Vietnam attends opening of UN Human Rights Council’s 51st session

The Vietnamese diplomat congratulated Volker Türk on his appointment as High Commissioner for Human Rights, using the event to affirm the nation’s support for and close co-operation with the High Commissioner and his Office.

She shared the office’s concerns regarding three major global challenges which have a direct impact on human rights, including climate change, environmental pollution, and biodiversity degradation. She therefore called on the wider international community to act swiftly to respond to these challenges.

The Vietnamese representative stressed that the UN Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights should respect the diverse historical and socio-cultural conditions of respective countries and promote constructive dialogue and co-operation to protect and promote human rights. Indeed, this should be done in accordance with fundamental human rights principles, including universality, objectivity, impartiality, and non-selectivity.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Nada Al Nashif, acting high commissioner for Human Rights, delivered the Office’s report on the current global human rights situation.

She used the platform to call on countries to intensify co-ordination at multilateral forums, enhance political commitments relating to implementing international human rights standards, and uphold the role of international conventions and mechanisms. This should be done while asserting the council’s central role in enhancing international solidarity for peace, stability, justice, and the comprehensive and effective protection and promotion of human rights.

The council’s 51st session is set to last until October 7.