HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam believes countries will continue to back Việt Nam's candidacy for a continued place at the UN Human Rights Council, according to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Phạm Thu Hằng.

On December 12, at the Permanent Mission of Việt Nam to the United Nations in New York, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Đỗ Hùng Việt announced Việt Nam's re-election to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2026-28 term, Hằng said at the regular press briefing in Hà Nội yesterday.

Based on Việt Nam's consistent policy and strong commitment, efforts and achievements in protecting and promoting human rights, as well as increasing participation and contributions to multilateral forums, Việt Nam is currently holding the position of a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-25 term with many imprints and initiatives, in the spirit of respect, understanding, dialogue and cooperation for all human rights for all people in eight priority areas, which are recognised and highly appreciated by the international community, Hằng said.

In the first two years of the 2023-25 term, Việt Nam has also actively fulfilled its membership responsibilities, including participating in the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Cycle IV and welcoming the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development to visit Việt Nam, which had obtained very positive results, the spokesperson told the media.

These are extremely important foundations for Việt Nam to continue to run for membership of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2026-28 term, she said.

“I would like to stress that Việt Nam's candidacy affirms the continuation of its positive contributions, strong commitments and willingness to contribute to the common efforts of the international community. Việt Nam believes that with the successes it has achieved, countries will continue to support Việt Nam's candidacy for the upcoming term," Hằng noted.

"We are committed to promoting Việt Nam's active, constructive and responsible role in promoting the implementation of the common goals of the UN Human Rights Council and ensuring better and better enjoyment of rights for all people around the world.”

At the New York event last week, deputy foreign minister Việt said Việt Nam has led key resolutions on the '75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights' and 'Climate Change and Human Rights' marking its strong presence at the UN’s main body for human rights protection.

Việt underscored that Việt Nam's remarkable socio-economic progress over nearly four decades of Đổi mới (Renewal) has resulted from the country’s policy of placing the people at the centre of development, a balanced approach to the promotion of a broad spectrum of human rights, from civil and political to economic, social and cultural rights and the country’s priority to caring for and protecting vulnerable groups, as well as concerted efforts from the Vietnamese people, both domestically and abroad. — VNS