 Vietnam inoculates 198.3 million people with COVID-19 vaccines by March 8th, 2022. (Photo: VNA) |
Ensuring human rights has become an urgent task amidst volatile changes worldwide with traditional and non-traditional security challenges affecting all countries.
The COVID-19 pandemic that broke out in 2020 has caused profound impacts on Vietnam’s social aspects, human rights enjoyment, and efforts of the Vietnamese government in ensuring the rights of its people.
Violence and conflicts are on the rise, which not only threatens peace, security, and development, but also hinders global economic recovery. Natural disasters, climate change, and environmental degradation continue to heavily impact people's lives. Inequality inside a country and between countries continues to worsen.
Vietnam has always adhered to its consistent policies of ensuring and promoting human rights. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh once said “Vietnam does not sacrifice social security, environment, progress, and equality to pursue merely economic growth,” and “it’s important to care for nearly 100 million people to be happy and democratic and have a peaceful, secured, and safe life.”
In Vietnamese history, protecting and promoting human rights have always been stated in the center of the Constitution, laws, and socio-economic development strategies. Vietnam has strictly implemented its international duties and commitments on human rights, including recommendations of the Universal Periodic Review.
Vietnam identifies that COVID-19 prevention and control is the key task to protect people’s health. With efforts of the whole political system and consensus and involvement of all people, Vietnam has inoculated around 198.3 million people with COVID-19 vaccines by March 8th, one year after launching a national vaccination campaign, to become one of six countries with the highest vaccination rate in the world. The data shows efforts of the Vietnamese government in COVID-19 vaccination, an effective solution to safely and flexibly adapt to and control the disease to protect people’s lives and bring the country back to normalcy.
Despite difficulties, Vietnam’s economy grew 2.58% in 2021. The World Bank forecasts that Vietnam’s economic growth can range from 6.5% to 7% this year and following years. As the world is reopening, Vietnam pursues green and inclusive recovery to ensure comprehensive and sustainable growth and build an equal society for all which takes the people as the center, the subject, the goal, and the driving force of development.
The values that Vietnam strives to create for its people are also the values that the UN commits for human being. Vietnam nominates itself to be a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term and is supported by ASEAN as its sole representative this tenure.
 Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son addresses the UNHRC meeting. (photo: nld.com.vn) |
At the 49th meeting of the UNHRC, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son confirmed Vietnam’s wish to contribute to common effort to guarantee human rights for all people in the world by nominating to be its member. He said Vietnam is willing to cooperate with relevant parties to promote the UN Charters and international law to strengthen the UNHRC’s efficiency through dialogues, cooperation, and mutual respect.
Vietnam pays special care to the rights of vulnerable groups and gender equality and human rights in global issues, such as climate change response. Vietnam guarantees human rights in combating COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, the rights to have decent jobs in association with realizing the UN sustainable development goals, the rights to education based on fair opportunities and approach.
Vietnam was a member of the UNHRC in the 2014-2016 term and left many impressive initiatives and hallmarks. Insisting with the principles of placing people in the center of policies, Vietnam has tried together with the world community to shape a better future where human rights are guaranteed in all aspects.