Vietnam’s Election to the UNHRC – Great Responsibility yet Important Opportunity

Among Vietnam’s pledges as part of its election to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), it is encouraging that the country prioritised upholding its commitments and obligations under the international human rights treaties, of which Vietnam has ratified seven out of nine, according to UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis.

UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis. Photo: VNA

In her article titled “Dignity, Freedom and Justice for All” on the occasion of Human Rights Day (December 10) published in the Vietnam News Agency, Tamesis quoted the first line of the Preamble of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which says “Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”

“In one sentence, it encapsulates the principles and values that we, as a human family have promised to uphold and fulfil 74 years ago. It is a powerful reminder of the proclamation made by the United Nations General Assembly on this very day in 1948,” she wrote.

Tamesis said 2023 marks the 45th anniversary of Vietnam’s membership to the UN, citing UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres as saying during his recent visit that upholding human rights in all its dimensions, remain vital to the next chapter of Vietnam’s development success story.

She pointed out that the world today continues to face a multitude of challenges, from pandemics to conflicts to climate change.

Vietnam has not been spared from impact of global crises, she said, adding that while the country is still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic, it needs at the same time to cope with the increasing food and energy prices from the fallout of the war in Ukraine, while battling natural disasters and impact of climate change. Unfortunately, the poor and those least capable to overcome these shocks disproportionately bear the brunt of these crises.

People, students joined the Run for Zero Violence against women and girls in Vietnam to say NO to gender-based violence in September 2022. Photo: UNFPA

According to the UN official, the climate crisis exacerbates vulnerabilities faced by ethnic minority groups. Drought, heat waves and flooding lead to climate change-induced insecurity. Smallholder agriculture, particularly poor, ethnic minority and women farmers are ultimately the most severely impacted.

She said all these development challenges threaten dignity and equality in rights, including health, food, education, an adequate standard of living, social assistance, and even to life itself.

“The realities that vulnerable individuals and communities face in their lives and livelihoods serve as a reminder and push for our continued action to integrate human rights in all development priorities – from climate action, to labour and social protection, to economic transformation – and put people at the centre of development,” Tamesis wrote.

She noted that Vietnam’s election to the UNHRC for the period 2023-2025 presents a great responsibility but also an important opportunity to redouble efforts in protecting and promoting economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights in line with international human rights standards.

At the workshop “The role and contribution of persons with disabilities in Sustainable Development Goals” held in Hanoi on December 2. Photo: UNFPA

Among Vietnam’s pledges as part of its election to the UNHRC, it is encouraging that the country prioritised upholding its commitments and obligations under the international human rights treaties, of which Vietnam has ratified seven out of nine, strengthening education on human rights, and addressing the impacts of climate change on the enjoyment of human rights, with particular attention on the rights of vulnerable groups, she wrote.

As Vietnam commences its membership to the council, it would be critical to translate these commitments into concrete actions, and to demonstrate even stronger evidence of the protection and promotion of human rights, she suggested.

The UN, as a proud and long-standing partner of Vietnam over the past 45 years, will continue to work closely with the Vietnamese Government, development partners and civil society, to keep human rights at the centre of all development efforts, she pledged.

“Renewed collaboration and cooperation, including meaningful inclusion and participation of diverse non-government actors and communities, will be crucial for promoting the vibrant dialogue needed to help Vietnam progress on a broad range of human rights,” Tamesis said.

“Together, we can fulfil the promise of a human family that upholds dignity, freedom and justice for all”.

Human rights promoted in labour, social, gender equality aspects

Despite adverse impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change, Vietnam has completed 82.6% of recommendations with many positive results in terms of ensuring and promoting human rights in the fields of labout, society, gender equality and human trafficking combat.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha said at a conference was held in Hanoi on December 8 to update the implementation of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) third cycle recommendations in the fields of labour and society.

In 2019, the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat issued Directive No. 39 on strengthening the Party leadership over persons with disabilities (PwDs) affairs, asking organisations, agencies and individuals to enhance the awareness and responsibility to PwDs, and stressing the requirements to ensure their rights.

A programme to support PwDs in the 2021-2030 period was also issued by the Prime Minister, along with a plan to realise the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

In order to further support PwDs, Vietnam has developed a system of support centres for rehabilitation education with more than 100 special establishments in many cities and provinces. Assistance to PwDs has also been diversified to match their demand.

Currently, the country has nearly 1.1 million people with severe and extremely severe disabilities, about 100,000 families and individuals taking care of them in the community and receiving monthly social allowances in the community, and millions of people with disabilities and children with disabilities who are living in nursing centres.

PwDs who have working ability have received vocational training and employment opportunities.

Meanwhile, there are currently 1,900 vocational education institutions nationwide engaged in vocational training for people with disabilities, with 3,000 teachers who directly provide vocational training for this particular group of workers. Vocational training and job creation for PwDs have been clearly specified in the programme to assist PwDs in the 2021-2030 period.

Thanks to the support, the living conditions of PwDs have been greatly improved. To date, more than 90% of the families with members being PwDs have escaped from poverty, while nearly 90% of the children with disabilities have accessed schooling.

Vietnam joins Marrakesh Treaty to protect interests of visually impaired people. Photo: VOV

Most recently, Vietnam’s participation in the Marrakesh Treaty marks an important milestone in reasonably balancing the protection of copyrights and interests of persons who are blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled.

“From now on we can access international and domestic information, knowledge to expand our learning, opportunities to participate in society, and make changes not only for blind people but also persons with disability,” said Le Ngoc Hoan, chairman of Lang Son province’s Blind Association.