Vietnam's expectations for its UN Human Rights Council membership term 2026-2028

Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang stated that stepping into the 2026-2028 term, in the context of the 14th National Party Congress identifying foreign affairs as one of the country's strategic pillars, Vietnam's continued membership in the UNHRC holds significant strategic importance. (Photo: Thanh Long)

1. The 2023-2025 term unfolds amidst profound, complex, and unpredictable global changes, the most significant since the Cold War. Prolonged armed conflicts in various regions, particularly in Ukraine, the Middle East, and some hotspots in Africa, have led to severe humanitarian crises, undermining the ability to ensure fundamental rights such as the right to life, access to healthcare, education, and social welfare.

Additionally, the trend of geopolitical fragmentation and strategic competition among major powers has intensified, leading to the politicization of human rights issues, turning them into tools for exerting pressure and interfering in the internal affairs of other nations, eroding trust and hindering substantive multilateral cooperation.

Alongside traditional challenges, the world also faces increasing non-traditional security risks such as climate change, pandemics, food insecurity, energy transition, and notably, the explosive development of artificial intelligence (AI).

Technological advancements have opened up development opportunities while raising new issues related to privacy, data protection, equitable access to technology, and accountability. In this context, maintaining an inclusive, balanced, and constructive multilateral forum like the UNHRC is more important than ever.

Despite deepening divisions in the international system, the UNHRC continues to affirm its role as the central UN body for promoting and protecting human rights. In the past term, the Council held regular sessions totaling about 45 weeks per year; passed over 300 resolutions and decisions; reviewed nearly 700 reports from countries, special mechanisms, and UN specialized agencies; and effectively maintained the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism with 124 reports adopted. The Council also promoted new initiatives linking human rights with sustainable development, climate change, digital transformation, children's rights in cyberspace, and corporate responsibility for human rights.

Vietnam was re-elected to the UNHRC with 180 votes, the highest among candidates representing the Asia-Pacific region. (Photo: VNA)

2. In this overall picture, Vietnam emerges as an active, responsible, and innovative member. Serving as a member of the UNHRC for the 2023-2025 term is a concrete step in realizing the 13th Party Congress's directives, closely linked with implementing the Politburo's strategic resolutions on human development and ensuring the basic rights of the people.

Firstly, Vietnam has effectively ensured human rights domestically. In 2025, Vietnam achieved an 8.02% growth rate, laying a solid foundation for double-digit growth from 2026-2030; the multidimensional poverty rate was 1.3%, down from 4.4% in 2021. The government continues to implement policies supporting poor, near-poor, and disadvantaged households to ensure social welfare.

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The Politburo has issued many strategic resolutions related to ensuring human rights in protecting, caring for, and improving public health, education and training, culture, energy security, and the private economy. These achievements form the basis for Vietnam to make commitments and priorities while serving as a UNHRC member for the 2023-2025 term, developing them into specific achievements and contributions.

Based on Resolution 59-NQ/TW on international integration in the new situation, Vietnam has fully, actively, and substantively participated in the Council's activities. Government leaders, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and relevant agencies have been present at all high-level sessions and important meetings, demonstrating a strong commitment to multilateralism and global human rights governance.

Vietnam not only shares domestic experiences in poverty eradication, ensuring social welfare, gender equality, and protecting the rights of vulnerable groups but also proposes many constructive suggestions aimed at the "leave no one behind" goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Additionally, Vietnam proactively leads and co-leads many important initiatives, contributing to implementing Conclusion 125-KL/TW of the Secretariat on strengthening the implementation of Directive No. 42-CT/TW, dated August 8, 2018, of the Secretariat on promoting and elevating multilateral diplomacy by 2030.

Vietnam has chaired the introduction of the resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA) – two historical milestones of the global human rights movement; and, together with partners, promoted resolutions on climate change and human rights, as well as resolutions on children's rights in cyberspace, linked with global efforts to combat high-tech crime.

These initiatives not only hold diplomatic significance but also directly reflect domestic efforts in implementing the Politburo's resolutions on health, education, and social welfare. Promoting universal healthcare access, improving public health care quality linked with Resolution 72-NQ/TW; emphasizing human rights education, equitable access to education linked with Resolution 71-NQ/TW on fundamental, comprehensive education and training reform; as well as efforts to improve living conditions for people, build schools, housing, and essential infrastructure for communities in difficult areas... These policies have created a solid practical foundation for Vietnam's stance at the UNHRC.

Resident Coordinator Pauline Tamesis attends the Talkshow "Vietnam Re-elected to the UN Human Rights Council: Prestige, Trust, and Great Responsibility" by the World and Vietnam Report.

Vietnam also seriously and transparently fulfills its international human rights obligations by successfully defending national reports under the UPR cycle IV (May 2024), as well as reports under the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This process reflects a high sense of responsibility, readiness for open dialogue, and willingness to accept constructive recommendations from the international community.

In handling sensitive issues at the UNHRC, Vietnam persistently defends the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, respects independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and non-interference in the internal affairs of nations, while actively contributing to joint efforts to ensure human rights in all circumstances. Vietnam's balanced and constructive approach has helped maintain dialogue, reduce tensions, and promote substantive cooperation.

The successes in Vietnam's 2023-2025 UNHRC membership term are based on several solid foundations: (i) The Party's policy of considering people as the center of development; (ii) significant socio-economic achievements, poverty reduction, legal reforms; (iii) Vietnam's increasing international prestige; (iv) close coordination between domestic agencies and Vietnam's Missions at the UN; and (v) effective information and communication efforts, contributing to shaping the image of a positive, responsible, and constructive Vietnam.

3. As we enter the 2026-2028 term, in the context of the 14th National Party Congress identifying foreign affairs as one of the country's strategic pillars, Vietnam's continued membership in the UNHRC holds significant strategic importance. This not only helps consolidate a favourable foreign affairs landscape for development but also affirms that Vietnam meets high human rights standards, contributing to countering distorted narratives and protecting national interests.

Accordingly, Vietnam will continue to comprehensively integrate internationally, engage more deeply in the UNHRC's governance mechanisms; promote initiatives on climate change, children's rights, gender equality, healthcare, and human rights education linked with domestic development goals; and strengthen the connection between the UN and ASEAN on human rights, reinforcing ASEAN's central role in the regional structure.

With a solid foundation from the previous term and high trust from the international community, Vietnam enters the 2026-2028 term with confidence, proactiveness, and responsibility. The journey ahead poses many challenges, but with resilience, experience, and the support of international friends, Vietnam will continue to make practical contributions to building a peaceful, humane, and inclusive world where everyone fully enjoys their fundamental rights.

Vietnam ensures enjoyment of human rights for all citizens Vietnam’s human rights message is consistent: While universal, these rights must be practical and tied to daily life, prioritizing healthcare, education, and sustainable employment.

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