10 highlights of Viet Nam’s membership of UNSC for the term 2020-2021 through photos
According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Viet Nam had a successful tenure as a of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for 2020-2021. He also highlighted 10 outstanding hallmarks made by Viet Nam at the UNSC during the tenure.
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| Seeking comprehensive solutions to achieve sustainable peace. This ranges from preventing to addressing the root causes of conflicts and dealing with the aftermaths of conflicts on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in internal affairs, and peaceful resolution of disputes. These endeavors always take into account the legitimate interests of all parties concerned, strengthen humanitarian assistance and the protection of civilians, and promote dialogue and negotiation, for peace and long-term development of all nations. Photo: Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Viet Nam's Permanent Representative to the UN, stressed the need to address the underlying root causes of conflicts, at an open debate on “Exclusion, inequality and conflict” of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on November 9, 2021. (Source: VNA) |
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| Strengthening humanitarian assistance and the protection of civilians in armed conflicts with concrete and tangible actions. Viet Nam took the lead on the issue as penholder of Resolution 2573 - the first UNSC Resolution on the protection of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population in conflict areas. It also identifies attacks against schools, hospitals, and water and energy infrastructures as violations of international humanitarian law. As one of the few resolutions co-sponsored by all 15 UNSC members, Resolution 2573 showed a high level of consensus by the Council on this matter. (Source: Twitter) |
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| Underscoring the long-term consequences of conflicts on people’s lives, in particular the issue of explosive remnants of war (ERW). Under Viet Nam’s Presidency of the Council in April 2021, and at Viet Nam’s initiative, the Council adopted a Presidential Statement stressing the need for further international cooperation to address the dire consequences of ERW that infringe upon the safety and sustainable livelihoods of peoples and communities. Photo: Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son chaired a UNSC open debate via videoconference on “Mine action and sustaining peace: Stronger partnerships for better delivery” on April 8, 2021. |
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| Bolstering meaningful cooperation between the UNSC and regional organizations, with particular emphasis on ASEAN and its centrality and visibility. In the photo: Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy at the first ever UNSC briefing on cooperation between the UN and ASEAN on January 30, 2020. (Source: UN) |
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| Championing advocacy and actions to support vulnerable groups in conflicts, particularly women and children, by advancing the women, peace and security and children in armed conflicts agendas. Viet Nam organized the International Conference on Women, Peace and Security and adopted its outcome document “the Hanoi Commitment to Action” (in December 2020), convened the Open Debate on sexual violence in conflict against women and girls (in April 2021), and hosted the UNSC Arria-Formula Meeting on Addressing Challenges of Children without Parental Care in Conflict Situations (in December 2021). Photo: Delegates attended the international conference on "Strengthening women's role in building and sustaning peace: from commitments to results" in Ha Noi on December 7, 2020. |
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| Intensifying joint efforts to address critical global challenges such as climate change, epidemics and maritime security. Particular focus was given to climate security, with Viet Nam making active contributions to the Like-Minded Group on Climate Security at the UNSC (LMG) and the Informal Expert Group (IEG) of Members of the Security Council on Climate and Security. Photo: President Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivered a statement at the high-level open debate of the UNSC on Climate Security on September 23, 2021. (Source: VNA) |
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| Acting as a bridge-builder, advancing transparency, consensus building, and promoting dialogue and cooperation. This was particularly evident during Viet Nam’s Presidency of the Council (in January 2020 and April 2021), and as Chair of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to Resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan. Viet Nam also served as the Chair of the Informal Working Group on International Tribunals and took the lead in drafting Resolution 2529 on renewing the mandate of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals Prosecutor. Photo: The Vietnamese Permanent Delegation to the UN leads the Commission's Mission to visit and work in South Sudan from November 16-20, 2021. (Source: Africa Press) |
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| Enhancing the status and voice of elected members of the UNSC. A notable highlight was Viet Nam’s efforts to the convening of the annual meeting (in November 2020, in collaboration with Norway and South Africa) between the ten non-permanent members of the UNSC and the five newly-elected members of the UNSC for the term 2021-2022 to exchange information and enhance coordination. Photo: At the dialogue between the ten current non-permanent members (E10) and the five newly-elected non-permanent members (I5) of the UNSC. |
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| Making substantial contributions to the common work of the UN in all pillars, particularly in peacekeeping missions. Photo: Major General Hoang Kim Phung (centre) and officers at the seeing-off ceremony for the Level-2 Field Hospital No. 3 dispatched to the South Sudan mission. (Photo: Viet Nam's Department of Peacekeeping Operations) |
Trang Tran
