The United Nations Human Rights Council recognizes Vietnam's outstanding achievements.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attends the 52nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Photo: VNA

On April 4, at the headquarters of the United Nations Office in Geneva (Switzerland), the 52nd regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council ended, completing the program set out at the beginning of the session, with 43 resolutions adopted, including the Resolution on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action proposed and drafted by Vietnam.

According to a VNA reporter in Geneva, the Human Rights Council completed its 52nd Session with a large workload and a record-long meeting time.

The meeting took place mainly in person for more than 1 month - from February 27 to April 4, with contents such as high-level meeting (from February 27 to March 2); 9 thematic discussion sessions (reviewing 5 years of implementing the United Nations Strategy on Youth and directions for the coming time, death penalty, commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development, Voluntary Fund to implement recommendations under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), children's rights in the digital environment); a series of discussion sessions and dialogues with about 45 special procedures and human rights mechanisms of the United Nations; discussion sessions and dialogues on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, Myanmar, North Korea, Syria, Ethiopia, Venezuela...

At the session, the Human Rights Council also considered and discussed more than 80 reports; consulted and considered and approved 43 draft thematic resolutions; approved UPR reports of 14 countries; and approved the decision to appoint 10 personnel for special procedures.

The Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attended the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term.

Besides highlighting Vietnam's achievements in national development and ensuring human rights, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang proposed an initiative to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action with a document of the Human Rights Council.

Implementing this initiative, Vietnam has made efforts to build a Core Group with diverse members representing all regions of the world, while promoting negotiations related to the draft Resolution on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action.

On April 3, the Resolution was adopted by consensus by the Human Rights Council, with 102 countries (as of late afternoon April 4, 2023, Geneva time) participating in co-sponsorship, including 14 co-authors (including Vietnam, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Fiji, India, Panama, Romania, South Africa and Spain).

This result shows that the countries acknowledge and appreciate Vietnam's efforts and goodwill in negotiations, and at the same time proves that the content of the Resolution is balanced and timely, meeting the common concerns and priorities of all groups of countries regarding the anniversary, as well as promoting the importance of the above Declaration and Statement.

In addition, the Vietnamese delegation also actively spoke at many meetings and discussions on ensuring specific rights such as the right to housing; the right to food; the right to culture; the right to development; the right to children; the right to fair, equal, timely, and affordable access to COVID-19 vaccines...

In their speeches, the Vietnamese delegation highlighted the consistent policy, efforts and achievements in promoting and protecting human rights; affirmed Vietnam's commitment to sustainable development for the benefit of the people; stressed the need to address inequality and protect vulnerable people; called for addressing global challenges such as climate change; affirmed Vietnam's commitment to strengthening constructive cooperation with countries, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Human Rights Council and the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council to promote and protect human rights for all on the basis of respect for the United Nations Charter, international treaties on human rights, ensuring national sovereignty and the principles of objectivity, fairness, constructive dialogue and cooperation.

Together with ASEAN countries, the Vietnamese delegation made a number of joint statements on topics of common interest and sharing among ASEAN countries such as the right to development, technical cooperation and capacity building on human rights, and the UPR.

Regarding the topic of climate change and human rights, which is a priority for our country and other countries, Vietnam, together with Bangladesh and the Philippines - members of the Core Group on Climate Change and Human Rights at the Human Rights Council for many years - have drafted and issued a Joint Statement on Climate Change and Human Rights at this session, attracting many co-sponsoring countries.

In addition, the Vietnamese delegation actively contacted, exchanged and consulted with delegations from other countries, co-sponsored a number of initiatives in the spirit of dialogue and cooperation; performed the duties of a member of the Human Rights Council in the consultation process, and voted to approve 43 draft resolutions of the Human Rights Council.

The active participation of the Vietnamese delegation at the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council demonstrates Vietnam's efforts and responsibility as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term; at the same time, it conveys a strong message about Vietnam's consistent viewpoints, policies, achievements and ASEAN's common viewpoints and achievements in promoting and protecting human rights; thereby, contributing with other countries to ensure that the activities of the Human Rights Council are consistent with the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international conventions on human rights./.