Vietnam showed openness to UPR dialogue, willingness to assume important responsibility: UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam
WVR - Vietnam showed both serious preparation and openness to international dialogue in its engagement in the UPR session.
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| The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis shared about Vietnam's efforts through UPR cycles. (Photo: Tuan Viet/WVR) |
On May 7, the dialogue session on Vietnam's National Report under the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)'s fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was very successful with the participation of huge members of the United Nations.
On this occasion, The World & Vietnam Report has a talkshow with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis about Vietnam's efforts through UPR cycles.
What are your comments on Vietnam's recent UPR dialogue session (May 7) with the participation of a large number of United Nations member coutries?
In the 4th UPR dialogue, Vietnam received 320 recommendations from 133 countries. Other countries reviewed in the same session received statements from less than 100 Member States.
Compared to the 3rd UPR cycle, the number of recommendations received from Member States increased by 10%, from 291 to 320.
This is all very positive.
The numbers demonstrate great interest from UN Member States in supporting the Government of Vietnam to further advance human rights in the country.
These also indicate the collective importance we give, as an international community, to inclusive and sustainable development that expands the enjoyment of human rights.
The strong engagement of UN Member states also signals Viet Nam’s high profile in multilateral human rights mechanisms, not least as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term.
Further expanding and deepening multi-stakeholder engagement on the important actions moving forward will be equally important. Ensuring a whole-of-society participation throughout the process, particularly at the national, provincial and local levels, remains key.
It is true to say that Vietnam has attached importance to UPR mechanism and principle of transparency, objectivity, dialogue and cooperation of this mechanism?
The UN recognizes that every country's development pathway is unique to its own circumstances and conditions; to its unique strengths and challenges. Each country must walk its own path towards a more inclusive and sustainable development that promotes the human rights of all members of society.
At the same time, as Deputy Minister Viet also emphasized in his interventions, that there are certain actions that help accelerate and strengthen the respect for universal human rights.
Having a strong legal framework that puts human rights at the center was one of the examples he highlighted. He also noted that - inclusive and green socio-economic development and reducing multidimensional poverty significantly contributes as well to advancing social and economic rights. These are areas where Vietnam has showed great progress.
When we study the statements and recommendations received from 133 UN Member States, we can observe how these come from diverse socio-economic and political realities. And yet, we also found many areas of convergence in their recommendations.
To illustrate, 47 countries made recommendations on gender equality, women’s empowerment, and gender-based violence. Vietnam’s delegation confirmed this is a priority for the country, highlighting the adoption of a National Strategy on Gender Equality from 2021 to 2030 and several master plans on preventing gender-based and domestic violence.
Several countries also made recommendations on further aligning the application of the death penalty in Vietnam with international standards. Deputy Minister Viet acknowledged the large number of recommendations on this issue. He explained that, while conditions in Vietnam currently do not allow for abolition, steps are being taken to reduce the number of crimes subject to the penalty and to strengthen safeguards in sentencing and executions.
So, while each country will advance on its own development path, there are measures that can strengthen adherence by UN Member States to the international human rights obligations, which they have ratified.
To have a constructive conversation on how each country can further promote and protect fundamental social, economic, civil, and political rights in their own contexts - this is the purpose and focus of the UPR review cycle.
How does this dialogue session reflect Vietnam's efforts and commitments as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term?
Vietnam showed both serious preparation and openness to international dialogue in its engagement in the UPR session.
The Vietnamese delegation indicated that Vietnam is ready to consider the statements and recommendations offered by other Member States in a constructive and cooperative manner.
Openness to international dialogue on human rights characterizes Vietnam’s efforts as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term.
Vietnam has engaged actively in this multilateral forum, leading initiatives such as the celebration of the 75-year anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and co-sponsoring annual resolutions on human rights and climate change.
Earlier this year, Foreign Minister Son announced that Vietnam will seek re-election to the Human Rights Council for its 2026-2028 term.
This signals Vietnam’s willingness to continue assuming the important responsibility of being a Human Rights Council member.
This responsibility includes demonstrating concrete efforts to protect and promote economic, social, cultural, civil, and political rights, in Vietnam, in the country, in line with international human rights standards and the human rights treaties that the country has ratified.
How has the United Nations participated and supported Vietnam in the UPR process?
As with past UPR cycles, the United Nations Country Team in Vietnam has sought to actively support the Government and people of Vietnam to promote a meaningful, results-oriented, and inclusive UPR process.
We do so within the 2022-2026 UN-Vietnam Cooperation Framework and in-line with the standard role of the United Nations in all countries undergoing a UPR review process.
Our support focuses on two areas:
First, and most importantly, is to facilitate inclusion and participation by a broad range of stakeholders throughout the UPR process.
Around the world, the meaningful engagement of diverse socio-political and professional organizations, NGOs, communities, and vulnerable groups in the UPR process is an integral part of the UN mandate to ensure no one is left behind.
This includes youth, women, the elderly, ethnic minorities, migrants, LGBTI persons and persons with disabilities.
We hope that in the next steps to prioritize and adopt recommendations, efforts to engage these sectors can be redoubled. The UN will continue to support the Government of Vietnam to that end.
The second area is in providing technical inputs on how to help advance the implementation of UPR recommendations.
Technical inputs align with the joint priorities agreed in our Cooperation Framework, namely inclusive social development; climate change response, disaster resilience and environmental sustainability; shared prosperity through economic transformation; and governance and access to justice.
Through our development cooperation programmes, we continue to contribute to the implementation of UPR recommendations.
Our programmes to promote gender equality and combat gender-based violence, increase the child friendliness of the justice system, strengthen social protection systems, advance the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities, and combat human trafficking, are some of the examples.
We also provide technical feedback and advice to the Government of Vietnam on priorities to advance the country’s own, sovereign path towards expanded respect of human rights.
We are grateful and privileged to be able to play that role based on 45 years of trust and fruitful partnership between the United Nations and Vietnam.
