, the right to food, gender equality, to issues such as the impact of conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine and many other parts of the world on the enjoyment of human rights.

At the conclusion of its session, the Human Rights Council adopted 32 resolutions and 2 decisions, including new issues such as combating discrimination and violence against intersex people; adopted national reports under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism for 14 countries; and appointed personnel for 14 Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council in various fields.

The extensive participation of leaders from various countries, international organizations, and other stakeholders throughout the session, along with the exchange and discussion of current issues, is attracting the attention of the international community. This demonstrates the high level of international interest in the activities of the Human Rights Council and also reflects the leading role of this body in discussing and deciding on issues related to human rights today.

Minister Bui Thanh Son speaks at the High-Level Session of the 55th UN Human Rights Council, February 26, in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo: Nhat Phong)

Ambassador Mai Phan Dung emphasized: “In its role as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, the Vietnamese delegation, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, actively participated in the discussions and decision-making process of the aforementioned session.”

Minister Bui Thanh Son's speech at the High-Level Session of the 55th National Assembly shared the efforts and achievements Vietnam has made in economic , cultural, and social development, contributing to ensuring social security and the full enjoyment of human rights for its people.

The Minister shared Vietnam's views and approaches on issues of common concern to the international community today; emphasizing the need to maintain and respect peace, stability, and international law; promoting mutual respect and understanding, tolerance, inclusiveness, unity, and appreciation of differences; dialogue and cooperation; while placing people at the center of all policies and ensuring inclusive and sustainable development.

Minister Bui Thanh Son also reaffirmed Vietnam's priorities when participating in the UN Human Rights Council, including protecting vulnerable groups, gender equality, digital transformation, and human rights; announced that Vietnam has fully implemented nearly 90% of the recommendations under the 2019 UPR mechanism and is preparing for the fourth UPR report in May 2024; and stated that it will propose an annual resolution on ensuring human rights in the context of climate change at the upcoming 56th session in June 2024.

At the same time, to continue Vietnam's positive contributions, strong commitment, and readiness to contribute, Minister Bui Thanh Son declared and called on countries to support Vietnam's re-election as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term.

Ambassador Mai Phan Dung spoke on behalf of the Core Group for the Resolution on Human Rights and Climate Change, which includes Vietnam, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, during the Dialogue Session on the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on the topic of measures to mitigate the impact of climate change on the enjoyment of the right to food. (Source: VNA)

In addition, Ambassador Mai Phan Dung also announced that at the recently concluded session, besides making statements in his capacity as a nation, Vietnam also proactively and actively contributed to and spoke on behalf of the four groups of countries on various topics, contributing to the overall activities of the session.

Specifically, Vietnam spoke on behalf of ASEAN and Timor-Leste at the Dialogue Session with the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food; on behalf of the Core Group of the Resolution on Climate Change and Human Rights (comprising Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Vietnam) at the Dialogue Session on 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; on behalf of the group of 22 countries in the interregional group at the general debate on March 27, 2024, on the topic of protecting essential infrastructure for people in armed conflict; and on behalf of the group of 63 countries in the interregional group at the general debate on April 3, 2024, on the topic of accelerating the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals to promote gender equality.

These are issues that Vietnam prioritizes and actively promotes, and are also of high concern and priority to the international community today. The widespread support and co-sponsorship of these joint statements by numerous countries demonstrates the high regard for Vietnam's role and voice, as well as its ability to connect and promote exchange and dialogue on human rights issues at the Human Rights Council.

In particular, the joint statement on accelerating progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals to promote gender equality, co-sponsored by 63 countries from different geographical regions and levels of development, was one of the most widely supported joint statements at the regular session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Ambassador Mai Phan Dung affirmed: “Along with the role and position of the country, our active, proactive and responsible participation as a member of the Human Rights Council for the current term 2023-2025, the high appreciation of the international community for Vietnam's participation in international multilateral forums, most recently the ECOSOC's confidence in electing Vietnam to the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (UN Women) for the term 2025-2027, we have grounds to believe in the support of other countries for Vietnam's re-election to the Human Rights Council for the upcoming term 2026-2028.”

(according to the Vietnamese Delegation in Geneva)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-tin-tuong-vao-viec-tai-ung-cu-hoi-dong-nhan-quyen-nhiem-ky-toi-268116.html