(VOVworld) – A dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteurs on human rights is an important cooperative activity between Vietnam and the UN’s Universal Periodic Review on human rights. Open discussions of policies and law between Vietnamese government agencies and the UN Special Rapporteurs ensuring freedom of religion and belief demonstrate the friendly, constructive, and cooperative attitude of the Vietnamese government.
People attend a peace requiem in Quang Tri |
The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is a mechanism established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2007 to thoroughly and objectively review the implementation of duties and commitments on human rights in all UN member countries. Since 2010, Vietnam has hospitably received 6 UN “Special Procedures” reflecting its strong commitment as a member of the UN Human Rights Council to UPR recommendations.
Freedom of religion and belief has improved in Vietnam
During his visit to Vietnam from July 21 to 31, 2014, Heiner Bielefeldt, a UN Special Rapporteur, worked with representatives of ministries, sectors, and functional agencies from the central to local level, visited religious centers, and met with organizations and individuals to learn about religious life in Vietnam. In a press release following his tour, Bielefeldt said conditions for religious practice have improved and many religious followers told him they had more space to practice their religion than in the past.
Vietnam has approved virtually every international convention on human rights, including the UN Convention on Civil and Political Rights which contains Article 18 on freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief. Bielefeldt mentioned Vietnam’s 2013 Constitution, whose Chapter 2 covers human rights and the rights and obligations of citizens, and whose Article 24 guarantees freedom of religion and belief to all citizens. All religions are equal under Vietnamese law. The State respects and protects freedom of religion and belief. No one is allowed to violate religious freedom or take advantage of religious freedom to violate the law.
Other human rights achievements
Vietnam has other human rights achievements. These include approving the Law on Persons with Disabilities, joining the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and the UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, and ratification of the ILO’s Convention 122 on Employment Policy, and Convention 186 on Maritime Labor. Vietnam has always respected, protected, and promoted human rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of the press, freedom of information, freedom of religion and belief, the rights of prisoners and detainees, and economic, social and cultural rights. Vietnam has made significant contributions to the ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), and the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. Vietnam has actively participated in the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT) and established regular bilateral dialogues with the US, the EU, Australia, Norway, and Switzerland. Vietnam’s contributions to international efforts to protect and promote human rights have been acknowledged by broad support of Vietnam’s bid to join the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 term.
Dialogue to promote human rights
Since 2010, Special Rapporteurs within the framework of the UN’s Universal Periodic Review have examined Vietnamese policies and laws ensuring freedom of religion and belief and human rights in general. Vietnamese ministries and localities have highlighted Vietnam’s achievements, difficulties and challenges in protecting and improving human rights. Vietnam’s cooperation with the UN Special Rapporteurs demonstrates its good will and commitment to human rights.