In their opening remarks, UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the serious global challenges to human rights, including war, inequality, climate change, and unregulated technology. They called for an end to conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, and Haiti, urging peaceful solutions based on international law and the UN Charter.

They also emphasized the role of human rights in sustainable development, particularly in gender equality, education, and global financial reform to support poorer nations.

The Secretary-General also called for the implementation of the “Pact for the Future” to strengthen peace, development, the rule of law, climate action, and technology governance, aiming to protect human rights and create a more just world.

At the event, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk stated that the global human rights system is under unprecedented pressure due to conflicts, inequality, the climate crisis, and technology misuse. He called for accountability and respect for international law in conflicts across Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Afghanistan, and Haiti.

The UN High Commissioner also warned that rising inequality, climate change, and digital technology are eroding human rights. He noted that artificial intelligence could be abused for surveillance and information manipulation, while social media platforms contribute to social divisions. He stressed the importance of human rights in governance, economics, and social structures and urged greater investment in human rights protection mechanisms.

The High Commissioner further called on global leaders to act based on truth, law, and compassion to uphold human dignity and build a fairer future.

Ambassador Mai Phan Dung of Vietnam is expected to participate in discussions on critical topics such as climate change, children’s rights, and the rights of persons with disabilities, as well as other shared concerns of the international community.

The UNHRC session scheduled to last from February 24 to April 4 will feature four dialogues with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, seven thematic discussions, 25 interactive dialogues with special procedures, the review and discussion of 80 specialized reports, and the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) reports for 14 countries.

Vietnam's candidature to UN Human Rights Council for next term announced

VOV.VN - The Vietnamese Mission to the UN in New York held a ceremony on December 12 to announce the nation’s candidature for re-election to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2026 to 2028 term.