Members of the Vietnamese delegation after the election result at the UNHRC. –VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam’s success in winning a seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2023-25 tenure demonstrates the country’s continuously consolidated and heightened position and reputation in the international arena, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Phạm Quang Hiệu has said.

Speaking to the press after the election result was announced at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Hiệu said that this also reflects the international community’s acknowledgement of human rights achievements Việt Nam has recorded.

It is also an outcome of the close leadership and direct engagement of high-ranking leaders, as well as efforts of the entire political system, including press agencies, in protecting and promoting human rights in Việt Nam, said the head of the Vietnamese delegation.

Ambassador Đặng Hoàng Giang, Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the UN, also stressed the significance of the UNHRC and the high competitiveness among the candidates, especially those from Asia-Pacific.

He said that with the message of “Mutual Respect. Dialogue and Cooperation. Ensuring All Human Rights, for All” for its three-year membership at the council, Việt Nam will directly contribute to protecting and promoting human rights worldwide – one of the three main tasks of the UN.

Việt Nam will promote priorities identified through dialogue and cooperation, especially protecting vulnerable groups and guaranteeing human rights in response to global issues, Giang said.

Such moves will contribute to addressing shared concerns and urgent issues facing humankind while opening up opportunities for Việt Nam to exchange experiences and pool international support to help Vietnamese people better enjoy human and citizens’ rights, according to the ambassador.

Speaking to Vietnam News Agency reporters, State Minister for Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam congratulated the Vietnamese Government and people on the election result.

Bangladesh and Việt Nam have close bilateral relations. He said both countries were UNHRC members and had reached a consensus on many important issues, such as climate change response or migration.

He said Việt Nam and Bangladesh would continue strengthening cooperation to make more contributions to the UNHRC.

The challenges will be even greater in the current changing world order than in the previous term. Minister Shahriar Alam affirmed that the two countries must quickly adapt and understand each other better.

He also emphasised the importance of understanding among countries and regions.

Human rights is a broad field closely related to economic development. Việt Nam and Bangladesh share common features in terms of culture and have gone through years of brutal wars to gain independence and freedom, so the two countries are in a position to tell the world that peace is the central value, the common aspiration of people and the foundation for the country when making decisions, he said.

Veeramalla Anjaiah, a senior researcher from the Centre for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) in Indonesia, said Việt Nam’s election to the UNHRC for the 2023-2025 tenure is international recognition of Việt Nam's commitment to respecting and protecting human rights.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency, he said that Việt Nam is a peaceful and stable country, with its Government always being committed to protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms at home.

As a responsible nation, Việt Nam supports the protection of human rights and dignity worldwide and always participates in such efforts at the UN and other international organisations, he added.

Stressing the fact that as well as nine ASEAN member countries many Asian, African and Latin American nations also voted for Việt Nam, Anjaiah said Vietnamese people have been enjoying many freedoms and human rights.

The UNHRC is an inter-governmental body within the UN system responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and addressing situations of human rights violations and making recommendations on them. It can discuss all thematic human rights issues and situations requiring its attention throughout the year.

The council comprises 47 UN member states which the UN General Assembly elects.

Việt Nam has always actively and responsibly participated in the activities of UNHRC since the council was established in 2006. This is the second time it has been elected to the council, with the first being in 2013 for the 2014-16 tenure.

Việt Nam’s successful fulfilment of the UNHRC membership in the 2014-16 term has contributed to protecting national interests and improving its international position and reputation.

The country has joined the HRC Core Group on Human Rights and Climate Change and proposed several resolutions on climate change impacts on vulnerable groups, which were approved by the council.

Việt Nam was also the co-author and co-sponsor of tens of the council’s resolutions, focusing on rights in the economy, social affairs and culture, the protection of vulnerable groups, gender equality and discrimination combat, among other issues.

The country acted as a bridge promoting cooperation and dialogue between countries and groups to accelerate the UNHRC’s fair, progressive approach towards people in such areas as reproductive health, the fight against violence against women, and gender-based violence.

Việt Nam promoted dialogues within the framework of the UNHRC between relevant countries, regional organisations and UN mechanisms on human rights to address the specific concern on human rights and humanitarian issues.

The above contents will continue to be the Southeast Asian country’s priorities in the 2023-25 term. – VNS