International Workshop on Experience in Developing Reports under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Cycle IV

On April 27, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to organize an international workshop on experiences in developing reports under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) cycle IV in Hanoi.

Overview of the International Workshop on Experience in Developing Reports under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Mechanism, Cycle IV. (Photo: Anh Son)

The workshop was attended by more than 100 delegates representing ministries, branches, central agencies, United Nations agencies, international organizations, embassies, non-governmental organizations, socio-political and professional organizations, domestic and international experts and scholars.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Director of the Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Hai Anh affirmed that this is an important event to kick off a series of events on the UPR cycle IV that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will host in 2023.

Since its inception in 2008, the UPR mechanism has contributed significantly to realizing the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA), according to which everyone has the right to live in dignity, to be respected, guaranteed and fully enjoy human rights.

These are also the core values ​​and contents that Vietnam, as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, initiated and, together with 12 other countries, promoted by the Human Rights Council to recently adopt Resolution No. 52/19 commemorating the 75th anniversary of the UDHR and the 30th anniversary of the VPDA, with 121 co-sponsoring countries in all regions.

Mr. Pham Hai Anh affirmed that throughout the process of participating in the UPR mechanism, Vietnam has always demonstrated a serious and responsible spirit, with an increasing rate of recommendation approval, up to more than 83% in the third cycle, higher than the average of other countries.

Director of the Department of International Organizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Hai Anh affirmed that throughout the process of participating in the UPR mechanism, Vietnam has always demonstrated a serious and responsible spirit. (Photo: Anh Son)

Throughout the UPR process, Vietnam has always strived to ensure four principles. First, the implementation of UPR recommendations is always linked to Vietnam's overall policies and efforts to ensure and promote human rights and build a socialist rule-of-law state;

Second, strengthen the linkage of the UPR Report with serious and effective implementation of accepted recommendations, thereby creating positive changes in perfecting policy and legal frameworks on human rights;

Third, promote broad and constructive participation of stakeholders; Fourth, focus on strengthening international cooperation.

For the fourth cycle, Vietnam is expected to submit its National Report to the Human Rights Council in early 2024 and the Human Rights Council will approve the review results with Vietnam at the 57th Session (September 2024). On that basis, we hope that ministries, branches, localities, United Nations agencies and international partners will continue to accompany and coordinate closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to complete the UPR Report on schedule with the highest quality.

Speaking at the workshop, UN Resident Coordinator Pauline Tamesis highly appreciated Vietnam's commitments and active efforts in the UPR process, especially in facilitating the participation and broad contributions of relevant parties.

UN Resident Coordinator Pauline Tamesis highly appreciated Vietnam's commitments and active efforts in the UPR process. (Photo: Anh Son)

Ms. Pauline Tamesis emphasized that the implementation of UPR recommendations also contributes to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the context of the progress of completing the SDGs globally facing many obstacles, because 39% of UPR recommendations are related to SDG 16 (peace, justice and institutions), 14% are related to SDG 1 (poverty eradication), 9% are related to SDG 10 (reduced inequality), 8% are related to SDG 4 (quality education), 7% are related to SDG 17 (partnership).

Ms. Tamesis stated that national autonomy is decisive for the outcome of UPR implementation, but international cooperation can play a positive complementary role; at the same time, she affirmed that UN agencies will continue to accompany and support Vietnam in the UPR process in particular and efforts to ensure human rights in general.

Participating in the discussion at the Workshop, delegates contributed many diverse opinions and experiences on the practice of building UPR Reports in the world and in Vietnam, linking the UPR process with policies and overall efforts to ensure human rights, sustainable development, implement the Sustainable Development Goals, enhance transparency and wide participation of stakeholders.

Delegates also shared updated information on the implementation of UPR recommendations of the third cycle and the development of UPR Report of the fourth cycle of the countries, thereby recommending a number of solutions for Vietnamese authorities to study and apply to improve the effectiveness of developing and completing the UPR Report in the coming time.

International delegates attend the International Workshop on Experience in Developing Reports under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Cycle IV in Hanoi. (Photo: Anh Son)

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council was established in 2008 and is one of the outstanding successes, built on the principles of transparency, fairness, non-discrimination, promoting dialogue and cooperation among countries.

With a consistent policy of protecting and promoting human rights, Vietnam attaches special importance to and always fully and seriously implements its obligations and commitments under the UPR mechanism, including implementing accepted UPR recommendations. During the third cycle, Vietnam received 291 recommendations from 122 countries and accepted 241 of them.

The fourth cycle of the UPR has officially begun since the end of 2022 and will end in 2027. This cycle takes place in a very special context when the world is experiencing many fluctuations and instabilities due to the multi-dimensional impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, wars, conflicts and urgent global issues, adversely affecting people's lives and livelihoods and the prospect of completing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Human rights continue to be a universal global concern, reflecting the diverse needs, interests and approaches of nations and peoples, but also facing many major difficulties and challenges that need to be resolved jointly.

Therefore, the UPR cycle IV is expected to be an effective channel to help the international community perceive and evaluate more objectively and substantially the policies and efforts of countries in improving the ability to enjoy human rights for all people, eliminating inequality, discrimination and politicization.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/hoi-thao-quoc-te-ve-kinh-nghiem-xay-dung-bao-cao-theo-co-che-ra-soat-dinh-ky-pho-quat-upr-chu-ky-iv-225136.html