Ambassador Mai Phan Dung: Strong commitment and meaningful message Vietnam sends to the United Nations Human Rights Council

Ambassador Mai Phan Dung speaks at a session within the framework of the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. (Source: VNA)

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), Head of the Vietnamese delegation attending and contributing to the discussion at the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, shared with The World and Vietnam Newspaper the outstanding results of the session and Vietnam's message through this multilateral forum on human rights.

After 1.5 months of work, the 58th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council with the participation of many senior leaders from UN member states and important international organizations has concluded. Could you please tell us about the outstanding results of the session?

The 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council took place over 6 consecutive weeks, with a huge workload and many important contents. In the first week, the Council held a High-level Meeting with the participation of 4 heads of state, 6 Vice Presidents/Deputy Prime Ministers, 95 Ministers and Deputy Ministers from United Nations member countries, together with the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary-General, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and leaders of many international intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations based in Geneva.

This is a clear demonstration of the international community's deep concern for the Human Rights Council in particular and multilateralism in general, especially in the context of the world facing many overlapping challenges, from conflicts, humanitarian crises, to climate change and the growing development gap.

In terms of content, the Human Rights Council adopted 32 Resolutions, addressing key topics in the field of human rights such as access to health, the rights of women and children, the right to development, the rights of indigenous peoples, as well as the impact of climate change and artificial intelligence on human rights.

In particular, the Human Rights Council held nine thematic discussions on important issues, such as human rights mainstreaming, the death penalty, early warning and genocide prevention, responding to HIV and leaving no one behind, realizing labour rights and social protection rights in the informal economy, the rights of persons with disabilities, children's rights on the topic of priorities, to promote a child rights-based approach to the development of young children, children's rights on the topic of young children's development in emergencies: Putting children's rights first.

In addition, the Human Rights Council also held 41 dialogues with special procedures and other UN human rights mechanisms, discussed 80 thematic reports and adopted the results of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) cycle IV of 13 countries.

It can be said that the 58th Session is not only a forum for policy discussion, but also a place to demonstrate the strong political commitment of member states in promoting and protecting human rights in the context of the world facing many complex challenges.

Ambassador Mai Phan Dung (front row, second from left) and members of the Vietnamese delegation at the voting and closing session of the 58th session of the Human Rights Council, April 2025. (Source: VNA)

As a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term and running for re-election for the 2026-2028 term, how did the Vietnamese delegation participate and contribute to the important session of the United Nations Human Rights Council? What is the main message that the Vietnamese delegation wants to convey through this multilateral forum on human rights?

At this Session, the Vietnamese delegation continued to demonstrate the proactive, constructive and highly responsible spirit of a member of the Human Rights Council. The delegation fully and actively participated in the discussion and dialogue sessions and expressed its views on many important contents such as the realization of labor rights and social security rights in the informal economy; children's rights; responding to HIV and leaving no one behind; cultural rights; food rights; rights of people with disabilities; the issue of Palestine and the occupied Arab territories, etc.

In particular, Vietnam has co-sponsored many resolutions and coordinated with partners to promote initiatives in accordance with international law and the interests of developing countries.

Perhaps the most outstanding achievement of this session was the Vietnamese delegation's chairing of the development and presentation of the Joint Statement on promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve gender equality, which was widely supported by countries, with 65 countries from all continents sponsoring it to date.

The joint statement stressed the importance of accelerating the full and accelerated implementation of the SDGs to achieve gender equality, including priorities such as increasing the participation of women and girls in decision-making; promoting their leadership in science and technology; ensuring equal participation in peace and security processes; and strengthening capacity and budget for gender mainstreaming in policy. The empowerment of women and girls is key to protecting human rights and sustainable development.

The main message that Vietnam wants to convey is: Human rights must be promoted in a comprehensive, balanced manner and based on the principles of dialogue, cooperation and non-politicization. Vietnam also emphasizes the role of sustainable and inclusive development and the role of family, education, as well as ensuring the rights of vulnerable groups such as women, children, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities.

Vietnam reaffirms its strong commitment to fully implementing its international obligations and commitments on human rights, and wishes to continue to accompany the international community in promoting a peaceful and stable international environment, respecting international law - an important foundation for protecting and promoting human rights.

"Perhaps the most outstanding achievement of this session was the Vietnamese delegation's chairing of the development and presentation of the Joint Statement on promoting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve gender equality, which was widely supported by countries, with 65 countries from all continents sponsoring it to date." (Ambassador Mai Phan Dung)

The Human Rights Council is one of the forums with the longest meetings at the United Nations, with each session lasting 4-6 weeks. (Source: VNA)

As the Head of the Vietnamese delegation attending the meeting, could you share your special impressions of this session?

After 6 weeks of attending the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council, as Head of the Vietnamese Delegation, I have two special impressions as follows:

Firstly , in Geneva, there are nearly 40 international organizations headquartered here, the Human Rights Council forum holds three sessions every year, which is a special forum with four main characteristics. This is a forum that receives high attention, demonstrated by the largest participation at many different levels and different mechanisms. This is also one of the forums with the longest meeting time at the United Nations, with each session lasting 4-6 weeks.

In addition, the Human Rights Council is also the forum with the most interactive forms, from high-level sessions, general sessions, thematic sessions, dialogue sessions with the High Commissioner for Human Rights and Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, side-events, informal resolution consultation sessions, bilateral consultation sessions, to other accompanying activities.

On the other hand, the topics of the Human Rights Council meetings cover all current life issues. Although the focus is on human rights, the human rights aspect is discussed widely in all fields, from armed conflicts to trade competition, climate change, epidemics, education, artificial intelligence, migrants, etc.

Through this, it can be clearly seen that the protection and promotion of human rights is an ideal and a great goal of the international community. However, it still faces many difficult challenges, forcing the international community to spend a lot of time and resources on the protection and promotion of human rights.

Second, the most remarkable and impressive point is Vietnam's participation in this Session in particular and in the Human Rights Council in general. First of all, Vietnam's approach and working methods are highly appreciated by international friends. Vietnam clearly demonstrates a consistent and constructive policy, always promoting sincere and open dialogue and equal cooperation.

In the context of the Human Rights Council witnessing many differences and disagreements among countries on their approach to human rights, Vietnam's receptive, cooperative and non-confrontational attitude is considered appropriate, welcome and has created widespread sympathy.

Furthermore, despite differences in views on some issues, countries still respect Vietnam and acknowledge its increasingly elevated position in the international arena. They highly appreciate the comprehensive economic, cultural and social achievements that Vietnam has achieved in recent times, considering them vivid evidence of ensuring human rights in conjunction with sustainable development.

This really helps our staff feel proud and confident when Vietnam participates in this forum with many important and complex contents!

Thank you very much Ambassador!

"Countries highly appreciate the comprehensive economic, cultural and social achievements that Vietnam has achieved in recent times, considering them vivid evidence for ensuring human rights associated with sustainable development." (Ambassador Mai Phan Dung)

Vietnam's approach and working methods at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council were highly appreciated by international friends, according to Ambassador Mai Phan Dung.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dai-su-mai-phan-dung-cam-ket-manh-me-va-thong-diep-y-nghia-viet-nam-gui-gam-tai-hoi-dong-nhan-quyen-lien-hop-quoc-311126.html