Vietnam respects and protects citizens’ rights and freedoms

The remarks questioned Vietnam’s respect for and protection of its citizen’s rights and freedoms. 

The spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights accused Vietnam of violence against protestors, including women and children. This accusation is groundless, untruthful, and biased.

Protecting the environment or inciting violence to topple the regime?

A number of subversive elements, including members of the Viet Tan terrorist group, were among the protestors, who planned to incite riots to topple the Vietnamese regime. 

They took advantage of an environmental disaster to hire many people including adolescents and people with criminal records to join protests and resist law enforcement forces. 

2 people have been arrested for receiving money from Viet Tan to distribute distorted information and images and incite people to protest against the state. Their real intention is to sabotage the upcoming election of deputies to the 14th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels and cause political and security instability in Vietnam.

Vietnam respects, ensures citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms

Vietnam respects its citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms, including the freedom to assemble and the freedom of speech in line with Vietnam’s Constitution and international norms on human rights. 

Since becoming a UN member in 1977, Vietnam has joined virtually every international convention on human rights, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the International Convenant on Economic, Cultural, and Social Rights, the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Convention against Torture, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

Vietnam has issued many decrees in line with Vietnamese law and international practices to ensure security and safety for its citizens, particularly the elderly, women, and children. 

Vietnam is a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 term. It has contributed significantly to human rights cooperation in the French-speaking community and joined a number of regional cooperation frameworks on human rights like the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. 

Vietnam has gone through the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review and held regular human rights dialogue with the US, Australia, Switzerland, and the EU. Vietnam’s achievements in ensuring citizens’ fundamental rights and freedoms have been acknowledged internationally.

Freedom, democracy in compliance with the law

According to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, which Vietnam signed on September 24, 1982, people’s rights and freedoms must be in line with the law, not affecting public order, national security, ethics, public health, or other individuals’ rights and interests. 

This means the exercise of citizens’ rights and freedoms and limitations are stipulated in the legal system of each country, which, based on their specific situation, will consider specific laws and measures to ensure their citizens’ rights and freedoms.

The actions taken by Vietnam at recent gatherings which used the pretext of environmental protection to cause disorder and riot were intended to maintain political and social stability and protect people’s safety. 

Law violations, which threaten citizens’ rights and freedoms and the basic interests of a country, must be strictly dealt with in accordance with that country’s laws.

The accusation by the spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, therefore, was wrongful and misinterpreted the situation of human rights in Vietnam. Biased, intentional remarks about human rights in any country should be criticized and rejected internationally.