United Nations continues to support to Vietnam to meet its human rights commitments
On International Human Rights Day and less than one month before the start of the 60th anniversary year of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations in Viet Nam vowed continued support to Viet Nam to meet its human rights commitments even further.
"Viet Nam has made tremendous social and economic progress, and shown great leadership by ratifying several key international human rights treaties," said UN Resident Coordinator John Hendra. "As Viet Nam rapidly moves to a country of middle income status, it is important that future growth be as inclusive as possible so that all Vietnamese women, men and children fully benefit from Viet Nam's progress. The United Nations system stands ready to both assist Viet Nam in meeting its international commitments and in its continued efforts to enable all Vietnamese people to enjoy their rights enshrined nearly 60 years ago in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
The theme for International Human Rights Day 2008, "Dignity and justice for all of us," reinforces the vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as a commitment to universal dignity and justice. The UDHR and its core values -- inherent human dignity, non-discrimination, equality, fairness and universality -- apply to all people.
Viet Nam was one of the first countries to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and has also ratified other important international human rights directives.
“We have seen enormous progress made for children in the country but more work needs to be done to make Viet Nam fit for children,” said UNICEF Representative Jesper Morch on the 18th anniversary of the CRC. “Formal mechanisms need to be created for the meaningful participation of children, whether on a macro scale at national level or on a micro scale in their communities, schools and families.”
Recently Viet Nam took an important step in complying with the CEDAW by passing the Law on Domestic violence. Ms. Suzette Mitchell from UNIFEM reiterated that, “Viet Nam has made significant progress complying with CEDAW, but to ensure that women - particularly rural women and those from ethnic minorities - are able to fully participate in political life, profit from education and health care services and be part of the labour market, additional CEDAW provisions need to be introduced for women.”
On October 22nd, 2007, Mr. Le Luong Minh, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the UN, signed the landmark UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Implementation of this treaty will help more than 5 million Vietnamese people with disabilities participate more fully in society through more inclusive policies, better work opportunities, and protection from discrimination.
Since its adoption, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been regarded as a triumph, as it brought together, under the same banner, countries with political, religious, cultural differences, and countries even in conflict. The most translated document in history, it prohibits all forms of discrimination based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, national or social origin, property, birth, opinion or other status.
Human Rights Day is observed by the international community every year on 10 December. It commemorates the day in 1948 that the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (CPV)
"Viet Nam has made tremendous social and economic progress, and shown great leadership by ratifying several key international human rights treaties," said UN Resident Coordinator John Hendra. "As Viet Nam rapidly moves to a country of middle income status, it is important that future growth be as inclusive as possible so that all Vietnamese women, men and children fully benefit from Viet Nam's progress. The United Nations system stands ready to both assist Viet Nam in meeting its international commitments and in its continued efforts to enable all Vietnamese people to enjoy their rights enshrined nearly 60 years ago in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights."
The theme for International Human Rights Day 2008, "Dignity and justice for all of us," reinforces the vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) as a commitment to universal dignity and justice. The UDHR and its core values -- inherent human dignity, non-discrimination, equality, fairness and universality -- apply to all people.
Viet Nam was one of the first countries to ratify the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), and has also ratified other important international human rights directives.
“We have seen enormous progress made for children in the country but more work needs to be done to make Viet Nam fit for children,” said UNICEF Representative Jesper Morch on the 18th anniversary of the CRC. “Formal mechanisms need to be created for the meaningful participation of children, whether on a macro scale at national level or on a micro scale in their communities, schools and families.”
Recently Viet Nam took an important step in complying with the CEDAW by passing the Law on Domestic violence. Ms. Suzette Mitchell from UNIFEM reiterated that, “Viet Nam has made significant progress complying with CEDAW, but to ensure that women - particularly rural women and those from ethnic minorities - are able to fully participate in political life, profit from education and health care services and be part of the labour market, additional CEDAW provisions need to be introduced for women.”
On October 22nd, 2007, Mr. Le Luong Minh, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the UN, signed the landmark UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. Implementation of this treaty will help more than 5 million Vietnamese people with disabilities participate more fully in society through more inclusive policies, better work opportunities, and protection from discrimination.
Since its adoption, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been regarded as a triumph, as it brought together, under the same banner, countries with political, religious, cultural differences, and countries even in conflict. The most translated document in history, it prohibits all forms of discrimination based on race, colour, sex, language, religion, national or social origin, property, birth, opinion or other status.
Human Rights Day is observed by the international community every year on 10 December. It commemorates the day in 1948 that the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. (CPV)
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