14th Party Congress: Ensuring social security from a human rights perspective
WVR - One of the key tasks emphasized in the Draft Documents of the 14th Party Congress is the construction and development of the social security system (SSS), clearly reflecting the approach to SSS from the perspective of human rights and citizenship.
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| The parade commemorating the 80th National Day on September 2 in Hanoi. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
The 14th National Party Congress takes place as the country enters a new era, with rapid and groundbreaking shifts in all fields. One of the key tasks emphasized in the Draft Documents of the 14th Party Congress (Draft) is the construction and development of the SSS, clearly reflecting the approach to SSS from the perspective of human rights and citizenship; affirming that transitioning SSS towards a proactive, comprehensive, and universal coverage is essential to realize the aspiration for a prosperous and happy nation.
Social security from the perspective of human rights and citizenship
SSS originated from practical needs, helping individuals prevent, mitigate, and overcome life's risks and incidents. SSS is a fundamental human right affirmed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948: “As a member of society, everyone has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international cooperation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality” (Article 22); “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control” (Article 25).
The right to SSS is also recognized in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: “The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to social security, including social insurance” (Article 9).
SSS is one of the measures of development level and superiority of a social regime. Over nearly 40 years of renovation, the perspective on SSS has made significant strides, identifying SSS as a constitutional right, a fundamental human right that the State must ensure and protect.
In-depth analysis and contributions to this perspective are not only theoretically significant but also practically valuable in shaping social policies for the 2026-2030 period, with a vision to 2045; especially in the context of unprecedented non-traditional challenges at home and abroad: rapid population aging, severe impacts of climate change, changes in labor structure due to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the risk consequences from the Covid-19 pandemic.
| The Party and State's policies on comprehensive human development are increasingly complete, focused, and substantial. Initial positive changes have been made in identifying, attracting, training, and utilizing talents. The Human Development Index (HDI) has improved significantly, rising 14 places to 0.766 points, belonging to the group of countries with high human development. The happiness ranking increased by 33 places compared to the beginning of the term, ranking 46th out of 143 countries. |
Highlights of social security assurance in the draft
The Draft Documents of the 14th Party Congress reflect breakthrough thinking on ensuring SSS with the following key points:
Firstly, the Draft affirms the "universal", "comprehensive", "inclusive", "multi-layered" nature; capable of preventing, limiting, and overcoming risks for all citizens, ensuring "no one is left behind" in the construction and development of the SSS. The Draft pays special attention to vulnerable groups and informal workers.
Currently, with the emergence of new jobs - products of digital technology and digital transformation - the informal labor force has increased, requiring appropriate SSS policies that encompass all labor forces, whether formal or informal. From a human rights perspective, this viewpoint of the Party reflects the universality, equality, and fairness principles of rights, aiming at "all citizens" throughout their life cycle (from birth to death).
The right to SSS is not only the right to receive aid in case of risks or accidents but is also understood more broadly as the right to income security, health security, housing security, and information security... Therefore, the SSS policy system should not stop at temporary, "shock-reducing" measures but demands sustainability.
| Policies and solutions for sustainable poverty reduction are implemented synchronously and effectively in the spirit of "leaving no one behind". The multidimensional poverty rate decreased from 4.4% in 2021 to 1.3% in 2025. Accelerate the implementation of the Project to invest in building at least 1 million social housing units; establish a National Housing Fund. By September 2025, complete the eradication of temporary and dilapidated houses nationwide. The number of people receiving regular social assistance will be expanded, reaching over 3.5 million people in 2025, of which 55% are elderly. The health insurance coverage rate increased from 90.9% in 2020 to 95.2% in 2025. The average life expectancy and health index of the population improved, with the average life expectancy at birth reaching 74.8 years in 2025, and the number of healthy living years around 67 years. |
Secondly, unlike the need-based or charity, support, humanitarian approach (where people are passive beneficiaries), ensuring SSS in the Draft is determined based on a rights-based approach.
