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| Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attends the 52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, February 2023. (Source: VNA) |
New, practical contributions
In 2023, Vietnam has been very proactive and active in promoting its role as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HURC) for the 2023-2025 term. Of which, our six outstanding initiatives at all three regular sessions of the HURC are all of great significance, closely linked to our country's key priorities in participating in the HURC, contributing to enhancing the image of Vietnam as a responsible and active member of the international community.
An important highlight of the 2023 UN Human Rights Council is the Resolution initiative, proposed and drafted by Vietnam, on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted by consensus by the UN Human Rights Council with 121 co-sponsors.
At the High-level Session of the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council on February 27, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang proposed an initiative to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action with a document of the Human Rights Council. Actively implementing this initiative during the Session, the Vietnamese delegation chaired the drafting of the Resolution, organized many consultations, received opinions from all parties, and created a common consensus... The adoption of this Resolution is an important milestone, creating a basis for organizing commemorative activities of the Human Rights Council throughout 2023 at the national, regional and global levels, with the highlight at the end of the year being the high-level event commemorating the two fundamental documents on the promotion and protection of human rights mentioned above from December 10-12, with many commitments from countries and relevant parties to strengthen the implementation of these two documents.
In addition, at the 54th Session of the UN Human Rights Council, the last session of 2023, Vietnam launched two initiatives to promote the human right to vaccination, including the Joint Statement and the International Dialogue on “Promoting the human right to vaccination”. The Dialogue was co-organized by the Vietnamese and Brazilian Delegations together with Gavi - the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, with the participation and speech of a representative of the World Health Organization (WHO).
This is a new contribution, very practical and important, highlighting Vietnam's active participation in the work of the National Assembly last year.
In addition, we, together with a number of countries, have launched three other outstanding initiatives, including the Annual Resolution and the Thematic Discussion on Climate Change and Human Rights, with a new point this year focusing on the topic “Negative impacts of climate change on livelihoods and their impact on human rights”; International Dialogue on the implementation of the right to development to realize human rights and the 2030 Agenda.
"Dizzy" amidst the hustle and bustle but full of spirit
Vietnam has always actively and proactively participated in the work of the UNSC, even when it was not yet a member of the UNSC.
2023 is the first year we assume the position of a member of the UNSC for the 2023-2025 term, which is also our second term at the UNSC (after the first term of 2014-2016). Along with that is the honor and responsibility of being at the forefront of implementing multilateral diplomacy according to Directive 25-CT/TW dated August 8, 2018 of the Secretariat on promoting and elevating multilateral diplomacy to 2030 in Geneva, the world's major center for multilateral diplomacy and global governance, while at the same time the Delegation must ensure the successful completion of its mission of participating in a series of other international organizations and multilateral forums.
With such context and mission, it is truly a "dizzying" cycle for the Delegation and representatives of relevant functional units in the country.
The work of the National Assembly spans the entire year, with each regular session lasting five weeks requiring intense concentration, with many sessions and consultations lasting all afternoon and after 6pm to deal with the massive workload including content research, consultation, discussion of more than 80 thematic reports, nearly 40 resolutions and many decisions, along with implementing initiatives that we chair and participating in other activities of the National Assembly...
Along with assuming the position of a member of the UN Human Rights Council, Vietnam's role and voice are also more respected. On the one hand, we focus on promoting and protecting Vietnam's interests; on the other hand, we actively and responsibly participate in contributing to the common work of the UN Human Rights Council, for the common interests of countries in promoting and ensuring human rights.
For me, taking on the role of Ambassador, Head of our Delegation in Geneva, along with ensuring Vietnam's active participation in a series of international organizations and other important multilateral forums in many different fields, the truly honorable and proud thing that I am grateful for and cannot forget is Vietnam's efforts and impressive results, actively contributing in a constructive spirit, enhancing dialogue and mutual understanding, overcoming differences between groups of countries, creating maximum consensus in implementing work last year at the UNSC, not only in the general work of the UNSC but also in implementing six initiatives proposed by Vietnam in its capacity as a member of the UNSC.
This is even more important because 2023 is also full of our foreign affairs activities in Geneva, an important multilateral foreign affairs area of the world and of us, linked to all areas of socio-economic development in the country. I always keep in mind that efforts and initiatives can only be effectively implemented on the basis of thoroughly implementing the correct policies and close direction of the Senior Leaders, the Leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and smooth and timely coordination between our Delegation in Geneva and domestic agencies.
Respect, understanding; Dialogue, cooperation
In Geneva, the Human Rights Council is the main body of the United Nations and plays an important role in monitoring, promoting and protecting human rights in countries around the world.
The post-Covid-19 world situation continues to have many fluctuations, competition between major powers is complicated, the issue of promoting and ensuring human rights continues to attract the attention and priority of countries and international organizations, while countries and groups of countries still have many differences in viewpoints, approaches, and politicization of human rights issues, making it difficult to create consensus, the work of the Human Rights Council has increased in terms of volume, meeting time as well as discussion issues.
That context poses many difficulties and major challenges for foreign affairs in general and for participation in the UN Human Rights Council in particular. Many issues related to the current political, economic, peace and security context, both traditional and non-traditional, are quickly and diversely reflected in the UN Human Rights Council agenda. This further increases the pressure and responsibility of the 47 member countries of the UN Human Rights Council, including Vietnam.
In that context, Vietnam promotes international dialogue and cooperation on the basis of mutual respect, listening and enhancing mutual understanding, together with countries, international organizations and partners, persistently consulting, discussing, promoting cooperation, acknowledging the advantages as well as the difficulties and challenges of countries to find common solutions to the problems. Practice shows that when countries lack exchange, cooperation, listening and mutual understanding, it will cause tension and conflict, problems will be difficult to solve, and activities will be difficult to be effective.
In addition, when promoting the consensus of many countries in pursuing cooperation, it is possible to reach consensus in the work of the Human Rights Council, actively contributing to solving emerging human rights-related issues of common concern and priority of the international community, such as climate change and human rights, environmental issues, rights to health, employment, etc., including human rights issues in specific countries when there is consensus from the countries involved. This is the experience and also the motto of Vietnam when assuming the position of a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, which is to promote with other countries "Respect, understanding. Dialogue, cooperation. Ensuring all rights, for all people".
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