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Vietnam well ensures press freedom in accordance with international law on human rights
Vietnam well ensures press freedom in accordance with international law on human rights
1/4/18
The
Secretariat has issued a decision on continuously implementing Directive No.
44-CT/TW, dated 20 July 2010, of the Secretariat of the 10th Party Central Committee
on human rights work in the new situation. This decision reaffirms the
Communist Party of Vietnam’s and the State of Vietnam’s consistent viewpoint of
respecting and promoting human rights, including those of press freedom.
That
decision denounces wrong viewpoints and disinformation about human rights in
Vietnam, including those of press freedom.
Press
freedom from the angle of international law
Internationally,
press freedom is regulated specifically in international law. Article 19 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), adopted by the
General Assembly of the United Nations on 19 December 1996, confirms that:
“Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall
include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds,
regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art,
or through any other media of his choice.”
The
article further states that “the exercise of the rights provided for in
paragraph 2 of this article carries with it special duties and
responsibilities. It may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but
these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary: (a) For
respect of the rights or reputations of others; (b) For the protection of
national security or of public order, or of public health or morals.”
Meanwhile,
Article 29 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stresses that “In the
exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such
limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due
recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting
the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a
democratic society.”
The
laws of many countries also regulate press freedom specifically. Consequently,
the exercise of this right must be within the legal framework. Article 5 of the
Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany also regulates that: “Freedom of
the press and freedom of reporting by means of broadcasts and films shall be
guaranteed.” However, Article 18 of this law stresses that “Whoever abuses the
freedom of expression, in particular the freedom of the press ... in order to
combat the free democratic basic order shall forfeit these basic rights.”
Therefore,
international law as well as that of other countries’ regulate that the freedom
of the press is not an absolute right. When observing this privilege, man has
to observe certain limits to protect common interests of the society, state,
and other citizens.
Respecting
and ensuring press freedom – a consistent viewpoint
President
Ho Chi Minh and the CPV consistently uphold the viewpoint of respecting and
protecting basic human rights, including press freedom. On the basis of
translating international laws into local ones, the first constitution of the country,
the Vietnamese Constitution of 1946, regulates that its citizens have the right
to press freedom which is protected by law. Later on, other constitutions of
the country reaffirm that of press freedom. Article 25 of the Constitution 2013
clearly states that: “The citizen shall enjoy the right to freedom of opinion
and speech, freedom of the press, to access to information, to assemble, form
associations and hold demonstrations. The practice of these rights shall be
provided by the law.” And, Point 2 of Article of this Constitution confirms
that “Human rights and citizen’s rights shall only be restricted in imperative
circumstances for the reasons of national
defense, national security, social order and security,
social morality, and the health of the community.” This regulation is also
transposed into many Vietnam’s legal documents such as the Penal Code 2015 and
the Media Law 2016.
Plots
to distort and sabotage
In
recent years, hostile forces have took advantages of Vietnam’s shortcomings in
implementing policies and laws to denounce Vietnam of “lacking freedom of the
expression and press,” “censoring and tightening the freedom of press and the
internet,” “arresting bloggers.” They intentionally gave a wrong and partial
assessment on freedom of the press in Vietnam to wrongly accuse Vietnam of
violating democracy and human rights to lower the country’s prestige in the
international arena.
They
also quoted regulations of international and Vietnamese laws on freedom of the
press but intentionally ignored obligatory terms related to those regulations
and then spread them on social networks to misinform that freedom of the press
is an absolute right. By doing so, they also advocated dissidents and those who
take use of freedom of the press to operate more resolutely.
Moreover,
they tried to influence the U.S. Congress and western countries’ parliaments to
pass bills, resolutions, and annual reports etc. with biased contents on
democracy, human rights, and freedom of the press in Vietnam. Despite acknowledging
that Vietnam made “progress in democracy and human rights,” they still wrongly
accused the country of violating “freedom of the press,” suppressing and
illegally arresting bloggers.” Some of them even influenced extreme politicians
in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., to organize hearings or workshops to distort
about freedom of the press and democracy in Vietnam in order to seek a U.N.
resolution that go against Vietnam’s interests.
There
have been many activities to unite the opposed, political opportunists, and
corrupt reporters to write intensively to distort the facts about democracy and
press freedom in Vietnam and then disseminate this misinformation on the
Internet. Especially, they also established online clubs and forums under the
guise of striving “freedom of expression and press” to gather forces and form
organizations to fight against the Party and State of Vietnam.
Achievements
in thwarting distortion
In
reality, Vietnam has recorded remarkable achievements in ensuring freedom of
the press for its citizens. According to the Ministry of Information and
Communications, by June 2017, the country had 982 registered media agencies,
including 193 newspapers, 639 magazines, and 150 online media. The statistics
also reveal that over 17,000 journalists were granted press cards.
In
Vietnam, the press has truly become a bridge to connect the “Party’s guideline”
with the “people’s desires,” creating social consensus, promoting social
development, becoming a tool for the people to monitor legal enforcement
activities, and providing feedback for government policy. That is vivid
evidence of freedom of the press in Vietnam.
Recently,
Vietnam has brought to court some individuals who tried to abuse the freedom of
expression and press to violate the interests of the State and people. This was
in keeping with international laws and those of other countries in this field.
The
freedom of the press is a basic civil right. However, the implementation of
this right must comply with legal regulations to ensure the liberties of one
party do not infringe those of another...
The
freedom of the press is a basic civil right. However, the implementation of
this right must comply with legal regulations to ensure the liberties of one
party do not infringe those of another./.
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All comments [ 10 ]
The Vietnamese Party and State have worked hard to enable its citizens to enjoy all human rights and strengthened international cooperation in human rights on the basis of fairness, respect, and understanding among countries.
Vietnam is consistent in its policy of ensuring a strong, democratic, fair, and civilized country.
Vietnam's white book on human rights provides updated information about the laws, policies, efforts and achievements of the State of Vietnam in ensuring human rights, once more confirming the fact that Vietnam has closely followed international norms in ensuring the protection and promotion of human rights of its people.
Vietnam is serious about its international pledges on human rights and will always ensure that its people’s rights are protected.
Building on the achievements and experience resulting from 30 years of comprehensive reform known as “Doi moi”, based on the three pillars of economic growth, social progress and equity, and human rights, Viet Nam wishes to share that experience and contribute more actively to the joint efforts of the Council and the international community at large, with a view to better promoting and protecting human rights worldwide.
Human rights have become a global issue attracting the great concern of the international community, and as the Vietnamese State has affirmed, human rights are also a common aspiration of mankind and the fruit of human kind's struggle through many generations.
The consistent policy of the State of Viet Nam on ensuring human rights stems from the earnest aspiration of the people of a former colony to enjoy civil and political rights and of the people of poor countries to enjoy economic, social and cultural rights.
One fact in Viet Nam's history is that human rights were included in the foreword of the Declaration of Independence that President Ho Chi Minh read to the country's people and the world on September 2, 1945.
Viet Nam is willing to be a reliable friend and responsible partner in the international arena, actively and positively integrating into the global community, the country will spare no efforts to make more contributions to the common tasks and well perform its role as a member of the UNHRC.
The country has encountered certain challenges but will never stop trying to ensure that its people fully enjoy their human rights.
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