Positive Vietnamese contributions to UNHRC’s activities highlighted

This marks the first activity of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang within the framework of his visit to the high-level session of the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council from February 27 to February 28.

As part of the occasion, Deputy PM Quang will also have a series of meetings  with leaders of international organisations in Geneva, receive leaders and officials of a number of countries with a view to strengthening relations with both international and national organisations.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, permanent representative of Vietnam to the UN, WTO, and other international organisations in Geneva.

Deputy PM Quang's business trip officially opens the nation’s participation as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023 to 2025 term.

According to details given by the diplomat, this is a high-level diplomatic activity which aims to continue implementing a proactive foreign policy, actively boosting international integration, promoting multilateral diplomacy, and upholding the role of the UN as part of global governance.

Furthermore, it upholds the consistent strategy and policies of the Party and State that puts people at the centre of development, thereby promoting sustainable development to ensure that people can enjoy the fruits of the development process brought about by the State, Ambassador Mai went on to say.

First established in 2006, the UN Human Rights Council represents the most important human rights mechanism in the UN system, a forum for dialogue, co-operation, and promotion of the balance of all human rights, including the right to development.

The Council therefore operates on the basis of objectivity, co-operation, and dialogue in a spirit of construction, impartiality, selectivity, politicisation, and double standards.

The Human Rights Council has 47 member countries, evenly distributed geographically, including the Asia Group with 13 seats, the Africa Group with 13 seats, the Eastern European Group with six seats, the Latin American and Caribbean Group with eight seats), along with the Group of Western Europe and other Western nations with seven seats.

Vietnam has always actively and responsibly participated in activities set up by the UN Human Rights Council since its first establishment, in which it has successfully assumed the role of a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014 to 2016 term, thereby contributing to the protection of national interests, and enhancing the position and prestige of the country.

According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, the nation’s second election to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023 to 2025 term is very important in many aspects.

Firstly, it continues to make an important contribution to affirming the correct and consistent guidelines and views of both the Party and State on the special importance and effective promotion of the human factor in national development, closely linking close economic growth with cultural and human development, as well as ensuring social progress and justice.

Secondly, the nation's participation in the council contributes to the implementation of the Party's foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress, which continues to raise the level of multilateral diplomacy, actively participates in and plays a role in important strategic multilateral mechanisms, thereby further enhancing the country's international position and prestige.

Thirdly, the active participation and contribution in the UN Human Rights Council serves to convey a strong message about the country’s image of loving peace whilst upholding humane and humanitarian values.

In addition, the nation can take advantage of the support, advice, and experience sharing of the UN and international partners to better implement human rights, citizens' rights, and people's mastery in the new stage of national development.

As a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023 to 2025 term, the nation will actively participate in the work of the Human Rights Council, while improving the overall effectiveness of the Human Rights Council's activities.

In line with this, the country will actively lead and promote initiatives to promote its interests in ways consistent with regulations and practices at the Human Rights Council, with a focus on issues such as improving the operational efficiency of the Human Rights Council along with respecting the UN Charter and international law in accordance with the functions and competence of the Human Rights Council.

This should be done whilst combating violence and discrimination, strengthening protection of vulnerable groups, promoting gender equality; as well as improving human rights in the context of digital transformation, employment rights, the rights to access to quality education, and human rights education.