In a pre-recorded speech on March 2, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said Vietnam stands ready to work closely with other member states and stakeholders to uphold the principles of the UN Charter and international law, and strengthen the HRC through dialogue, cooperation, and mutual respect. Vietnam pays special attention to protecting human rights, particularly the rights of vulnerable groups and reducing violence and discrimination against them as well as protecting and promoting human rights in addressing global issues like climate change.

The Vietnamese delegation participated in several discussion sessions where they reviewed Vietnam’s policies, engagement in international cooperation, and achievements in promoting and protecting human rights towards the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of Vietnam’s permanent mission to the UN, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and other international organisations in Geneva, stressed Vietnam’s consistent implementation of and outstanding attainments in human rights protection  including the right to housing, the right to food, and the right to culture, and called on all nations and the HRC to enhance cooperation and dialogue to promote human rights instead of criticising certain countries on the basis of imprecise or unverified information. 

Vietnam also actively engaged in the drafting of documents which were adopted by the HRC at this session, including a resolution on equitable, timely, and universal access to COVID-19 vaccines.

This is not the first time that Vietnam has urged more international cooperation and dialogue to strengthen mutual understanding and promote human rights domestically and internationally. With the policy “ Vietnam is ready to be a friend and a reliable partner of other countries and to strive for peace, independence, cooperation and development”, Vietnam has strengthened international cooperation in human rights at bilateral and multilateral forums and within international human right organizations.

Vietnam has become a member of major international conventions on human rights including the Convention on Civil and Political Rights (1966), the Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (1979); Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1969), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and two Additional Protocols on Children in Armed Conflict and Against the Use of Children in Prostitution and Pornography, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006), the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Convention on the Minimum Age of Children to Participate in Industrial Labor, the Convention on Equal Pay Between Male and Female Workers, the Convention on Non-Discrimination in Employment and Occupation, the Forced or Compulsory Labor Convention, the Employment Policy Convention, and the Maritime Labor Convention.

In its latest effort to work with the UN to promote human rights in Vietnam and internationally, the Foreign Ministry on March 31 launched Vietnam's voluntary midterm report on the implementation of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) third cycle recommendations and announced Vietnam’s candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council in the 2023-2025 tenure. The UPR Third Cycle Voluntary Mid-term Report was approved by the Prime Minister on March 22, 2022 to be submitted to the UNHRC.

The report demonstrates responsibility, transparency and seriousness of Vietnam toward the UPR Mechanism in particular and the implementation of international commitments on ensuring human rights in general. It is significant in the context of Vietnam’s candidacy for the Human Rights Council. Vietnam will cooperate with other UN members and relevant stakeholders to maintain the principles of the UN Charter and reinforce the UNHRC’s role through dialogues, cooperation, and mutual respect.

Vietnam is promoting gender equality in the digital transformation era; supporting resolutions on human rights and climate change in partnership with other members of the Core Group; contributing to the Council’s efforts toward healthcare and post-pandemic recovery; and promoting the right to work to complete Agenda 2030 on sustainable development. Promoting human rights training and education will also be another priority for Vietnam if it joins the Human Rights Council.

Vietnam wants to become an active and responsible member of the UN Human Rights Council in the 2023-2025 tenure promoting dialogue and cooperation and strengthening efficiency, transparency, and balance in the performance of the Council to enhance its role as the UN’s most important mechanism for addressing human rights issues. Vietnam considers the Universal Periodic Review of the HRC an effective mechanism for sharing information and experience and improving understanding between countries.