Ambassador Mai Phan Dung: Vietnam demonstrates its mettle, prestige and responsibility as a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term

'Looking back on the past, I deeply feel that Vietnam has successfully fulfilled its duties as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, demonstrating its mettle, prestige and high sense of responsibility'.

Ambassador Mai Phan Dung, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other international organizations in Geneva (Switzerland). (Source: Vietnam Mission in Geneva)

That was the sharing of Ambassador Mai Phan Dung, Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other international organizations in Geneva (Switzerland) in an exclusive interview with The World and Vietnam Newspaper about Vietnam's efforts at the 60th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and preparations for re-election to the UNHRC for the 2026-2028 term.

The 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council concluded last week. Could you please tell us about the main contents discussed and the results of the session, as well as Vietnam's participation and contributions?

The 60th session of the Human Rights Council takes place in a context where the world continues to witness the most profound and complex changes in many years. Prolonged conflicts, geopolitical tensions, inequality, climate change, and humanitarian crises pose serious challenges to the protection and promotion of human rights.

In addition, the decline in confidence in the multilateral system and international law requires countries to recommit to multilateralism, solidarity and global justice, considering it a prerequisite to restore confidence, strengthen peace and protect universal human values.

In that context, the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council considered and discussed a huge amount of work, comprehensively reflecting the fields of human rights in the current global context. The Council adopted 1 Statement of the President of the Human Rights Council and 1 Decision of the President of the Human Rights Council, and 36 Resolutions; focusing on discussing many important issues including unilateral coercive measures and human rights, anti-discrimination, violence and harmful practices against intersex people, youth and human rights, rights of indigenous peoples, mainstreaming gender equality in the work of the Human Rights Council.

Notably, the Council also spent time discussing enhancing its operational efficiency and improving its working methods, towards a transparent, balanced and duplicative mechanism, in line with the general reform spirit of the UN.

At the Session, issues such as drugs, the death penalty, and the human rights situation in specific countries continued to be controversial topics, with no common voice found among countries, leading to the need to pass resolutions by vote.

Issues such as the right to clean drinking water and sanitation, the rights of older persons, a non-discriminatory sports environment, the protection and promotion of economic, cultural and social rights in the context of inequality, the rights of women and children during and after conflict, etc. reached a common consensus among all countries after more than two weeks of intensive consultations.

During the 60th Session of the Human Rights Council, the Vietnamese delegation participated actively, proactively and responsibly in most of the important discussion sessions of the Council. Vietnam chaired the development and presentation of the Joint Statement on promoting the human right to vaccination, which was widely supported by countries, with 52 countries from all continents sponsoring it to date.

In addition, the Vietnamese delegation made many specific statements and views on practical topics such as youth and human rights, the impact of climate change, ensuring access to clean water and sanitation, and the rights of the elderly and vulnerable groups.

Through this, Vietnam shared its experiences, policies and national efforts in promoting sustainable development associated with ensuring human rights for all people, especially emphasizing a comprehensive, people-centered approach.

The Vietnamese delegation also affirmed its consistent stance on promoting dialogue, cooperation, building trust and respecting national sovereignty in handling human rights issues, while opposing politicization. Together with ASEAN countries, Vietnam participated, co-sponsored and delivered joint statements on a number of regional issues of concern such as technical cooperation, capacity building and the human rights situation in Cambodia, demonstrating ASEAN's spirit of solidarity, responsibility and proactive role in international human rights mechanisms.

With an objective, balanced and constructive approach, Vietnam both protects its interests and principled stance and promotes the common progressive values ​​of the international community, contributing to promoting dialogue, cooperation and strengthening the role of the Human Rights Council as a global forum for understanding, respect and cooperation for the human rights of all people.

Ambassador Mai Phan Dung delivered many important speeches during the 60th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. (Source: Vietnamese Delegation in Geneva)

This is the last session that Vietnam participates in as a member of the UNSC for the 2023-2025 term. How do you feel about Vietnam's recent journey in this important position?

Human rights continue to be one of the three important pillars of the United Nations, recognized by the international community as the common goal and ideal of humanity. Human rights are increasingly linked and intertwined with other areas, from peace, security, development to climate change response, digital transformation, etc.

In that context, the Human Rights Council plays the role of a leading important forum to discuss and address both urgent and long-term issues related to the protection and promotion of human rights, through various mechanisms such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), special procedures, independent experts, monitoring mechanisms and technical assistance.

Although there are still differences in views on some issues and no consensus has been reached among countries, the UN Human Rights Council still maintains its central role, contributing to the comprehensive promotion of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, the right to development, while closely linking with other areas in the international multilateral system and providing a number of comprehensive international frameworks and mechanisms to promote the protection of human rights.

During its term as a member of the UN Human Rights Council 2023-2025, Vietnam proposed and drafted a Resolution on the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action at the 52nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council (March 2023); drafted a Resolution on Climate Change and Human Rights in the Context of a Just Transition at the 56th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (June 2024); belonged to the Core Group drafting a Resolution on the Protection and Empowerment of Children in Cyberspace (June 2025); drafted 11 joint statements with the co-sponsorship of many countries; organized 5 side events with the participation of many countries...

