Rejecting the UN's misleading report on Vietnam's human rights situation

On the afternoon of April 15, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a press conference to announce the National Report under the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism, Cycle IV.

The UPR is one of the most important mechanisms of the Human Rights Council, with the task of reviewing the human rights situation in all UN member countries. This mechanism aims to promote countries to fully implement their obligations and commitments on human rights based on the principles of dialogue, cooperation, equality, objectivity and transparency.

It is expected that Vietnam will participate in the Dialogue Session on the Fourth Cycle UPR National Report at the United Nations Human Rights Council on May 7.

Bác bỏ báo cáo sai lệch của Liên Hợp Quốc về tình hình nhân quyền Việt Nam - 1 — Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet chaired a press conference to announce the National Report under the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism, Cycle IV, on the afternoon of April 15 (Photo: Ha My).

At the press conference, Dan Tri reporter asked about the comments of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs leader on the reports of United Nations agencies and relevant parties on Vietnam under the UPR mechanism of the fourth cycle.

Responding, Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet emphasized that one of the fundamental principles of modern international relations and recognized in the United Nations Charter is the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of countries.

At the same time, one of the fundamental principles between Vietnam and other countries in the world is respecting each other's political systems.

"Therefore, I firmly reject opinions, proposals, and recommendations that violate these principles. Regarding the contents of other reports, I express my disagreement with many opinions and contents," Mr. Viet stated his opinion.

Bác bỏ báo cáo sai lệch của Liên Hợp Quốc về tình hình nhân quyền Việt Nam - 2 — The leader of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the incorrect contents in the reports of United Nations agencies and relevant parties on the situation in Vietnam (Photo: Ha My).

According to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, many reports contain content based on unverified information and lack objective assessments of the situation in Vietnam.

Mr. Viet said that Vietnam has organized many consultation workshops to collect opinions, but the organizations did not participate in that process and were not even present in Vietnam.

"But they sent a lot of false information about the situation in Vietnam," said the leader of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Regarding the approach, Mr. Viet emphasized that Vietnam has had a broad consultation process with all relevant parties to consolidate and build Vietnam's national report.

In principle, the UPR mechanism is based on three documents: a national report reviewed by the State itself; a United Nations report on that State prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; a summary of information submitted by other relevant parties (including civil society activists)...

On the contrary, all other reports submitted to the United Nations were not conducted in a transparent manner, and were not fully consulted in the way that Vietnam did. Mr. Viet cited that the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not consulted at all about the content of those reports.

"That shows the different way of doing things here. While we are transparent, open, and ensure inclusiveness with the participation of all parties, other reports are not conducted in the same way," according to Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet.

He reiterated the message that the basic principles of the UPR mechanism are the principles of dialogue, equality, cooperation, objectivity and transparency.

Therefore, Vietnam also hopes that the countries and representatives of the Embassies present at the press conference will consider and be cautious when using information in the reports; and use verified sources of information.

"I think that the embassies - those present in Vietnam - have witnessed the changes, developments and progress of Vietnam every day, every hour, and will bring the most complete and objective information to your Government during the process of participating and exchanging with Vietnam at the dialogue session at the United Nations Human Rights Council in early May," the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized.

Previously, when answering questions at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the afternoon of April 11, Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Doan Khac Viet expressed disappointment with the separate reports of the United Nations agencies in Vietnam under the Universal Periodic Review Mechanism, Cycle IV.

Mr. Viet emphasized that the report contains many untrue and unverified contents, along with many assessments that are not objective and balanced, and do not accurately and fully reflect the situation, efforts, and achievements of Vietnam in protecting and promoting human rights.

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