(VOVworld) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has written an article on Vietnam’s consistent policy of protecting and promoting human rights. The article has been printed by major newspapers in Vietnam to mark World Human Rights Day December 10^th. The article says that Vietnam considers people the center, target, and driving force in its development process. Vietnam’s membership in the UN Human Rights Council will elevate Vietnam’s global profile and improve the performance of the Council and other UN human rights institutions.

Deputy Prime Minister Minh said Vietnam’s nomination for the UN Human Rights Council stemmed from Vietnam’s policy of protecting and promoting human rights, contributing to international cooperation in this field. Vietnam’s election with the highest number of votes compared to 14 other countries was evidence of international acknowledgement and appreciation of Vietnam’s human rights achievements.

Human rights guaranteed

Vietnamese people’s fundamental rights and freedom are institutionalized by the Constitution, the law, policies, and mechanisms. People’s civil and political human rights have been exercised and ensured in all aspects of life. The National Assembly has amended and issued a number of laws to guarantee human rights and increase supervision of state agencies through public Q&A sessions. Rights of citizens have been implemented effectively through financial and judicial reforms. The people’s voice in national issues has been enhanced through a number of laws concerning the media, claims and denunciations, and grassroots democracy. Political and social organizations and means of communication have developed rapidly in both scope and scale.

Any act to cause discrimination and national division is forbidden in Vietnam. The material and spiritual lives of ethnic minority people have improved significantly. All major world religions are practiced in Vietnam. Economic, cultural and social rights, particularly those concerning ownership, freedom of production and business, social security, creativity, gender equality, vulnerable people such as children, the elderly, people with disabilities, education, and healthcare have been ensured. These achievements have made it easier to exercise civil and political rights. The international community considers Vietnam a role model in implementing the UN Human Rights Council’s agenda in terms of reducing poverty, ensuring food security, improving the Human Development Index, and fulfilling the Millennium Development Targets ahead of schedule.     

Strengthening international cooperation to promote human rights

Vietnam is now a member of many important international human rights conventions including The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), 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 Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Vietnam has signed the UN Convention against Torture and is preparing to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2014. Vietnam has joined 18 conventions of the International Labor Organization. During the 7 years since the UN Human Rights Council was established, Vietnam, as an observer, has made an active contribution to the Council’s agenda, resolutions and decisions. Vietnam helped to establish the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), and the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration. Vietnam has increased bilateral cooperation and dialogue to share information and experience in human rights with many countries.

Vietnam’s active involvement in the UN Human Rights Council’s activities