Deputy Foreign Minister Đỗ Hùng Việt chairs an international press conference in Hà Nội on April 15 to announce Việt Nam's National Report under the United Nations Human Rights Council’s fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review mechanism. VNA/VNS Photo Quỳnh Anh

GENEVA – A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Đỗ Hùng Việt attended a dialogue on Việt Nam's national report under the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)’s fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism in Geneva on Tuesday.

In his opening speech and presentation of Việt Nam's national report, Việt expressed the pride in engaging in the dialogue with other countries on the day of the 70th anniversary of the Điện Biên Phủ Victory, at the UN headquarters which witnessed the negotiation and signing of the 1954 Geneva Accords, and significant historical events in the national liberation struggle and anti-imperialist fight of the Vietnamese people and many other nations around the world.

Affirming Việt Nam's consistent policy of protecting and promoting human rights, placing people at the centre, goal and driving force of its renewal and development process, he highlighted Việt Nam's journey from a poor country to one of the fastest-growing economies deeply integrated into the global community.

Since the third UPR in 2019, Việt Nam has continued fine-tuning its legal system and policies regarding human rights, leading to tangible progress. The rights to healthcare, education, social security, freedom of religion and belief, press freedom, and Internet access and gender equality have all made significant progress. Việt Nam's rankings in the UN's Human Development Index (HDI) and Gender Equality Index (GEI) have also improved, he said.

He further added that the Vietnamese Government has enforced many policies and measures to protect people's health, boost post-pandemic socio-economic development, actively promote the transition to a green and digital economy, and fulfil Việt Nam's commitments in line with international human rights conventions.

The event garnered high interest from over 130 participating countries. They congratulated Việt Nam on its 70th anniversary of Điện Biên Phủ Victory and acknowledged its achievements in human rights, economic development, social justice and human rights education.

The Vietnamese delegation answered many questions, providing additional information about issues of shared concern, including sustainable development goals, inclusive and green economy, Internet and social network development, freedom of speech and information access, labour rights, the role of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuracy, freedom of religion and belief, basic conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), human trafficking prevention and support for ethnic minorities.

At the dialogue, Việt Nam received about 300 recommendations encompassing a wide range of human rights issues.

On May 10, the UNHRC's UPR Working Group will consider a report on Việt Nam's review, and then to submit it to the UNHRC for the official adoption at the council's 57th session in September-October. – VNS