Photo: bqllang.gov.vn

PANO – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in association with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) held a consultation workshop on the Draft of the second cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) action plan of Vietnam in Hanoi on August 5th.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc appreciated the UPR mechanism in promoting human rights around the world, and affirmed that Vietnam has always attached importance to and fully implemented its human rights policies, including the accepted UPR recommendations with the active participation of relevant ministries and agencies.

On February 5th 2014, Vietnam presented and discussed its human rights implementation since 2009 under the UPR mechanism at the UN Human Rights Council. It received 227 recommendations, of which 182 have been approved. Until now, many recommendations have been implemented, such as the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Convention against Tortures and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, said Ngoc.

UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pratibha Mehta stressed that the workshop is a good chance for the Vietnamese Government, civil society organizations and relevant bodies to receive feedback relating to UPR recommendations and their implementation progress.

Since it accepted 182 UPR recommendations, Vietnam has made considerable achievements, including the adoption of the 2013 Constitution. This year, an array of laws on human rights were supplemented, amended and issued, such as the Law on Enterprises, Law on Housing and Vocational Education Law.

Vietnam is endeavoring to ensure better human rights through concrete laws, institutions and politics, especially for impoverished people (the lonely elderly, the disabled and Agent Orange/dioxin victims, etc.).

However, because of the large number of UPR recommendations, it is necessary to collect suggestions and opinions from the public to effectively, comprehensively and feasibly implement these recommendations.

During the workshop, delegates also made suggestions to the Draft of the second cycle UPR action plan of Vietnam, which will be gathered into the final draft by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to submit to the Government in the coming time.

Translated by Pham Huy