Strengthening the effective implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

After 5 years of implementation, Vietnam has made great efforts in fulfilling its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and has achieved remarkable results.

Conference to review the implementation of Decision No. 1252/QD-TTg dated September 26, 2019 of the Prime Minister approving the Plan to enhance the effective implementation of the Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the recommendations of the Human Rights Committee on November 19 in Ha Nam. (Source: Organizing Committee)

On November 19, in Ha Nam province, the Ministry of Justice coordinated with the Government's Standing Office on Human Rights to organize a conference to review the implementation of Decision No. 1252/QD-TTg dated September 26, 2019 of the Prime Minister approving the Plan to strengthen the effective implementation of the Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the recommendations of the Human Rights Committee (referred to as Decision 1252).

The purpose of the Conference is to review and evaluate the implementation of Decision 1252 after 5 years of implementation in order to gain experience, improve efficiency, and strengthen coordination between ministries, branches, and agencies in implementing the Convention in the next cycle, thereby helping Vietnam adapt better to the new situation.

The conference was co-chaired by Mr. Nguyen Huu Huyen, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Justice and Major General Nguyen Van Ky, Deputy Chief of the Government's Permanent Office for Human Rights.

Regarding the delegates of Central agencies, there are representatives of ministries and branches such as the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ethnic Committee, and the Government Committee for Religious Affairs.

Regarding local delegates, there were representatives from the Standing Office of the Steering Committee for Human Rights of Hanoi city, Hai Phong city and the provinces of Ha Nam, Bac Ninh, Hoa Binh, Vinh Phuc, Thai Nguyen, Hung Yen, Quang Ninh, Bac Giang; representatives from the Department of Justice of Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Bac Ninh provinces; representatives from the Office of the People's Committee, the Department of Justice, the Department of Judicial Enforcement, the Lawyers Association, the Women's Association and the Legal Aid Center of Ha Nam province.

Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Major General Nguyen Van Ky, Deputy Chief of the Government's Permanent Office for Human Rights, stated that the ICCPR is one of two core conventions in the system of international treaties on human rights, together with the Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Convention and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights forming the International Bill of Human Rights.

As an active and responsible member of the international community, Vietnam has made great efforts in implementing its obligations under the Convention and has achieved remarkable results, most clearly demonstrated by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UN) in September 2024 approving Vietnam's National Report under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), recognizing many achievements in ensuring human rights, including civil and political rights. This demonstrates the correct policies of the Party and State and the efforts of all ministries, branches and localities.

According to Major General Nguyen Van Ky, this conference is an opportunity for ministries, branches and localities to assess the situation and results of implementing four groups of tasks in the Plan to strengthen the effective implementation of the ICCPR Convention, including: internalizing and perfecting the legal framework; disseminating education and training; international cooperation and implementing reporting obligations under the Convention.

In addition, it points out difficulties, challenges, limitations, proposes initiatives and solutions to effectively implement the Convention, especially sharing good experiences and lessons from units and localities to ensure and promote better and better civil and political rights of the people.

At the Conference, Mr. Nguyen Huu Huyen, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Justice, said that through monitoring the implementation, the Ministry of Justice found that ministries, branches and localities have been proactive, taking advantage of available resources, coordinating with relevant ministries, branches, agencies and localities to carry out tasks through issuing specific plans to implement the ICCPR Convention and recommendations of the Human Rights Committee or adding and integrating tasks into national plans, projects, strategies, socio-economic development programs, national target programs in many related fields of human rights and other civil rights.

However, the implementation of Decision No. 1252/QD-TTg has not been uniform across ministries, branches and localities; coordination and information exchange between agencies are still limited.

Therefore, Mr. Nguyen Huu Huyen suggested that agencies, ministries, branches and localities share the implementation situation in their agencies and localities; assess the advantages and difficulties in the implementation process; propose measures to overcome and remove difficulties and obstacles. The conference is also an opportunity for the drafting agency to have more information to better prepare for the 4th ICCPR National Report Defense Session of Vietnam in 2025.

"We believe that the implementation of the Plan to enhance effective implementation of the ICCPR should be identified as a regular and important task, aiming to better ensure people's civil and political rights in practice, and also contributing to promoting stable socio-economic development," said the Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Justice.

The conference is also an opportunity for the drafting agency to have more information to better prepare for the 4th ICCPR National Report Protection Session of Vietnam in 2025. (Source: Organizing Committee)

After half a day of focused and effective work, the Conference summarizing the implementation of Decision 1252 completed the proposed program and was a great success.

In the context that Vietnam will defend the 4th ICCPR National Report scheduled for July 2025, the Conference is a good opportunity for the Ministry of Justice to coordinate with ministries and branches to evaluate and draw lessons, continue to update and perfect the contents for the National Report defense session as well as the implementation of Decision 1252, contributing to improving efficiency and strengthening coordination between ministries, branches and agencies in implementing the Convention in the next cycle.

The conference also received many valuable comments from different perspectives to help the Ministry of Justice continue to advise the Government on effectively implementing the ICCPR Convention in the coming time.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tang-cuong-thuc-thi-hieu-qua-cong-oc-quoc-te-ve-cac-quyen-dan-su-va-chinh-tri-iccpr-294266.html