Vietnam makes progress in protecting and promoting human rights

He said Vietnam has fulfilled 209 out of a total of 241 recommendations accepted in the third cycle, partially met 30 others, and í working on two others.

He provided up-to-date information affirming Vietnam’s great efforts in ensuring human rights, especially in perfecting the legal system on human rights, and fulfilling obligations under international treaties on human rights of which Vietnam is a member.

The diplomat highlighted the country’s achievements in sustainable multidimensional poverty reduction, enhancing social security, improving people’s lives and ensuring the rights of vulnerable groups, as well as the country’s engagement in dialogue with international and regional partners in the field of human rights.

Highlighting notable points in the report, he said from 2019 to November 2023, Vietnam continued its efforts to build a rule-of-law state with the adoption of 44 laws, many of them are significant in terms of human and civil rights.

The country also joined the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention No.98 and ILO’s Abolition of Forced Labour Convention No. 105. It also engaged in negotiations and formally joined the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).

According to the report, since 2009, Vietnam’s GDP per capita has increased by 25% while the poverty rate has decreased by 1.5% annually. Health insurance coverage has risen from over 81% in 2016 to 92% in 2022. The rate of households using clean water has reached 98.3%, up nearly 1% compared to 2018. The media, press, and Internet have developed robustly, becoming useful public forums and serving as a tool for monitoring the implementation of policies and laws, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the people.

After 26 years of Internet connection, Vietnam has developed a modern telecommunications technology system. As of September 2023, Vietnam had 78 million Internet users, an increase of 21% compared to the 2019 figure. The number of mobile broadband subscribers is 86.6 million, an increase of 38% compared to 2019.

Currently, there are about 72,000 associations operating regularly in Vietnam, actively contributing to handling important socio-economic issues of the country.

At the press briefing, the diplomat pointed out challenges faced by Vietnam and priority directions for future cooperation. According to Viet, Vietnam needs to increase resources for sustainable and inclusive development, improve the efficiency of public service delivery and efforts to reform administrative procedures, and effectively carry out strategies on green transition and digital transformation.

He stressed the need for Vietnam to fully meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or expand the social security system and narrow the development gap between urban and rural areas, remote and mountainous areas, and raise public awareness of human rights issues.

Talking about report preparations, he noted that the report was carried out comprehensively and transparently with support from State agencies, socio-political, professional and non-Governmental organisations, development partners and citizens, as well as feedback from consultation workshops.

At the press briefing, the Deputy Foreign Minister answered reporters’ queries about the UN agencies’ recent report that contains nonobjective contents about human rights situation in Vietnam. He said one of the fundamental principles of modern international relations, which is enshrined in the UN Charter, is the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of states. And one of the foundational principles of the relationship between Vietnam and other countries around the world is the respect for each other’s political regime.

“I firmly reject any opinions, proposals or recommendations that violate this rule,” said the diplomat.

Vietnam has officially submitted its fourth UPR cycle report, and on May 7, a Vietnamese delegation is due to attend a dialogue session on the national fourth UPR cycle report at the UNHRC.