Vietnam's mark in the first year as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term

The work of assuming the position of member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HURC) for the 2023-2025 term has been promoted since the first activities of the HURC in 2023, with the active participation and coordination of agencies in the Inter-sectoral Working Group and press agencies, creating a ripple effect not only in the work of the HURC but also in many other areas of work.

On February 27, 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang led the Vietnamese delegation to attend and speak at the high-level meeting of the 52nd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. (Source: VGP)

1. In 2023 , the world and regional situation will have many profound changes. Peace, cooperation and development, although still the major trend, will be challenged the most strongly since the Cold War, especially when strategic competition between major countries is increasingly fierce and comprehensive. Hotspots and armed conflicts will break out in many regions of the world, increasing in both quantity and level of damage and becoming increasingly multidimensional in nature with diverse forms.

The global economic recovery is slow, uneven and uncertain, with many macro risks. Progress on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) along with non-traditional security challenges such as climate change, food security, water security, inequalities and the “dark sides” of digital transformation… have direct, daily impacts on the livelihoods, quality of life and ability to enjoy the rights of people around the world.

These factors pose many challenges, increase politicization, and limit the space for cooperation on many human rights issues; on the other hand, they also highlight the need for dialogue and cooperation to address the common concerns of the international community on human rights, including through the activities of the Human Rights Council.

2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action on Human Rights (VDPA), an important occasion for the international community to look back on the achievements and challenges in ensuring the common, universal values ​​and strong commitments to protecting and promoting human rights expressed in these documents.

With such a context and expectations from the international community, the Human Rights Council has actively promoted its role as the most important body on human rights in the UN system, effectively implementing an agenda spanning over 10 topics, closely following the common concerns of the international community, while also showing many conflicts, even conflicts, and direct confrontations between countries and groups of countries.

In 2023, the Human Rights Council operated at a high intensity, completing the largest volume of work since its establishment in 2006, with 180 official plenary meetings within the framework of 3 regular sessions and 1 special session, reviewing 231 reports, adopting 110 Resolutions (about 2/3 of which were adopted by consensus), 41 Decisions and 1 Presidential Statement, along with many meetings of Working Groups and Expert Groups, in which the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) reviewed and adopted reports from 42 countries.

In addition, to promote its priorities and contribute to the activities of the UNSC, in 2023, there were about 450 sideline events organized by countries on a variety of topics.

Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet chaired the International Workshop on the Draft National Report under the UPR mechanism of the fourth cycle of the United Nations Human Rights Council, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Hanoi, November 24, 2023. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

2. On October 11 , 2022, the UN General Assembly elected Vietnam and 13 other countries as members of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term.

Following the success of the term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (2020-2021), this is an important event in the effort to implement the foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress and Directive 25-CT/TW of the Secretariat on promoting and enhancing multilateral diplomacy until 2030, demonstrating Vietnam's increasing position and prestige; demonstrating the international community's recognition of Vietnam's policies, efforts and achievements in ensuring human rights.

Vietnam also assumes this position while making efforts to develop its socio-economy, ensure livelihoods, improve the quality of life for its people, and ensure the implementation of international commitments on human rights in the context of many challenges in the international and domestic situation. Therefore, Vietnam's membership in the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term has received much attention from the international community.

Vietnam has actively participated and left its mark right from the first activities of the UNSC with many initiatives that are consistent with Vietnam's priorities and the world's common concerns, highly appreciated by the international community.

At the 52nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council (March-April 2023), Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attended the High-level Meeting and introduced the initiative on the 75th Anniversary of the UDHR and the 30th Anniversary of the VDPA. On that basis, Vietnam chaired and led the Core Group of 14 countries (Vietnam, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Fiji, India, Panama, Romania, South Africa and Spain) across regions and with diverse development levels to draft and organize consultations for the UN Human Rights Council to adopt by consensus Resolution 52/19 on this issue with the co-sponsorship of 121 countries - a "record" of the UN Human Rights Council in recent years.

The resolution emphasized the leading role of countries in ensuring human rights, recognizing the participation of women, the role of international cooperation and solidarity, respect for diversity, and inclusion in promoting and protecting human rights. This initiative of Vietnam has made an important contribution to conveying major messages, raising awareness and determination of countries and the international community in implementing the goals and principles on human rights set out in these two fundamental human rights documents, while simultaneously promoting the position and role of the UN Human Rights Council and human rights mechanisms.

Continuing to demonstrate its leading role in developing a series of resolutions on ensuring human rights in climate change, at the 53rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council (June-July 2023), Vietnam, together with Bangladesh and the Philippines, developed a draft resolution on promoting livelihoods in the context of climate change, which was adopted by consensus by the UN Human Rights Council with 80 co-sponsoring countries (Resolution 53/6).

