In a globalized world, the impact of conflicts and climate change on human rights and civil rights is very real. Vietnam - an active and responsible member of the UN Human Rights Council - has affirmed its determination to "contribute to global peace and development and ensure all human rights for all people".
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended as the main guest of the World Economic Forum (WEF) at the Policy Dialogue session “Vietnam: Orienting a global vision”, on January 16. (Source: VNA) |
1. It is a great pride that, in the first months of 2024, at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos (Switzerland) - where national leaders and hundreds of the world's leading economic corporations gathered to attend, the two words Vietnam mentioned were "not only a star in the East Asia region but also in the process of transforming into a country with economic influence at the world level"; "a typical example of reform and development, internationally recognized as a model of rapid and sustainable economic development".
Vietnam's international role, position, achievements, vision and development prospects have been recognized by the international community after its tireless efforts over nearly 40 years of renovation, especially its increasing concern for the poor and vulnerable groups, demonstrating a strong commitment to leaving no one behind.
In particular, policies to support and facilitate people with disabilities according to the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) that Vietnam joined on November 22, 2007. Each year, the State spends about 15,000 billion VND to support and resolve monthly social allowances for over 1 million people with disabilities.
With the Socio-Economic Development Strategy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2045, Vietnam has also implemented many initiatives to remove barriers, open up many opportunities, and ensure the effective participation of vulnerable groups in national discovery, innovation, and sustainable development.
The economic growth achievements in 2023 (over 5%) are a testament to the effectiveness of the right macroeconomic policies. Maintaining economic growth means an opportunity for Vietnam to continue to better protect and promote human rights, most clearly seen in the poverty rate continuously decreasing to 3%; social security spending is given high priority and maintained at nearly 3% of GDP for many years.
Along with ensuring human rights at home, in 2023, Vietnam will continue to export over 8 million tons of rice, contributing to ensuring food security and access to food for millions of people in regions around the world.
From a country most strongly affected by climate change, in recent times, Vietnam has proactively improved its ability to adapt to landslides, droughts, and natural disasters, while at the same time implementing a new initiative on sustainable development of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission specialized rice, to both conform to the trend of sustainable development and promote Vietnam's important role in ensuring global food security.
| The 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council took place from February 26 to April 5, considering 10 topics, discussing issues such as the rights of people with disabilities, children's rights, combating religious hatred, dialogue with special rapporteurs... |
After a turbulent year with impacts from the world economy, the results achieved in GDP growth have helped Vietnam be evaluated as a new model when maintaining old growth drivers while shifting strategy to new growth drivers such as artificial intelligence (AI), automobile technology, semiconductor technology and ecosystems...
In the first months of the year, news about exports, especially rice exports, and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam has been adding momentum to warm up the economy in the face of fluctuations in the world economy.
Speaking at the opening session of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council on February 26, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son shared: “What we have learned over the years is that people's human rights can be best guaranteed when there is peace, stability and respect for international law, in which the State puts people at the center of all its policies to ensure comprehensive and sustainable development.
This is also true at the global level to promote the enjoyment of all human rights for all people.” At the same time, the Vietnamese representative also shared Vietnam’s recent efforts such as adopting the Roadmap for the Realization of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, implementing climate change commitments at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP), including the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).
Vietnam has always attached great importance to and implemented many specific measures to protect human rights, and shared information on the completion of the national report under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) cycle IV. Vietnam has submitted the UPR cycle IV report, with nearly 90% of the recommendations fully implemented, including information on the recent visit to Vietnam by the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development.
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| Minister Bui Thanh Son speaks at the High-Level Session of the 55th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on February 26 in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo: Nhat Phong) |
2. It is time for all global citizens to join hands and make urgent efforts to ensure human rights in the face of today's myriad of risks, one of the messages emphasized by UN leaders at the high-level meeting of the 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council.
UN General Assembly President Dennis Francis made this point in particular when mentioning the reality that 75 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, conflicts and the impacts of climate change, including the existential threat of rising sea levels, have left 300 million people in dire need of humanitarian assistance, including about 114 million refugees.
The Middle East crisis in particular, with more than 90% of the affected region’s population displaced and now “on the brink of famine and trapped in the abyss of a public health disaster”, he said. The suffering of innocent civilians in Gaza has reached “unbearable heights”.
To help the most vulnerable, not only in Gaza but also in Ukraine, Haiti, Yemen, Sudan…, the President of the UN General Assembly emphasized: “We must not let down the victims – the victims of human rights violations… We must never fail”.
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| High-level meeting of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. (Source: Getty Images) |
The determination not to fail in the face of ongoing human rights violations globally requires the joint efforts of all nations and the Human Rights Council is part of this great process.
In the context of the world still witnessing many crises happening at the same time, the top priority issues that need to be focused on are: (i) ensuring the full enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to development; (ii) protecting vulnerable groups; (iii) calling on countries to practice mutual respect and understanding, promote tolerance, inclusiveness, solidarity and respect for diversity, dialogue and cooperation to ensure all human rights for all as stated in Resolution 52/19 chaired by Vietnam calling on countries to promote mutual respect and understanding, tolerance, inclusiveness, unity and respect for differences, dialogue, cooperation and international solidarity in promoting and protecting human rights.
As a member of the UN Human Rights Council and the main sponsor of the above Resolution, the representative of Vietnam affirmed that it has and will continue to cooperate with all member states to promote that task. Later this year, Vietnam, together with Bangladesh and the Philippines, will submit a draft annual resolution on the promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate change at the 56th Session.
Promoting dialogue, seeking comprehensive common solutions, responding to the interests of developing countries on climate change, promoting gender equality, protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, providing humanitarian assistance to people in conflict, addressing the root causes of discrimination, racism and the consequences of colonialism are contemporary issues that require the common will, common interests and joint efforts of all countries.
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