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EVFTA ratification proves Vietnam's human rights improvements
EVFTA ratification proves Vietnam's human rights improvements
14/2/20
The European Parliament (EP) on February 12 ratified
the European Union Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and
the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). The next step before
the agreements can come into force is the ratification of the agreement by the
National Assembly of Vietnam which is expected in May 2020. This, once again,
proves Vietnam’s human rights improvements have been recognized by the
international community.
Approval of the EVFTA marks an important milestone
in the 30-year partnership between Vietnam and the European Union. Vietnam has
become the first developing country in the Asia Pacific region to reach a free
trade agreement with the EU despite a late start in international economic
integration.
The benefits that the EVFTA will bring are clear. It
will promote growth, expand markets and preferential tariffs, create investment
opportunities, generate jobs, and boost people’s incomes, and improve their
lives. While the two sides were working to finalize the deal, hostile forces,
political opportunists, and reactionaries worked to sabotage it. They called it
an opportunity for NGOs to take action on human rights in Vietnam and used all
possible means to distort Vietnam’s socio-economic situation.
Human rights and people’s rights issues in the EVFTA
are perceived broadly to include first-generation rights (civil and political
rights such as the right to life, freedom of speech, and freedom of belief),
second-generation rights (economic, social, and cultural rights such as work,
social security, education, demonstration, relaxation, and entertainment) and
third-generation rights (rights related to environment, security and
development). The EU’s approval of the EVFTA reflects its acknowledgement of
Vietnam’s achievements in ensuring human rights. Doctor Cao Duc Thai, an expert
on human rights, said: “Reasons given for opposing the deal are groundless
theoretically and practically. Opponents called on the EU not to approve the
EVFTA for human rights reasons. They denied the goodwill of the regime. Their
ultimate goal is to damage the prestige of the Communist Party of Vietnam.”
Distortions have not prevented Vietnam’s
international integration
Facts show that Vietnamese guidelines and policies
are in line with international conventions and the UN declaration on human
rights. Other countries, international organizations, and NGOs have praised
Vietnam’s achievements in ensuring human rights. The EVFTA is a trade deal which
will promote economic cooperation and create an environment in which both sides
can grow. In the name of democracy and human rights, certain organizations and
individuals have conflated political issues with trade issues in an attempt to
defeat the agreement. Associate Professor Doctor Tuong Duy Kien, Director of
the Institute for Human Rights of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics,
said: “Distorting human rights issues in Vietnam ignores Vietnam’s achievements
in human rights over the past 30 years of renewal and integration. Vietnam’s
considerable achievements in protecting and ensuring human rights have received
international acknowledgement.”
Under the Party leadership and State management, the
people’s right of mastery and Vietnam’s renewal have made remarkable progress.
Vietnam accomplished all of its Millennium Development Goals for 2015, ahead of
schedule. The 2019 National Report on Human Rights, part of the Universal
Periodic Review of the UN Human Right Council, praised Vietnam’s achievements
in ensuring civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights./.
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All comments [ 20 ]
The first benefit is a further expanding market and export opportunities for the goods of each side’s strengths.
For Vietnam, the EU will eliminate 85.6% of the tariff lines, equivalent to 70.3% of Vietnam’s exports to this market, as soon as the agreement enters into force. Over the next seven years, the EU will eliminate duties on 99.7% of Vietnam’s exports while the remaining 0.3% will enjoy zero tariffs within the quotas set for them.
Vietnam has made marked achievements in protecting and promoting human rights including those in economy, society and culture.
In Vietnam, human rights and citizens’ rights are the fruit of the Party-led August 1945 Revolution. The 1946 Constitution - the first Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, present-day Socialist Republic of Vietnam, fully prescribed citizens’ rights which included human rights and foreigners’ rights to reside lawfully in Vietnam despite the fact that this document made no mention of the definition of human rights.
Vietnam has reported its outstanding achievements in guaranteeing human rights in its third-cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
Undeniably, over the course of the war years, human rights issue in Vietnam, to some extent, still exposed some limitations due to “centrally planned” and “subsidized” economy and theoretical tunnel vision.
It's a triumph for Vietnamese people!
The EVFTA is considered a new generation bilateral agreement – it contains important provisions for intellectual property (IP) rights, investment liberalization, and sustainable development.
Preventing conflicts, enhancing preventive diplomacy, settling conflicts via peaceful measures, intensifying multilateralism, consolidating sustainable development, coping with climate change and promoting human rights will be Vietnam’s priorities during its term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021.
No hostile forces could deny the fact in Vietnam!
The ratification of these two agreements has created a sustainable foundation for the two sides to improve quality in comprehensive cooperation.
With this agreement, tariffs on nearly 100% of Vietnam’s exports to the EU will be eliminated within a short period of time. To date, this is the greatest commitment that a partner has made to Vietnam among the free trade agreements that the country has signed.
The country raised core issues in human rights promotion such as the protection of children and women, especially the UN resolutions on women, peace and security.
Many of Vietnam’s initiatives on human rights, particularly those regarding the guarantee of rights of women, children, people with disabilities and those affected by climate change, have received applause from the international community.
Vietnam also proposed and engaged in many initiatives such as protecting labour rights of people with disabilities, ensuring a safe working environment for labourers at sea, enhancing education and preventing the trafficking of girls and women.
Bravo Vietnam! Let go to the new dawn!
Vietnam’s achievements in ensuring human rights were acknowledged and praised by the international community not just EU.
Along with the CPTPP, the EVFTA will create a comprehensive and stable free trade relationship network between Vietnam and major trading partners in the world.
o date, Vietnam has joined and signed almost all the fundamental international conventions on human rights and specific conventions on rights of vulnerable groups.
In Vietnam, people’s religious and spiritual life has been thriving with over 95 percent of the population leading a spiritual or religious life.
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