Nguyen Manh Cuong, head of MoLISA’s Department of International Cooperation (Source: http://baodansinh.vn)

Delegates discussed progress in human rights work during 2018 and the implementation of relevant recommendations in line with the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). Nguyen Manh Cuong, head of Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs’ Department of International Cooperation, said that the ministry hopes to listen to opinions, feedback, and proposals from agencies and organizations specializing in labor rights and rights of vulnerable groups, towards completing a national report for the third cycle of the UPR in Geneva, Switzerland in January 2019. The ideas will also help the ministry better ensure and promote human rights in the future, he said. Vietnam is on its way to institutionalizing the 2013 Constitution, in which many human rights are enshrined, while also negotiating, signing, and ratifying a range of new generation free trade agreements with high commitments in labor rights.