Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai: Promoting cooperation and Vietnam's re-election to the Human Rights Council meets urgent human rights needs in the world

The 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council takes place over six weeks with many sessions. (Photo: Elma Okic)

How does the Ambassador assess the Human Rights Council sessions in the current complex international context and urgent human rights demands?

The 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HURC), taking place from February 24 to April 4 in Geneva, is one of three regular annual sessions of the 47-member UNRC - the most important mechanism of the United Nations (UN) on human rights.

The Human Rights Council session continues to face challenges, the world situation is complicated with prolonged conflicts, economic and technological disparities, climate crisis, food insecurity, increasingly polarized geopolitical context, causing many fierce polarized discussions, many resolutions become the focus of debate, forcing the Human Rights Council to vote to pass resolutions; the duration of sessions tends to be longer each year with many activities of the Human Rights Council spread throughout the year. Funding for multilateral human rights activities, especially the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, is facing serious budget cuts.

Ambassador, Dr. Le Thi Tuyet Mai, former Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other international organizations in Geneva. (Photo: NVCC)

In the face of the complex and challenging international context mentioned above, the Session continued its broad agenda, reflecting global concerns and strategic priorities of individual countries and groups of countries in the field of human rights; at the same time emphasizing the need to address urgent issues such as protecting vulnerable groups, ensuring access to food, responding to climate change and promoting social justice.

At the end of the session, the members of the Human Rights Council adopted 32 resolutions, of which 20 were adopted by consensus and 12 by ballot, covering topics such as the right to food, gender equality, environmental rights, as well as specific human rights situations in countries such as Iran, Syria, Ukraine and Nicaragua. The session also extended the mandates of special rapporteurs and experts, and strengthened the monitoring and technical assistance mechanisms previously established by the Human Rights Council.

The presence of senior UN leaders such as the UN Secretary-General, the President of the UN General Assembly and many senior officials from countries at the Session demonstrated the commitment to continue maintaining multilateral human rights dialogue and cooperation. In addition, the broad participation of member states and observers also affirmed the position of the Human Rights Council as the most important UN mechanism in enhancing dialogue, building consensus and international cooperation on human rights.

Despite many differences and challenges, the fact that the 47 member states of the Council, representing many different groups of countries in terms of geography, politics, and development levels, have persisted in building consensus, adopting a series of resolutions, and maintaining cooperation shows their determination to promote human rights as an essential part of global peace and sustainable development. This is also the core spirit of the UN Charter (1945) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (adopted by the High-Level Leaders of UN Member States in 2015).

Therefore, each session of the Human Rights Council, including the 58th Session, is of great significance in cooperating to address the urgent need to promote and protect human rights globally, reflecting the need for continued dialogue, engagement and cooperation among countries in an increasingly complex and fragmented world.

Ambassador Mai Phan Dung, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other international organizations in Geneva (Switzerland) (front row, 2nd from left) and members of the Vietnamese delegation at the voting and closing session of the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. (Source: VNA)

How does the Ambassador view Vietnam's Joint Statement initiative on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Vietnam's proactiveness at the 58th Session?

I consider Vietnam's participation in the 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, chairing the development and presentation of the Joint Statement on promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve gender equality as a typical demonstration of Vietnam's proactiveness, positivity and responsibility in implementing international commitments on human rights.

This initiative is co-sponsored by 65 countries from many different groups, demonstrating widespread interest and recognition of Vietnam's active and proactive role in promoting gender equality and sustainable development.

The Joint Statement emphasizes the close and reciprocal relationship between promoting the implementation of the SDGs and achieving gender equality, and affirms that the SDGs cannot be achieved without ensuring equal rights for women and girls.

This approach reflects a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and people-centered mindset in policy making and implementation, as well as in Vietnam’s multilateral foreign affairs activities. This approach is also consistent with the general trend of the international community and the major orientations of the United Nations in responding to current global challenges.

