Geneva, September 15, 2024 – The Europe Today: Ambassador Mai Phan Dũng, Permanent Representative of Việt Nam to the United Nations, World Trade Organisation, and other international organisations in Geneva, delivered a keynote address during the general debate on UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Global Update on the human rights situation. The session took place within the framework of the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).
In his speech, Ambassador Dũng commended the UN High Commissioner’s proactive role and efforts in advancing the work of the UNHRC, reaffirming Việt Nam’s continued support for the Office of the High Commissioner in promoting and protecting human rights amid global conflicts and crises.
Dũng emphasized Việt Nam’s development policies, which place people at the core of its strategy, recognizing them as both the subject and driving force in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). He underscored the importance of addressing global challenges such as climate change and food insecurity, which threaten human rights, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Ambassador Dũng reaffirmed Việt Nam’s commitment to fostering practical dialogue and cooperation with all UN member states and human rights mechanisms. He expressed regret, however, over some unverified information included in the High Commissioner’s report, stating that such references to Việt Nam were based on “one-sided and inaccurate” information. Dũng reiterated Việt Nam’s adherence to the fundamental principles of universality, fairness, objectivity, non-selectivity, and non-interference in nations’ internal affairs.
On September 11, the ambassador also spoke at a panel discussion on promoting economic, social, and cultural rights, highlighting the pressing need for international cooperation to address inequalities exacerbated by global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and economic instability. He pointed out Việt Nam’s significant progress in poverty reduction, universal healthcare expansion, and improved access to education, while acknowledging ongoing challenges in ensuring no one is left behind, particularly in rural and remote areas.
Việt Nam, as an active member of the UNHRC for the 2023-2025 term, will also have its fourth-cycle Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group report adopted during the ongoing 57th session, which runs from September 9 to October 11.
