The Vietnamese delegation at the 50th session of the UN Human Rights Council (Photo: VNA)

The Times of Malta on July 1^st ran an article highlighting “added factors” that help Vietnam, the only candidate from ASEAN, to stand for a membership on the UN Human Rights Council in the 2023-2025 tenure. It said this candidacy demonstrates Vietnam’s desire to contribute to the world's shared efforts to promote and protect human rights. This is the second time Vietnam has been nominated for the Human Rights Council, which shows that Vietnam's development direction and orientation is correct, as reflected in the human rights policy of the Party and State which puts people at the center.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet (Photo: AFP/VNA)

BBC News and The Diplomat said the Communist Party of Vietnam has acted responsibly and put people at first, Vietnam is currently among the countries with the fastest rise on the Human Development Index, increasing 45.8% from 1990 to 2019. In the UN World Happiness Report 2020, Vietnam ranked 83^rd of 156 countries and territories, up 11 places from 2019. Those websites quoted UN experts as saying that the Vietnamese government’s priorities and efforts in promoting human rights and social equality have helped Vietnam obtain this achievement.

Italy’s Marx21 ran an article called “Vietnam’s statement on candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council.” Which said this second nomination to the Council reflects Vietnam’s achievements in human rights development, poverty reduction, and social protection. As a member of the UN Human Rights Council in the 2014-2016 tenure, Vietnam fully and responsibly participated in all activities of the council.

At the UN’s most recent session, the Vietnamese government reiterated its determination to protect and promote human rights and contribute to addressing global human rights issues. Vietnam representing ASEAN as a candidate for the Council reflects ASEAN’s trust in and consensus with Vietnam.

Vietnam hopes to win a seat on the UN Human Rights Council in the 2023-2025 tenure through commitments that reflect the message “Respect and Understanding- Dialogue and Cooperation - All human rights for all”.

At the 50^th session of the Council in Geneva, Vietnam’s representative highlighted Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in socio-economic development and in protection and promotion of human rights, especially since the pandemic and in response to global challenges like climate change and other complications around the world.

These efforts were outlined in the midterm report on the implementation of recommendations under the Universal Periodic Review of Human Rights Cycle III recently submitted to the Human Rights Council by Vietnam.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet praised Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements which have created a foundation for improving living standards and ensuring the rights of Vietnamese people, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic and post-pandemic recovery.

President of the Human Rights Council Federico Villegas said that Vietnam's candidacy message embraces the spirit that other countries should follow when joining the Human Rights Council. Due to diversity of political, economic, social, historical, cultural, and religious conditions, countries need to respect each other and the common values of humanity, international law, and human rights. Mr. Villegas said it’s important for the Human Rights Council to have countries that are ready to act as a bridge for cooperation and dialogue like Vietnam amid global complications and differences between countries.

Ambassadors and heads of delegations in Geneva lauded Vietnam's remarks and activities at the 50th session of the Human Rights Council and complimented Vietnam’s beauty, its people, the harmony and diversity of its ethnic and religious communities, as well as its efforts and achievements in socio-economic development and human rights protection. They praised Vietnam's candidacy message and called on Vietnam to further dialogue and cooperation in health, labor, environment, and digital transformation with regional organizations at the UN Human Rights Council and between the Human Rights Council and other UN organizations.