(VOVworld)-The US State Department has released its annual Human Rights Report 2016, which acknowledges Vietnam’s progress in human rights protection. But the report contains some biased statements on the current situation in Vietnam.

Vietnam pursues a consistent policy of safeguarding and promoting people's fundamental rights. Vietnam's efforts in this endeavor have been applauded by the international community.

Progressive policy on human rights

Vietnam has been focusing on fine-tuning the legal system on human rights. The 2013 Constitution devotes 36 articles on human rights and citizens’ obligations. The Constitution stipulates that the State ensures and promotes the people's right to mastery and recognizes, respects, and secures human rights and citizenship rights.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh  responds to a reporter's question on the US State Department's Human Rights Report 2016 on March 13, 2017

Vietnam has participated in most UN human rights conventions including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity. Vietnam has also joined the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, and the ILO Employment Policy Convention.

Undeniable human rights achievements

Vietnam has given priority to increasing cooperation and annual human rights dialogue with many countries such as the US, the EU, Australia, Norway, and Switzerland. It contributed significantly to the establishment and operation of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights and the building of the 2012 ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. Vietnam has received the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s award for poverty reduction and is one of 6 UN members that have completed most of the Millennium Development Goals before 2015. The UN Human Rights Council praised Vietnam's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Report in the second cycle in 2014.

There remain conflicting points of view on human rights but what Vietnam has achieved in this domain are undeniable. Maintaining regular dialogue is the best way to increase American politicians and people’s understanding of human rights practices in Vietnam and narrow the differences between the 2 countries over this issue.