At the 53rd and 54th Sessions (September-October 2023), Vietnam will continue to work with countries and international organizations such as the International Labor Organization (ILO), the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), etc. to promote initiatives on "vaccination and human rights", "fighting discrimination, violence, and gender-based harassment in the workplace" in the form of international discussions on the sidelines of the sessions and developing a common statement at the Human Rights Council.

In line with the world's current major concerns about human rights, Vietnam's initiatives have received positive responses and contributions from other countries.

“Vietnam has demonstrated its pioneering role in protecting and promoting human rights,” affirmed Ms. Ramla Khalidi, Acting UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam and UN Development Programme Resident Representative in Vietnam, in her opening speech at the International Consultation Workshop on the Draft National Report under the UPR Cycle IV of Vietnam, on November 24, 2023.

3. Vietnam also participates more deeply in common work, promoting dialogue and cooperation at the UNSC in the spirit of “Respect and understanding. Dialogue and cooperation . All rights. For all people”.

Vietnam has delivered more than 80 national statements at the UN Human Rights Council meetings on ensuring human rights in aspects of international concern such as sustainable development, responding to climate change, migration, promoting gender equality, ensuring the rights to housing, food, cultural rights, development rights, protection of vulnerable groups and participated in 50 joint statements on diverse topics of ASEAN, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Like-Minded Group, the Francophone Group and several other inter-regional groups.

Vietnam has responsibly fulfilled its obligations and rights as a member state of the UNSC during the process of negotiating and voting to adopt draft resolutions.

Vietnam has had a constructive approach to human rights issues that are still diverse, politicized, and have many conflicts at the UNSC, such as the situation of specific countries (Ukraine, Russia, Palestine, Sudan, etc.), the relationship between development and human rights, reproductive health and sex education, the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, religious tolerance, etc.

On the one hand, Vietnam contributes to the common struggle of developing countries to protect the principle of non-politicization and non-use of human rights issues to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign nations.

On the other hand, Vietnam has listened to and respected the needs for cooperation and technical assistance of countries, promoting cooperation and dialogue so that the UNSC can act to meet the legitimate needs of countries in this field.

4. The impressions from the first year as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term have had a positive impact on other areas of human rights diplomacy.

Vietnam's contributions to the Human Rights Council have helped the international community better understand Vietnam's efforts and commitments in protecting and promoting human rights, thereby promoting our cooperative relations with other countries and international organizations. The assessment of the UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam can be summarized as showing an active and responsible role as a member of the Human Rights Council, promoting initiatives, especially Resolution 52/19, along with seriously implementing UPR commitments, successfully welcoming the Special Rapporteur on the right to development in November 2023.

Also in 2023, the contents of cooperation at the UNSC have been promoted by countries, including major partners, in exchanges with Vietnam, including in foreign affairs activities of our senior leaders.

Friendly countries, partners, like-minded countries, ASEAN, etc. have also promoted existing exchange mechanisms or organized new activities to have in-depth discussions with Vietnam on cooperation at the UNSC. The status of a member of the UNSC also helps us mobilize countries to support us in fighting against activities that distort the situation in Vietnam at UN mechanisms and forums.

Vietnam's contributions to the UN Human Rights Council have helped the international community better understand Vietnam's efforts and commitments in protecting and promoting human rights, thereby promoting our cooperative relations with other countries and international organizations.

5. Although the longer part of the journey is still ahead, with many difficulties and challenges, it can be said that the first year of assuming the role of a member of the UNSC 2023-2025 is a success for Vietnam with many marks. This result is motivated by the close attention and direct participation of our senior leaders in the activities of the UNSC as well as the effective and harmonious participation and contribution of the ministries, departments and branches that are members of the Inter-sectoral Working Group on UNSC, effectively supporting the coordination work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the "frontline" role of our Delegation to the UN, the World Trade Organization and other international organizations in Geneva, Switzerland.

2024 is a pivotal year for the 2023-2025 term of membership of the UN Human Rights Council, with many key activities such as dialogue on the National Report under the UPR Mechanism Cycle IV, continuing to promote initiatives and priorities, especially initiatives on climate change and human rights, combined with the work of mobilizing countries to continue supporting Vietnam's re-election as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term.

With strong determination, strength from the solidarity and close coordination of the entire political system under the attention and close direction of the Party and State leaders, Vietnam will certainly continue to make important contributions to the UNSC, making its mark in 2024 and beyond, contributing to building a strong, comprehensive, modern, professional Vietnamese foreign affairs and diplomacy and raising the level of multilateral foreign affairs in the spirit of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and Directive 25-CT/TW of the Secretariat.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dau-an-viet-nam-trong-nam-dau-tien-dam-nhiem-cuong-vi-thanh-vien-hoi-dong-nhan-quyen-lien-hop-quoc-nhiem-ky-2023-2025-261978.html