Government endorses national strategy to progress human rights pledges
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Vietnam's Prime Minister has green-lit a national plan to carry out the recommendations made during the Fourth Cycle of the United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR). This plan aims to reinforce Vietnam's dedication to protecting and upholding human rights while meeting international obligations.
The plan serves as a unified framework for various ministries and sectors, promoting collaboration and alignment with existing strategies and socio-economic development programs. Its primary goal is to transform promises into tangible, measurable results and raise public and institutional awareness about the importance of human rights.
This roadmap seeks to streamline monitoring, evaluation, and reporting procedures in preparation for Vietnam's mid-term progress report and the next UPR review in 2029. It needs to comply with national laws, policies, and priorities, ensuring feasibility in terms of resources and scheduling.
Ministries are expected to make their activities cost-effective, pragmatic, and integrated within broader national development projects. The plan also emphasizes the importance of aligning human rights implementation with international human rights treaties.
The plan focuses on six priority areas:
- Strengthening the rule of law and human rights legal frameworks.
- Ensuring economic, social, and cultural rights.
- Protecting civil and political rights.
- Supporting vulnerable groups.
- Promoting national education and awareness about human rights.
- Fulfilling international commitments through global cooperation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for overseeing the plan's implementation, coordinating efforts with other ministries, and preparing Vietnam's mid-term progress report in 2027 and the national report for the Fifth UPR Cycle in 2029.
The Prime Minister expects all ministries to develop sector-specific implementation plans and incorporate UPR recommendations into their ongoing work. The Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuracy will also play pivotal roles in the implementation process.
Students enjoy meals at Xín Chải Semi-Boarding Primary and Secondary School for Ethnic Minority Children in Vị Xuyên District, Hà Giang Province. - VNA/VNS Photo
In essence, the national master plan is a multifaceted strategy focused on legal, social, and institutional reforms to effectively implement Vietnam’s human rights commitments as reviewed under the UN Human Rights Council process.
[1]: Vietnam accepting UPR recommendations: https://vnanet.vn/viet-nam-tiep-nhan-cac-gop-khac-danh-tu-quoc-te-thanh-pham-trong-quy-so-tran-thuc-hoi-phan-tuan-thanh-lap-4-huu-tri-tuoi-quoc-te-quoc-gia-thuong-vi-such-van/853909.html[2]: Vietnam's human rights commitments: https://www.uprinfo.org/country/VNM[3]: Human rights in Vietnam: https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2022/country-chapters/vietnam
- The government of Vietnam has approved a national plan, which aligns with international law and policy, to enact the recommendations from the United Nations Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR).
- The plan is designed to strengthen the country's education system by raising public and institutional awareness about the importance of human rights.
- In the event of war or another emergency, this national plan serves as a guide for ministries to ensure their activities remain cost-effective and integrated within national development projects.
- The policy-and-legislation aspect of this plan calls for a strengthening of the rule of law and human rights legal frameworks, as well as an emphasis on aligning human rights implementation with international human rights treaties.