Accordingly, people are the subjects of rights, the State is the subject of responsibility, and the State has the obligation to recognize, respect, protect, and implement these rights through policy mechanisms and laws.
Besides the leading role of the State, with the policy of "solving social issues in the spirit of socialization, public-private cooperation", the Party affirms that ensuring SSS is based on sharing responsibility between the State, society, and citizens, among population groups within a generation and between generations. This aims to attract the maximum resources, ensuring all citizens have access to and benefit from basic, quality social services.
The Party adjusts the approach to SSS from ensuring and stabilizing to stabilizing and developing, associated with sustainable social development management, enhancing social welfare for all, ensuring SSS, human security, and social security.
Thirdly, implementing a "modern, adaptive, flexible" SSS regime. Currently, with the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, digital technology has spread across all areas of social life. Therefore, applying technology to make rights enjoyment transparent is essential.
From a rights perspective, digitalization helps reduce cumbersome administrative procedures; citizens enjoy their rights accurately, sufficiently, and promptly without depending on the subjective will of executing officials. This ensures fair and transparent access to rights. Additionally, the shift in job nature from traditional to technology platforms also requires social insurance regimes for workers to be adaptive and flexible.
Some suggestions on ensuring social security
To meet the practical development needs of the country, based on a rights-based approach, the author proposes the following points:
Firstly, emphasize "timeliness" in building and implementing SSS policies. In the context of rapid digital transformation and unusual impacts of climate change, human life is changing rapidly, accompanied by unexpected risks and accidents threatening life, requiring quick recovery efforts in the shortest time.
Recent practice has also shown that the SSS decisions by our Party and State are made quickly and timely, such as the monthly allowance of 500,000 VND for people aged 75 and older without pensions or monthly social insurance benefits; building, repairing houses, and stabilizing lives for people affected by storms and floods... This is an important step in building a multi-layered SSS system. Therefore, the Draft Documents should emphasize "timeliness" in building and implementing SSS policies.
Secondly, Vietnam is one of the fastest-aging countries in Asia, posing many SSS issues for the elderly. Therefore, besides general inclusive SSS policies, it is necessary to focus on ensuring SSS for the elderly in both material and spiritual aspects, such as building a long-term care system for the elderly's physical and mental health proactively, with high predictability.
Thirdly, SSS issues in response to climate change impacts should be integrated with disaster risk management. Social security rights include the right to rebuild life after disasters, agricultural insurance for farmers against climate change impacts.
Fourthly, modernize governance in SSS policies such as digital transformation in SSS services, establishing digital SSS accounts for each citizen...
Fifthly, it is necessary to affirm the enhancement of capacity and awareness of rights holders. As awareness changes, citizens will proactively participate in social insurance and health insurance.
The Draft Documents of the 14th Party Congress demonstrate a strategic and deeply humane vision by approaching SSS from a rights perspective. This is a significant breakthrough in the Party's theoretical thinking, aligning with the progressive trends of humanity and the practical development of the country in the new era.
Ensuring SSS based on rights is not only a tool for risk management but also a foundation for creating a fair, democratic, and civilized society. When every citizen is guaranteed basic rights to income, health, and opportunities, they will unleash their creative potential, actively contributing to the construction, development, and defense of the nation. Successfully achieving the SSS goals in the 14th Congress Documents is realizing the aspiration for a strong and happy Vietnam.
| 5-year goals for 2026-2030: Strive for a Human Development Index (HDI) of about 0.78; average life expectancy at birth of about 75.5 years, with at least 68 years of healthy living; reduce the proportion of agricultural labor in total social labor to below 20%; the rate of trained labor with degrees and certificates reaches 35-40%. The poverty rate (according to the multidimensional poverty standard for 2026-2030) maintains a decrease of 1-1.5 percentage points per year. (Excerpt from the Draft Documents of the 14th Party Congress) |
