Achievements in protecting and implementing human rights in Vietnam are undeniable.

With the constant attention of the Party and Government, over the years, Vietnam has always been consistent in its policy of promoting and protecting human rights; considering people as the center and driving force of the country's innovation and development process. However, with unclear purposes, some international organizations have deliberately made many biased comments to deny the achievements in protecting and implementing human rights in Vietnam.

Recently, many international organizations have made unbiased reports on the human rights situation and human rights protection in Vietnam. Typically, on May 29, the European Union (EU) published its Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2023. In this report, the EU made a number of incorrect comments and assessments on the implementation of human rights in Vietnam. The EU believes that the space for civil society in Vietnam is increasingly narrowing. At the same time, it calls on Vietnam to release all those detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

The content of the 2023 Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World published by the European Union made unbiased and unfriendly comments about Vietnam when it stated that: Ethnic minorities and religious groups continue to be victims of harassment by the government. The report also expressed concerns about the situation of human rights defenders, the tightening of space and working environment for civil society organizations.

Human rights in Vietnam are always respected and protected.

Previously, the 2023 Human Rights Report published by the US State Department in late April 2024 also provided false and unbiased information about the human rights situation in Vietnam. Accordingly, this Report stated that "the Vietnamese government has not made progress on human rights"; "Vietnam violates human rights";... This Report mentioned a number of individuals they called "political prisoners", "political activists",... Typically, such as Nguy Thi Khanh, Le Anh Hung, Bui Tuan Lam,... However, in reality, these are subjects who have violated the law, have been arrested, investigated, tried and sentenced with strict sentences, right people, right crimes.

In particular, the 2023 Human Rights Report also clearly shows a one-sided, one-sided view when it states that "Vietnam severely restricts internet freedom". But in reality, in recent years, the internet in Vietnam has developed strongly. As of early 2024, Vietnam recorded about 78.44 million internet users; the number of social network users was about 72.70 million people, accounting for 73.3% of the population. In particular, the number of mobile connections in Vietnam reached 168.5 million, equivalent to 169.8% of the population. Thanks to that, Vietnam is the country with the 12th highest number of internet users in the world, ranking 6th out of 35 countries/territories in Asia. Thus, the internet in Vietnam has developed strongly. There is absolutely no such thing as "Vietnam severely restricts internet freedom" as stated in the above Report.

Vietnamese people always have the conditions to access the internet.

From another perspective, experts believe that human rights are a universal issue. However, each country and nation, depending on its cultural and historical characteristics, has its own standards and regulations. For Vietnam, recent reality shows that Vietnam always respects and protects human rights and takes concrete actions to enforce human rights according to the conventions that Vietnam has signed.

Typically, the 2015 Penal Code continues to abolish the death penalty for 8 crimes; the death penalty is not applied to people under 18 years old, pregnant women, women raising children under 36 months old, and people 75 years old or older when committing crimes.

Up to now, Vietnam has ratified and joined 7/9 fundamental conventions of the United Nations on human rights; ratified and joined 25 conventions of the International Labor Organization. Compared to many countries, Vietnam is not inferior in the number of conventions signed. Even the United States is currently the only country in the world that has not ratified the 1989 International Convention on the Rights of the Child. This country has also not ratified the 1966 International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Quoting Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: "The greatest human right in Vietnam is to care for 100 million people to have prosperity, happiness, democracy, a peaceful life, security, safety, and the people's safety, and to maximize the human factor" [1].

Up to now, after nearly 40 years of renovation, our Party and State have always been consistent in the policy of "respecting, ensuring, protecting the rights, powers and obligations of citizens" [2]. All decisions originate from people; all development achievements are aimed at ensuring the best human rights.

From 2019 to now, the average GDP in Vietnam has increased by 25%, the poverty rate has decreased by 1.5%/year. The preventive health network is widely organized nationwide, closely linked to primary health care, the health insurance coverage rate has increased from more than 81% in 2016 to 93.35% in 2023; 85% of people with disabilities in difficult circumstances receive social assistance, care and rehabilitation...

And perhaps, human rights in Vietnam are most clearly guaranteed in the process of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. When the Party and Government have applied all measures to protect the health and lives of the people, prevent and repel the pandemic.

The above contents have shown some of the important achievements in protecting and implementing human rights in Vietnam. These achievements have been recognized and highly appreciated by many countries in the world. The clearest evidence is that Vietnam was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the second time for the 2023-2025 term (the first time was the 2014-2016 term). This demonstrates the trust and confidence of the international community in Vietnam's contributions to protecting and implementing human rights.

The achievements in protecting and implementing human rights in Vietnam are undeniable. It is thought that one-sided, unobjective, and inaccurate assessments of human rights in Vietnam need to be strongly opposed and condemned, thereby leading to an objective, comprehensive, and accurate view of the achievements in protecting and implementing human rights in Vietnam today./.

References:

[1] Prime Minister: The greatest human right in Vietnam is to care for 100 million people to be warm, prosperous and happy – https://vov.vn/chinh-tri/thu-tuong-nhan-quyen-lon-nhat-o-viet-nam-la-lo-cho-100-trieu-dan-am-no-va-hanh-phuc-909797.vov.

[2] Communist Party of Vietnam, Documents of the 13th National Congress of Delegates, Volume I, National Political Publishing House Truth, Hanoi, 2021, p.71

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/thanh-tuu-bao-ve-thuc-thi-quyen-con-nguoi-o-viet-nam-la-khong-the-phu-nhan-post385698.html