This was declared by Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh on February 29 at the ongoing 19th meeting of the United Nations' Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva. He said top priority is given to investing in areas which can bring about the best benefits to human beings.

Vietnam has done all it can to reduce poverty, develop educational and healthcare services, create new jobs, and improve people’s living conditions, he said, adding that despite global economic difficulties, the country has spared no effort to maintain an annual six-percent economic growth rate, which lays a firm foundation for implementing people’s rights.

To promote human rights in a legal and practical manner, the Vietnamese Government is focused on pushing through legal, administrative, and judicial reforms, Minh said.

The diplomat emphasized that Vietnam considers developing economics, ensuring social equality, and building a law-governed State as three pillars in its development strategy.

Regarding Vietnam’s comprehensive integration policy, aimed at promoting and protecting human rights, the Deputy FM said the country has cooperated closely with its international partners through interactive relations and regular talks with other countries to work out measures to settle human rights issues.

Vietnam has joined hands with other ASEAN nations to boost the operation of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), Minh said.

He said as an ASEAN’s candidate for the UNHRC’s 2014-2016 term and also an official member of all conventions on human rights, Vietnam will work closely with the international community for the sake of a world of peace, prosperity and equality.

Deputy FM Minh said the UNHRC’s 19th meeting is taking place in the context of significant changes in the world, especially in the Middle East and North Africa, which need co-ordinated efforts to maintain peace, and protect human rights.

The economic crisis coupled with political and social instability has left serious consequences for people’s lives and has given rise to internal conflicts in some parts of the world.

Many nations have difficulty fully implementing their commitments to ensure people’s rights to live, to have food and accommodation, to work and to study, he said. This means that it is impossible to protect human rights without a firm foundation of peace, stability, and development.

The Vietnamese diplomat expressed his delight at the restoration of peace and stability in many countries. However, he was still concerned about the increasing violence in Syria, which has claimed many lives. He called on concerned parties to show their goodwill by restraining themselves and peacefully negotiating to work out a suitable political solution that meets the Syrian people’s expectations.

Vietnam supports every effort of the international community to contribute to the national reconciliation and restoration of peace and stability in Syria in accordance with the UN Charter and international law, with respect for Syria’s national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-intervention from outside.

Describing the Human Rights Council as the UN’s top agency in charge of promoting and protecting human rights, Deputy FM Minh said it should encourage cooperation and dialogue on the basic principles such as transparence, objectiveness, non-bias, non-politicisation, non-selectivity, and non-application of double standards in the settlement of human rights issues. He said the UNHRC should keep away from the beaten track by its precursor, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which politicized human rights issues.

The Vietnamese diplomat said the Council needs to ensure the equal implementation of economic, cultural, and political rights.

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