Vietnam ensures human rights in renewal period

PANO – Human rights in Vietnam is not the achievement of the bourgeois democratic revolution, but that of the national liberation one, led by President Ho Chi Minh and the Communist party of Vietnam.

The Vietnamese people’s revolution to gain national independence was part of the movement for national salvation and the development of the democratic regime in the 20^th century. The Democratic Republic of Vietnam, or the present Socialist Republic of Vietnam, is the achievement of the revolutionary and progressive movement of man-kind in the 20^th century. History shows that, before gaining national independence, revolutionary forces led by our Party had stood for the allies to fight against fascism. And, when gaining national independence in 1945, our country showed its respect to the United Nations and expected to get support from this global organization.

When the democratic and republic regime was established in Vietnam, human rights were ensured in the first constitution of a new Vietnam in 1946.

Over nearly 70 years, from 1945 to 2013, ensuring human rights in Vietnam has witnessed different characteristics in different historical periods. For example, during the fierce resistance wars to defend national independence, priority had to be given to defending the Fatherland. This led to limits in ensuring human rights and citizen’s rights, especially economic, social and cultural rights. Meanwhile, during the national building cause (from the national reunification to the mid-80s), the country followed the old model of Socialism which was politically proletarian and practised central economic planning with a lot of short-comings. Obviously, there were weaknesses in respecting and ensuring human rights and citizen’s rights in this period.

Since the Doi Moi (renewal – 1986), human rights in Vietnam have progressed from two angles, correcting the mistakes of the old model of Socialism and building a new model of Socialism together with international integration.

The policies, guidelines and laws of our Party and State have been consistent to ensure human rights, which are also considered a measurement for social development.

With experiences from the previous resolutions, the 11^th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Resolution confirmed to move forward Socialism for a prosperous people, a strong, democratic, equal and civilized society, mastered by the people. Moreover, the resolution reiterates that the State respects and ensures human rights.

Moreover, Vietnam has also actively integrated into the international community in various fields, including international mechanisms to protect human rights. So far, Vietnam is a member of 63 international organizations and has relations with over 500 non-governmental organizations worldwide. Vietnam is also an active member of the UN Economic and Social Council, the UN Development Programme, the UN Population Fund. Meanwhile, Vietnam is also a reliable partner of many international financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and Asia Commercial Bank.

In terms of human rights, Vietnam’s foreign policy is to follow the active and consistent principle of participating in international mechanisms of human rights. As a member of the UN, Vietnam observes international standards on human rights and the country signs most international conventions on this field, including the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Moreover, to ensure the legal corridor for the activities of government agencies and people, Vietnam has nationalized the international conventions on human rights that the country has signed. So far, many laws have been emended and enacted on a basis of respecting human rights, such as People’s Health Protection Law (1989), Education Law (1998), Land Law (2003, being amended), Anti-Corruption Law (2005), Social Insurance Law (2006), Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control (2006), Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control (2007), and Law on Gender Equality (2011).

Vietnam attaches importance to observing the Universal Periodic Review, a new mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council. In 2009, Vietnam was the first country to submit its report to the council (May 8^th). Many delegates to the conference that year highly appreciated Vietnam’s report as it was objective and truthful, as well as the country’s initiatives to ensure human rights under a tough economic situation.

Vietnam also agreed and realized the recommendations at the first review to increase the dialogue mechanism of Special Procedures. Since July 2010, the country has received four representatives of the Special Procedures of the UN in terms of ethnic minorities, extreme poverty and human rights, and the right to healthcare. In the upcoming time, the country will continue to receive the representatives of the Special Procedures in terms of right to education, right to food and right to culture, etc., as stated in international conventions on human rights.

In bilateral relations, Vietnam also increased human rights cooperation and dialogues with many countries. Vietnam has established annual human rights dialogues with many countries including the US, EU and Switzerland. Vietnam also contributed remarkably to strengthening cooperation in human rights within ASEAN, especially in the establishment and operation of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights and preparation of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, which was adopted at the ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh in November 2012.

Ensuring human rights in countries, especially those in their transitional period, is an indispensable trend. Transiting from an old to a new model of Socialism is an important step of human rights development. In the Doi Moi, with the socialist law-governed state, socialist-oriented market economy and international integration, human rights have been further improved. However, our Party and State continue to perfect the social regime, law-governed state and the law system to secure stable development and better human rights. Therefore, right after its 11^th National Congress, the Communist Party of Vietnam actively planned to amend and supplement the country’s constitution of 1992 (which was amended in 2001). So far, the draft amendment of the constitution has been supplemented with many issues, ranging from political regime and responsibilities of the Party to power supervision. Importantly, human rights are further ensured and given an important position in the draft constitution’s new chapter which applies international standards on human rights.

It is undeniable that Vietnam is facing many difficulties. The degradation of ideology, politics and lifestyle of some Party members at different levels, as pointed out by the CPC Central Committee’s 4^th Conference, become the key reason for short-comings in ensuring human rights. However, we strongly believe that respecting and ensuring human rights for Vietnamese people is the nature of our society. Human rights in Vietnam will surely be improved.