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Vietnam and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

19/10/16


Human rights are the common values of nations and the result of mankind’s development. Each nation, in different ways and in different historical periods, contributes to these values. In the 20th century, Vietnam had great contributions, making a breakthrough in the thought about human rights of the man. This is proved in Ho Chi Minh Ideology and the reality of the Vietnam Revolution under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).
After World War II ended, the United Nations was founded (24th October 1945). In its charter, together with human rights, peace and development are regarded as key goals of the UN.
From 1947 to 1948, the drafting work of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was promptly and carefully done within the framework of the UN Human Rights Committee’s functions and tasks.
On 10th December 1948, the declaration was finalized and adopted by the UN General Assembly by its Resolution 217A (III). So far, all countries and nations in the world, regardless of political regimes, ideologies, development levels and cultural identities, consider this document as a common goal that mankind strives for. As a result, December 10th is celebrated by countries around the world as Human Rights Day.
Although there are limitations due to historical conditions surrounding the document's creation and different political views among the members in the drafting committee and countries, the declaration’s value in morals, politics and legality remain.
Vietnam history shows that, over 80 years under French colonialism, the colonialists kept the decayed feudal regime and Vietnam did not have a constitution, citizens’ rights or human rights. At that time, Vietnamese people only knew about the concept of human rights through newspapers and books sent from the “mother land”. The human rights “achievements” that imperialism, colonialism and fascism brought about for Vietnam was the event in which over two millions of people died of hunger in 1945 (accounting for one tenth of the population of the country at the time). This is the undeniable evidence of the crime of colonialism in conjunction with the feudal regime.
The fact is that, 150 years after the United States Declaration of Independence and the French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, the people in colonial countries still had to lead lives of slavery.
It is not by chance that people think that the human rights concept is not always used with its original good content, that it contains the imperialists’, colonialists’ and their lackeys’ bad political plots because this concept was introduced into the colonial countries together with bayonets and gun-stocks of the invasion troops.
For the Vietnam Revolution, human rights or the rights and interests of the people, are considered the nature of the socialist regime and the goals of the CPV. This is clearly seen through the life and revolutionary cause of President Ho Chi Minh and the political plan of the CPV.
In an interview given to a Soviet poet in 1923, Nguyen Ai Quoc (President Ho Chi Minh) recalled that he first heard about freedom, equality and fraternity when he was 13 years old and wanted to familiarize himself with the French civilization and to find out what those words really mean. It can be understood that the values of mankind’s human rights was one of the driving forces the motivate Nguyen Ai Quoc to go abroad to find the way to liberate his country.
In 1919, after World War I ended, Ho Chi Minh and other patriotic Vietnamese in France sent the “Proposal of Annamese people” to the conference of heads of countries that won the war in Versailles, France. The proposal, which asked for modest human rights within the colonial regime, was eventually rejected.
After this event, Ho Chi Minh concluded that the imperialist’s promise for freedom, equality, fraternity and human rights of colonial countries was just a fine allusion. To bring national independence, freedom and happiness for the people, the country had to rely on its own strength to liberate itself, promoting national liberation revolution in line with Marxism – Leninism, overthrowing the feudal and colonial regimes and building a new society, mastered by the people and under the leadership of the Communist Party.
Vietnamese history has it that human rights can only be enjoyed since the Vietnamese people gained independence under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh in the August Revolution in 1945. National independence, national sovereignty, citizens’ rights and human rights of the people are honourably written in the country’s Declaration of Independence in 1945 and the Constitution 1946, the first constitution of the new Vietnam.
The idea of linking national independence, national sovereignty, social regime mastered by the people and the leadership of the CPV, in which the citizens’ rights and human rights are respected, has been stressed in the political plans, guidelines and policies of the Party, Constitution and the country’s legal system through periods of the revolution since Vietnam gained independence.
Therefore, for Vietnamese people, citizen’s rights and human rights are gained by the people’s struggles against imperialism, colonialism and the feudal regime, not by the kindness, sharing or granting of “civilization” from any other countries.
It is not denied that Vietnam is facing some problems with human rights such as the increasing gap between the rich and the poor, bureaucracy and corruption. However, respecting and ensuring human rights are under the authority and responsibilities of the Party and State. A model of democracy and human rights imposed from outside will never be accepted by the Vietnamese people.


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All comments [ 9 ]


yobro yobro 19/10/16 14:39

Vietnam has made tremendous social and economic progress and has taken the lead in ratifying several key international human rights treaties.

John Smith 19/10/16 14:40

As Vietnam rapidly moves to a middle income status, it is important that future growth is as inclusive as possible so that all Vietnamese women, men and children can fully benefit from Vietnam’s progress.

Red Star 19/10/16 14:41

The UN stands ready to both assist Vietnam in meeting its international commitments and in its continued efforts to enable all Vietnamese people to enjoy their rights.

Gentle Moon 19/10/16 14:42

Vietnam was one of the first countries to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) as well as other important international human rights legislation.

LawrenceSamuels 19/10/16 14:43

Thanks to its presence, and the continuous sacrifice of numerous people from all walks of life, various levels of human rights have been enjoyed in many countries, and as a result, human rights movements have become more and more widespread.

For A Peace World 19/10/16 14:49

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Socialist Society 19/10/16 14:52

Since its adoption, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been regarded as a triumph, as it brought together, under the same banner, countries with political, religious, cultural differences, and countries even in conflict.

Me Too! 19/10/16 14:53

Implementation of this treaty will help more than 5 million Vietnamese people with disabilities participate more fully in society through more inclusive policies, better work opportunities, and protection from discrimination.

Vietnam Love 19/10/16 15:00

I believe in all progress in Vietnam especially in human rights because its society is developing day by day and people are met with all basic needs in their life.

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