Vietnam reiterates commitment to implementing UPR recommendations

Vietnam had implemented 147 out of 182 recommendations it accepted at the second UN Human Right Council’s Universal Periodic Regulations (UPR) review, and partly realised four other recommendations between June 2014 to December 31, 2016, said a Foreign Ministry’s official at a conference on June 29.

Hoang Thi Thanh Nga, head of the Department for International Organisations under the Foreign Ministry disclosed the information at the conference held by the Foreign Ministry and the UNDP in Vietnam to publicise Vietnam’s implementation of recommendations under the second UPR review.

At the second UPR review of Vietnam held on February 5, 2014 at the UN Human Right Council’s headquarters, 106 countries put forward 227 recommendations, of which Vietnam accepted 182 as the rest were not suitable to the country’s specific situation and circumstances.

The 182 accepted recommendations are in seven areas: reform of the legal system relating to human rights; further consolidation and protection of human rights in economic, social, cultural, civil and political aspects; ensuring of human rights of vulnerable groups; education on human rights; continued participation in international standards on human rights; implementation of international obligations regarding human rights; and international cooperation on human rights.

Between 2014-2016, dozens of important legal documents related to human rights and citizen rights were approved to specify regulations of the 2013 Constitution and carry out international conventions that Vietnam has joined, she said.

Meanwhile, as a result of the implementation of recommendations on further consolidation and protection of human rights in economic, social, cultural, civil and political aspects, annual average per capita income in Vietnam rose from 1,900 USD in 2013 to 2,215 USD in 2016. The number of people enjoying monthly social allowance and health insurance has increased, while 25.05 percent of total communes nationwide have been recognised as new-styled rural areas.

Residents in areas affected by natural disasters as well as four localities suffering the sea environment incidents have received timely support, while the national strategy on natural disaster prevention and mitigation to 2020 has been sped up, said Nga.

Social organisations and citizens have become more involved in the monitoring and supervision of the enforcement of laws and policies, while access to Internet is facilitated to allow citizens to exercise the right to freedom of speech, with about 50 million people in Vietnam using the Internet, accounting for 52 percent of the population. The State has created favourable conditions for religious organisations’ operation.

At the same time, Vietnam has effectively implemented many national programmes to support vulnerable groups, said Nga, listing as examples the national programme of action on gender equality for 2016-2020, the national programme of action for the elderly for 2012-2020; the national programme of action for children in 2012-2020, the special policy on supporting socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous regions in 2016-2020.

The official underlined that public awareness of human rights has been greatly enhanced, especially among young people.

On October 28, 2014, the parliament of Vietnam approved the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Vietnam has become official member of seven out of nine major UN conventions on human rights.

The country has also showed strong performance as a member of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2016-2018 term, the Executive Council of the UN Organisation for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) in the 2015-2019 tenure, while working as a responsible member of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), said Nga.

Addressing the event, Pham Sanh Chau, Assistant to the Foreign Minister, said that as a proactive and responsible member of the international community, Vietnam always attaches great important to and fully implements its commitments in the UPR mechanism, especially recommendations in the second UPR review that Vietnam has accepted.

Lauding Vietnam’s coordination with UN human rights agencies in implement the UPR, Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam and head of the UNDP in Vietnam said that the formation of an effective supervision system over the UPR is significance in tracking progress of the work.

He also stressed the importance of the engagement of social organisations in the UPR implementation, contributing to protecting human rights of individuals, helping all people to better exercise their rights