Geneva (VNA) – Viet Nam is always open and willing to engage deeper in international dialogues and cooperation on human rights on an equal and constructive footing for mutual benefits.
The statement was made by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affair Pham Binh Minh at the High Level Segment of the 7th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 4.
The Vietnamese diplomat said that to become a prestigious universal platform, the Council on Human Rights needs to make a fresh start by introducing a new culture of cooperation and mutual understanding in the field of human rights promotion and protection, and full respect for all traditions, cultures and independence of all countries.
The council must ensure that the old-time practices of selectivity, double standards and excessive politicization will not be repeated, Minh added.
The Deputy Minister said that Universal Periodic Review mechanism (UPR) is an innovation of the council which has been designed to provide a tool for international cooperation in the promotion and protection of human rights, not a source of tensions between members.
“We are serious to work for our evaluation in 2009 under the UPR,” he stressed.
Ensuring and upholding human rights is the goal as well as the impetus in the process of national construction and development in Viet Nam , Minh said, adding that it is also the foundation for all the policies and activities of the State for the goal of “prosperous people, strong nation, equitable, democratic and advanced society”.
After more than 20 years of implementing the renewal policy, Viet Nam has recorded great achievements in economic development, improvement of people’s rights and living standard, building a State underpinned by rule of law and justice.
Especially, the right to religious belief and freedom has been fully respected. In May this year, the country will hold the UN Day of Buddhist Vesak in Ha Noi, with the participation of over 5,000 Buddhist delegates from all part of the world.
On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Viet Nam renews its commitment to contribute more to making the Human Rights Council a successful and constructive mechanism that lives up to the entrustment of the General Assembly and the expectation of all UN members, Minh concluded.
The Segment, which opened on March 3, has drawn the participation of representatives from 75 countries and territories worldwide.