Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, the World Trade Organization, and other international organizations in Geneva (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at a dialogue session with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, Mai affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy on promoting and protecting human rights.

She expressed the country's support for the work of the High Commissioner and the UN's human right mechanisms, as well as for conducting practical, constructive dialogues on human rights issues, while emphasizing human rights should not be politicized to interfere in internal affairs of sovereign states or to criticize nations.

Regarding Vietnam’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Mai said that Vietnam has made every effort to ensure the people’s enjoyment of basic human rights, with the highest priority given to the protection of lives and health of people, especially vulnerable groups, while maintaining economic growth.

Within the framework of the council’s 47th session, one of Vietnam’s concerns is human rights in climate change, as it is one of the countries most affected by climate change.

Vietnam is planning to participate in organizing a debate on the rights of the elderly amidst climate change. On behalf of the core group comprising Bangladesh, the Philippines and Vietnam, the country will introduce a draft resolution on climate change and human rights in 2021, focusing on vulnerable groups.

The resolution has been introduced annually since 2014 to seek the UN Human Rights Council’s approval, with different themes for each year.