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| Ambassador Mai Phan Dung speaks at the meeting. (Source: VNA) |
Within the framework of the 55th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, Ambassador Mai Phan Dung, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, the World Trade Organization and other international organizations in Geneva, on March 27 delivered a general speech in the general discussion on the topic of following up and implementing the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA), with the theme of protecting essential infrastructure for people in armed conflicts, attracting the attention and co-sponsorship of many participating countries.
Ambassador Mai Phan Dung affirmed that in the world today, people's enjoyment of human rights is facing many serious challenges; the right to life is threatened by armed violence and explosives left over from war; access to economic, social and cultural rights is difficult due to the destruction of essential infrastructure.
The Ambassador also called on parties to the conflict to strictly implement their obligations to protect civilians and infrastructure under international humanitarian law; to avoid as far as possible attacking, destroying, removing, obstructing or disabling items essential to the survival of civilians; and to respect, protect and facilitate access to humanitarian assistance forces and supplies.
In addition, the international community needs to make every effort to protect essential assets and infrastructure of the people. Countries, stakeholders, especially international organizations, should strengthen cooperation, focusing on supporting the promotion of sustainable development of war-affected residential areas, considering this a long-term measure to ensure the enjoyment of human rights.
In the current context, the world and regional security and political situation is complicated and unpredictable; major countries are increasing their attraction and gathering of forces; strategic competition is fierce; local wars, armed conflicts, ethnic, racial, religious conflicts, etc. are breaking out in some places, deeply affecting all countries.
This joint statement chaired by Vietnam is another mark of Vietnam at the first session of 2024 as a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, demonstrating Vietnam's substantive, responsible, and timely contribution to the work of the Human Rights Council, receiving support and participation from many countries; at the same time, this statement also aims to continue implementing a proactive, positive, and responsible foreign policy to participate in solving issues of common concern to the international community.
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. VDPA reaffirms the values of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and clarifies 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 specific characteristics of each country and society, human rights must be recognized as universal values, and must be evaluated in a balanced and interdependent relationship. The VDPA also contains many provisions on the protection of human rights in armed conflicts, such as Articles 21, 23, 47, 50, and 96. |
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