This is a prominent mark of Vietnam in the first session assuming the position of member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term.
The resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action is an initiative of Vietnam, proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang at the opening high-level meeting of the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva on February 27, to reaffirm and strengthen efforts and actions towards achieving the great, overarching goals and values of the two important documents mentioned above, as well as the common commitments of the international community on human rights for all.
The Resolution received co-sponsorship from 98 countries (as of late afternoon, April 3, Geneva time), including 14 core countries (Vietnam, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Fiji, India, Panama, Romania, South Africa and Spain), 34 member countries of the Human Rights Council, Western countries and many developing countries from all 5 regional groups, including most ASEAN countries.
The content of the Resolution focuses on the importance and many positive contents of the above Declaration and Statement such as reiterating the main principles on human rights of the two documents; reflecting the widespread interest of countries in commemorating the two documents; enhancing the position, role and effectiveness of the activities of the Human Rights Council and UN human rights mechanisms; emphasizing the leading role of countries in ensuring human rights; recognizing the participation of women, the role of international cooperation and solidarity, respect for diversity, inclusiveness... in promoting and protecting human rights in general and in participating in the work of the Human Rights Council in particular.
The resolution also requests the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to implement a programme of activities to commemorate the above-mentioned Declaration and Declaration, including a UN High-Level Event on Human Rights in December 2023 and a Report on the commemorative activities to the 56th Session of the Human Rights Council early next year.
In an interview with the press right after the UN Human Rights Council adopted the Resolution, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized that the Resolution is a prominent mark of Vietnam at its first session as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, demonstrating Vietnam's substantive and responsible contribution to the work of the Human Rights Council.
According to Minister Bui Thanh Son, the Resolution has conveyed many great and positive messages, including those about international cooperation and solidarity, respect for diversity and harmony, thereby helping to promote consensus, harmony, healing and an atmosphere of cooperation at the Human Rights Council, in the context of many international forums recently being deeply divided and even politicized.
Vietnam's proposal of this Resolution at the Human Rights Council is very timely, responding to the international community's concern about commemorating and promoting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, two important documents on human rights, demonstrating Vietnam's role as a proactive, active, and responsible member of the Human Rights Council and the international community.
The Resolution's adoption by consensus and co-sponsorship by 98 countries shows that the Resolution reflects the common concerns and priorities of countries and the international community, attracting the response and support of a large number of countries, and being highly appreciated by all parties.
Minister Bui Thanh Son also emphasized that this result was achieved thanks to proactive and creative efforts and close and synchronous coordination between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and member agencies of the Inter-Agency Working Group on Vietnam's role as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, between the country and the Vietnamese Delegation in Geneva, New York and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad in actively implementing consultations and exchanges at many channels and at many levels.
Minister Bui Thanh Son believes that the Resolution will contribute to further raising awareness, determination and action of member countries and the international community in realizing the goals and principles on human rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.
This is also Vietnam's substantive and responsible contribution to the work of the Human Rights Council, in line with the spirit of Vietnam's participation motto: "Respect and Understanding. Dialogue and Cooperation. All human rights for all people".
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948 with the main contents including: affirming that all people are born free, equal, without discrimination, affirming human rights such as the right to life, the right to a fair trial, not being tortured, not being enslaved and other rights in the civil, political, economic, social and cultural fields.
Although not an international legal document, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the foundation for building international human rights law, including the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; as well as being included in human rights documents of regional mechanisms and in national laws. December 10 later became International Human Rights Day.
This is one of the most important documents of the 20th century, adopted by all countries and has become the foundation for countries, including Vietnam, to use in the process of building documents related to the protection of human rights.
The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA) was adopted by UN member states in 1993, at the international conference on Human Rights held in Vienna, Austria.
The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action reaffirm the values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and make it clear that the protection and promotion of human rights must be the highest priority of each country and the international community; emphasizing that while taking into account the particularities of each country and society, human rights need to be recognized as universal values, and need to be assessed in each balanced and interdependent relationship.
The Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action also affirmed the role of the United Nations in promoting human rights around the world and initiated the establishment of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
BS
Source
Comment (0)