“Many people in Vietnam can still tell us about the suffering during the war. And even now, Vietnam is still suffering from the consequences of the war, from unexploded ordnances and the effects of Agent Orange for example. This is the reason why Vietnam has a strong and credible voice in the international community on issues related to International Humanitarian Law,” said Beat Schweizer, International Committee on Red Cross (ICRC) Head of Regional Delegation in Bangkok, Thailand, at the workshop held in Hanoi on December 5th to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Vietnam’s ratification of the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
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| Photo for illustration: baonghean.vn. |
“The ICRC appreciates the active support and the leading role that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam plays internationally in efforts to strengthen and further develop International Humanitarian Law,” Schweizer stressed.
As a country that has experienced many wars, Vietnam fully understands the devastating legacy of wars and knows that wars do not only cause losses to people and the country during wartime but also leave behind incomprehensible losses for the following generations.
Recent surveys show that explosive remnants of wars are scattered throughout Vietnam, and have taken life of over 50,000 people and injured more than 60,000 others since the country was reunified in 1975. Most of the victims are breadwinners of their families and children, the future generation of the country. ERWs hidden under the ground not only pose threats to people and cause environmental pollution but also hinder the country’s socio-economic development.
Having the full acknowledged of the significance of ensuring human life in accordance with international standards and conventions on human rights and humanitarian issues, on June 5, 1957, President Ho Chi Minh, on behalf of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, sent a diplomatic note to the President of the Swiss Confederation to declare Vietnam’s participation in the four Geneva Conventions on International Humanitarian Law.
“This is an important historical milestone, a significant proof of Vietnam’s policy of respecting international humanitarian law and promoting the implementation of the international humanitarian law,” confirmed Nguyen Minh Vu, Assistant to Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Vietnam has a peace-loving, humanitarian, and tolerant tradition. Humanitarian activities are paid due attention to by the Party and State with suitable and timely policies and plans. During war time, as a member of the four Geneva Conventions, Vietnam exchanged information, provided medicine and clean water, ensured sanitary conditions, and exchanged prisoners of war.
In this peacetime, promotion of international humanitarian law dissemination at schools and to relevant subjects is among important tasks. Vietnam always closely cooperates with the ICRC in this activity.
Vietnam’s viewpoint on humanitarian issues or human rights stems from the country’s historical and cultural tradition of respecting peace, tolerance, and humanitarian values. Vietnam always holds that human is both a target and a motivation for the development of the country.
That viewpoint is demonstrated in various contents, including the close relationship between human rights and peace, security, and development. The viewpoint is also supported by generations of the Vietnamese, who had sacrificed much to regain our independence, freedom, and national reunification in order to live in peace. Since the war ended and the country was reunified, our Party and State have paid special attention to maintaining social security and safety for the people. A peaceful and secured environment is a favorable condition for the Party and State to concretize policies to develop and improve life of people nationwide, regardless of the ethnicity. Achievements during the renewal not only help improve people’s living standards remarkably, and turn Vietnam into a middle-income country, but also make Vietnam a role model and a trusted and reliable partner of the international community.
Today, with the viewpoint of promoting international integration, Vietnam is an active member of nearly 20 international conventions and treaties. The country plays an increasingly important role in international forums, including those of ensuring human rights. To proactively integrate into the world and participate in international conventions are an opportunity for Vietnam to share and learn more experiences in better ensuring human rights to help Vietnamese people enjoy more fundamental rights.
Translated by Nam Long