The past three years have been a meaningful journey for Vietnam. As a member of the Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, with a clear awareness of the role and significance of human rights issues in general and of the Human Rights Council in particular, Vietnam has clearly demonstrated its positive, responsible and constructive role, always proactively proposing, co-sponsoring and promoting many initiatives of practical value of common interest to the international community, which have been supported and highly appreciated by many countries.

At the same time, we have effectively utilized the Human Rights Council forum to promote areas of practical interest, while protecting and promoting the country's legitimate priorities and interests, contributing to shaping international standards on human rights on the basis of respect for international law and national sovereignty.

In addition, Vietnam's success at the UNSC is also demonstrated through its objective, balanced and dialogical approach, avoiding politicization, helping Vietnam strengthen its position, voice and prestige in the eyes of international friends.

It is also important to emphasize that over the past years, Vietnam has achieved many achievements in security, politics, foreign affairs, economy, development and human rights protection. Vietnam is also very serious in implementing its international commitments and obligations, typically Vietnam has successfully defended the National Report under the UPR Mechanism Cycle IV (May 2024), the National Report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD, November 2023), the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD, March 2025) and the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR, July 2025).

In the coming time, Vietnam will continue to participate in working with relevant convention bodies to review reports under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW, 2026) and the Convention against Torture (CAT, 2027). This is an extremely important foundation, helping us confidently participate effectively and responsibly in multilateral forums, including the Human Rights Council.

The process of participating in handling complex and multi-dimensional human rights issues is also a vivid practical experience, helping to train the capacity, thinking and skills, and accumulate experience for the Vietnamese diplomatic staff, better preparing them to take on roles at multilateral forums in the coming time.

Looking back on the past, I deeply feel that Vietnam has successfully fulfilled its mission as a member of the UNSC for the 2023-2025 term, demonstrating its mettle, prestige and high sense of responsibility. This is a solid foundation for Vietnam to continue promoting its results, preparing well for the re-election process for the 2026-2028 term, with a commitment to continue to actively and constructively contribute to the work of the UNSC.

Photo exhibition “Vietnam – Member of the United Nations Human Rights Council: Respect and Understanding. Dialogue and Cooperation. All human rights – For all people” at the United Nations headquarters in New York, USA. (Source: VPTTNQ)

The vote to elect members of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2026-2028 term is approaching. Could you share your wishes and expectations before this very important vote?

Vietnam enters the election with a proactive, confident and responsible attitude, based on a solid foundation of consistent implementation of commitments to promote and protect human rights, both domestically and internationally. Through this candidacy, Vietnam can continue to affirm its role as an active, responsible and constructive member of the Human Rights Council, making a substantial contribution to the common effort to ensure all human rights for all people.

Domestically, Vietnam will continue to promote major priorities, including: accelerating legal reform and building a rule-of-law state to fully ensure economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights; effectively implementing obligations under international human rights treaties to which Vietnam is a member; promoting the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; enhancing human rights education and training in the national education system, especially at the university level and in law enforcement forces; continuing to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, promoting women's leadership and implementing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda.

At the UN Human Rights Council forum, Vietnam will continue to promote dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect among countries and international partners; participate more responsibly, proactively and effectively in the activities of the UN Human Rights Council, especially in issues related to vulnerable groups, the impacts of climate change and digital transformation.

In addition, in the context of the UN in general and the Human Rights Council in particular carrying out strong reform efforts, especially through the UN Secretary-General’s “UN80” initiative, Vietnam wishes to make a positive contribution to this process. Vietnam believes that reform must aim at a more effective, representative and adaptive UN to new global challenges, while helping the Human Rights Council operate more transparently, objectively and inclusively, truly becoming a forum for promoting dialogue, cooperation and consensus instead of confrontation or imposition. Vietnam is willing to share its experiences, viewpoints and good practices in this process, for a stronger, more effective and closer-to-the-people UN.

We also expect that Vietnam will continue to receive support and companionship from international friends in this journey. As a member of the Human Rights Council, Vietnam will make every effort to improve the Council's operational efficiency, contributing to promoting the spirit of: "Respect and Understanding - Dialogue and Cooperation - For all human rights, for all people".

Thank you very much, Ambassador!

"Looking back on the past, I deeply feel that Vietnam has successfully fulfilled its mission as a member of the UNSC for the 2023-2025 term, demonstrating its mettle, prestige and high sense of responsibility. This is a solid foundation for Vietnam to continue promoting its results and prepare well for the re-election process for the 2026-2028 term, with a commitment to continue to actively and constructively contribute to the work of the UNSC." (Ambassador Mai Phan Dung)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/dai-su-mai-phan-dung-viet-nam-the-hien-ban-linh-uy-tin-va-trach-nhiem-tren-cuong-vi-thanh-vien-hoi-dong-nhan-quyen-nhiem-ky-2023-2025-330974.html