Notably, on March 11, Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the 69th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York and delivered an important speech, reaffirming Vietnam's commitment as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term and a member of the Executive Board of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women for the 2025-2027 term. The presence and speech of Vietnamese high-ranking leaders at this global forum demonstrated clear political determination in promoting gender equality, human rights, and sustainable development, while contributing to enhancing Vietnam's prestige and position in the international arena.

In addition to the Joint Statement initiative, the Vietnamese delegation led by Ambassador Mai Phan Dung actively and responsibly participated in all activities of the 58th Session, with statements at many sessions, participating in dialogues with human rights agencies and experts, co-sponsoring resolutions and actively consulting with international partners.

This demonstrates careful preparation, close coordination between domestic authorities and the Delegation in Geneva, as well as Vietnam's strong commitment to fulfilling its responsibilities as a member state of the UNSC. Vietnam is demonstrating itself as a member with substantial contributions, open-mindedness, and accompanying the international community in promoting the core humanitarian values ​​of the UN.

I believe that, in the current international context with many challenges and divisions, the constructive, bridging and consensus-promoting role that Vietnam is demonstrating is very important, not only helping to strengthen the image of a responsible, proactive and trustworthy Vietnam in multilateral human rights mechanisms but also contributing to preparing a solid foundation for the next steps, including efforts to re-run for the Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term.

Vietnam has a solid foundation and positive prospects for re-election to the UNSC for the 2026-2028 term. (Photo: QT)

How does the Ambassador assess the prospects and level of international support for Vietnam's re-election to the Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term?

I have had the honor to directly participate in the activities of the UNSC, international organizations in Geneva and many international forums at the regional and global levels. From this reality, combined with the achievements of the international integration process and socio-economic development of Vietnam over the past years, I believe that Vietnam has a solid foundation and positive prospects for re-election to the UNSC for the 2026-2028 term.

Firstly, Vietnam has a national development orientation closely linked to taking people as the center, the goal and the driving force of development. Major policies of the Party and the State all affirm the importance of promoting and protecting human rights. Vietnam has achieved many comprehensive achievements in socio-economic and human rights, such as improving the quality of life for people, promoting gender equality, enhancing access to health care, education, housing and social services for disadvantaged groups. The legal system is continuously improved, more consistent with international conventions and standards on human rights.

Second, at the international level, Vietnam is a member of most of the basic international treaties on human rights. Vietnam actively participates in the Human Rights Council, seriously implements the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, actively implements accepted recommendations, and proactively participates in monitoring mechanisms under international conventions. Vietnam successfully assumed the role of a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 term, is performing well in its current role for the 2023-2025 term, and has made many specific contributions through co-sponsorship, chairing initiatives, and speaking at meetings.

Third, Vietnam pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization, diversification, attaching importance to multilateralism, supporting the international order based on law and the UN Charter. Vietnam has also actively participated in and served as a member of the UN Security Council and a number of other UN agencies, making positive contributions to ASEAN, many specialized international organizations and other international forums.

Vietnam promotes dialogue and cooperation, does not politicize human rights issues, does not apply double standards, respects the characteristics and development level of each country, enhances mutual understanding, and does not let differences hinder cooperation with partners. This comprehensive and balanced approach is highly appreciated by many countries, especially developing countries.

However, Vietnam also faces challenges such as fierce competition among candidates in the Asia-Pacific group, or false information and distorted arguments from some hostile organizations and individuals. These are factors that can affect the campaign process. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to improve the effectiveness of foreign information work, strengthen diplomatic advocacy, closely coordinate between domestic agencies and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad, and strengthen the network of friends and partners supporting Vietnam in the process of re-election to the UNSC.

Overall, I believe that with high political determination, careful preparation, substantial contributions and Vietnam's positive image in the international arena, Vietnam will continue to be trusted and receive widespread support in the UN General Assembly vote next October to elect members of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term.

Thank you very much Ambassador!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dai-su-le-thi-tuyet-mai-thuc-day-hop-tac-tai-ung-cu-cua-viet-nam-tai-hoi-dong-nhan-quyen-dap-ung-yeu-cau-cap-bach-ve-quyen-con-nguon-tren-the-gioi-311244.html