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| Approval of the National Report on the Implementation of the Convention Against Torture. (Illustration Photo - Source: Shutterstock) |
On February 9, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang signed Decision No. 174/QD-TTg approving Vietnam's second national report on the implementation of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT Convention).
The Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security to revise the translation of Vietnam's second national report on the implementation of the CAT Convention and carry out necessary diplomatic procedures to send the report to the Committee against Torture as prescribed.
The Ministry of Public Security presides over and coordinates with ministries and branches to continue performing necessary tasks to prepare for the presentation and response session before the Committee against Torture.
Previously, the Ministry of Public Security completed the draft of Vietnam's 2nd National Report on the implementation of the CAT Convention to collect comments from agencies, organizations and individuals.
The Draft Report consists of 187 paragraphs, divided into 5 parts: General information, Results of implementation of the CAT Convention, Additional information for comments and recommendations of the CAT Committee, Conclusions and 10 Annexes.
Accordingly, Vietnam has promulgated more than 56 laws and legal documents to better ensure human rights in general and prevent and punish acts related to torture in particular, such as: Law on Enforcement of Criminal Judgments 2019; Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Supporting Tools 2019; Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Judicial Expertise 2020; Law on Residence 2020; Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations 2020; Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Prevention and Control of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV/AIDS) 2020; Law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Criminal Procedure Code 2021; Law on Mobile Police 2022; Law on implementing democracy at grassroots level in 2022.
To implement the laws, Vietnam continues to issue more than 100 guiding documents to standardize procedures, publicize regulations, supplement institutions to prevent acts of torture, protect people at risk of torture, and better support victims of torture throughout the process of handling complaints, denunciations, investigations, temporary detention, prosecution, trial, execution of criminal sentences, and compensation for damages.
Notably, Vietnam has established a system for feedback and recommendations via hotlines, especially the hotline for receiving crime reports and denunciations of the Ministry of Public Security via phone number 113 or 0692326555; hotline for receiving crime reports and denunciations of the Public Security of provinces and centrally-run cities and the hotline for child protection via phone number 111.
Vietnam has also developed a “Friendly Investigation Room” model to handle cases involving people under 18 and abuse of people under 18. The “Friendly Investigation Room” model is designed and decorated similar to an office, creating a comfortable and friendly atmosphere, helping victims feel less self-conscious and fearful.
Investigators are trained in friendly investigation skills, have scientific knowledge of child education, the time for taking statements is not more than 2 hours/time and 1 day is not more than 2 times according to regulations and has the participation of guardians during the statement taking process.
To date, Vietnam has established 33 friendly investigation rooms at the Criminal Police Department, the People's Police Academy and the Public Security of 30 localities...
Along with the results achieved in implementing the CAT Convention, Vietnam still has some internal issues that need to be addressed; some difficulties and challenges in the process of implementing the CAT Convention and appropriate recommendations of the CAT Committee. Therefore, Vietnam's policy viewpoint and commitment to implementing the Convention is to determine the goal of building and perfecting a socialist rule-of-law state, improving people's lives and enjoyment rights, promoting and protecting human rights in Vietnam.
Vietnam has been and will continue to pay attention to, direct and implement the work of ensuring human rights, especially deploying and seriously implementing the CAT Convention and basic human rights conventions to which Vietnam is a member.
Participating in and effectively implementing the CAT Convention also affirms Vietnam's consistent policy in protecting human rights, creating a basis for enhancing dialogue and exchange with countries and international organizations on human rights.
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