Minister Bui Thanh Son meets with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk

On the afternoon of February 26 (Switzerland time), continuing his program to attend the High-Level Session of the 55th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN), Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son met with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk.

Bộ trưởng Bùi Thanh Sơn gặp Cao ủy Nhân quyền Liên hợp quốc Volker Turk

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son met with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on the sidelines of the high-level meeting of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council. (Source: VNA)

At the meeting, Minister Bui Thanh Son shared information about the achievements in socio -economic development, poverty reduction, and ensuring the enjoyment of human rights for people in the process of national renewal and development over the past nearly 40 years, especially the increasing attention to the poor and vulnerable groups, so as not to leave anyone behind.

The Minister affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and implements many specific measures to protect human rights, and at the same time shares information on the completion of the national report under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, cycle IV.

The head of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs highly appreciated the role of the High Commissioner in particular and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in general and thanked the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for its close cooperation and support for Vietnam in its first year as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, especially in implementing initiatives initiated by Vietnam, notably Resolution 52/19 on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.

The Minister proposed that the Office of the High Commissioner continue to cooperate closely and support the implementation of Vietnam's initiatives, including the Resolution on human rights and climate change expected to be submitted to the Human Rights Council in June 2024.

Congratulating Vietnam on its successful first year as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, High Commissioner Volker Turk thanked Vietnam for its meaningful commitments on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Mr. Volker Turk appreciated Vietnam's active coordination and support for the Office of the High Commissioner and hoped to continue to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

The 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council will take place from February 26 to April 5 and will consider 10 topics, discussing issues such as the rights of people with disabilities, children's rights, combating religious hatred, dialogue with special rapporteurs, etc.

In 2024, the Human Rights Council will have two more regular sessions, scheduled to be held in June/July and September/October.

The High-Level Session of the 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council marks the beginning of Vietnam's second year as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, following 2023 with many milestones and initiatives welcomed and strongly supported by the international community, notably the Resolution on the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th Anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action introduced by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang at the High-Level Session of the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council (March 2023) with 121 co-sponsoring countries.

2024 is also an important pivotal year for Vietnam's participation at the Human Rights Council because it is the first time we will defend the Report under the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism (UPR) cycle IV of the Human Rights Council.

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