Raising the bar for human rights diplomacy

In recent years, Vietnam has always been a bright spot in terms of economy, politics, society and human rights protection. Vietnam's happiness index increased by 12 places, from 77th in 2022 to 65th; the peace index increased by 4 places, to 41st; the equality index entered the top 20 in the world... In particular, human rights diplomacy has made strong progress, raising Vietnam's position in the international arena.

President Vo Van Thuong, Pope Francis and delegates during their visit to the Vatican, July 27, 2023. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Imprints of human rights diplomacy work

Since joining the United Nations (UN) in 1977, Vietnam has made efforts to carry out foreign affairs, including in the field of human rights, and in 2023 recorded positive results.

Firstly, Vietnam is a responsible member of the UN human rights activities . In the first year of its term as a member of the UN Human Rights Council (HURC) 2023-2025, we have conveyed the message of “Respect and understanding, dialogue and cooperation, all human rights for all” with many outstanding initiatives.

On April 3, 2023, in Geneva (Switzerland), the Resolution commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA) proposed by Vietnam was adopted by the UN Human Rights Council, and received the participation of 98 co-sponsoring countries. This shows that Vietnam is always a responsible member, actively contributing to the work of the UN Human Rights Council, aiming to ensure and promote human rights worldwide .

Second, seriously implement obligations under international conventions on human rights to which Vietnam is a member . To date, Vietnam has ratified and joined 7/9 fundamental conventions of the United Nations on human rights; ratified and joined 25 conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO), including 7/8 fundamental conventions.

In 2023, we will complete and submit the Report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT); and successfully defend the 5th National Report on the Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

Third, creating favorable conditions for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to operate in Vietnam. Over the past years, to promote the role of domestic and foreign NGOs in human rights diplomacy, the Party and State have issued many guidelines and policies, gradually perfecting the legal framework on registration and management of NGO activities: increasing the registration period of NGO representative offices up to 5 years; reducing administrative procedures, processing time and granting Registration Certificates, extending, amending, supplementing, and re-issuing Operation Registration Certificates...

The Vietnamese Government also provides 7 application forms and reports to facilitate the administrative work of foreign NGOs in Vietnam. Domestically, by the end of 2022, there were more than 900 NGOs having relations and operating in Vietnam, many of which have made positive contributions to human rights activities as well as the socio-economic development of Vietnam.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attends the 52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, February 2023. (Source: VNA)

Fourth, be proactive in foreign affairs and human rights dialogue. With its increasingly elevated position in the international arena, Vietnam's attitude when participating in dialogues and working with other countries on issues related to human rights, ethnicity, and religion has been raised to a new level: proactive, confident, straightforward, flexible, and agile in the spirit of "bamboo" diplomacy and has achieved many successes.

Notable is the upgrading of relations between Vietnam and the Holy See, through the Agreement on the Regulations of Operation of the Permanent Representative and the Permanent Representative Office of the Holy See in Vietnam.

Or based on the premise of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the United States, during the visit to the United States by the interdisciplinary working group and religious dignitaries, Vietnam proactively informed the other side of its efforts and achievements in ensuring freedom of belief and religion; at the same time, it requested the other side to collect information on the situation of ensuring human rights in Vietnam through the official channel of Vietnam's diplomatic representative agencies in other countries, not to let false information affect the relationship between the two countries...

In addition, the annual human rights dialogues between Vietnam and the United States, Vietnam and the EU, and Vietnam and Australia have increasingly gone into depth and substance. On the one hand, they provide full and authentic information on Vietnam's human rights situation to partners, and on the other hand, they effectively fight and refute false information, resolve difficulties, reach a common understanding, and respect the human rights specificities of the parties, to promote cooperation in the field of human rights, and contribute to the development of bilateral relations.

Sixth, actively participate in maintaining peace and international humanitarian relief. Since 2014, Vietnam has had hundreds of officers from the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security on missions with the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan.

Vietnam’s field hospitals in South Sudan not only provide medical examination and treatment but also carry out humanitarian and voluntary work for the local people. In addition, Vietnam is always proactive and ready to join hands with other countries to overcome the consequences of natural disasters and provide international humanitarian relief.

On February 9, 2023, 100 officers and soldiers of the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security flew to Türkiye to participate in the rescue of earthquake victims; provide emergency assistance to Türkiye and Syria, each country 100,000 USD and dozens of tons of medical goods and food aid.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres once commented: “Vietnam is an important partner of the UN, having made many substantial and effective contributions to UN peacekeeping operations. This good relationship needs to be further strengthened in the coming time to promote peace, sustainable development and human rights in the world.”

Overcoming challenges, affirming human rights values

Despite many successes and breakthroughs, Vietnam's human rights diplomacy still faces many challenges.

In recent times, hostile forces and opposition groups have always thoroughly exploited human rights issues, especially Vietnam's trial of opposition groups who violate the law... to spread fabricated and false information about Vietnam's work to ensure human rights, to mobilize countries to intervene, to put pressure on us, especially during important political events, before human rights dialogues... to paint a "dark" picture of Vietnam's human rights situation, to lower our country's reputation.

A group of foreign reporters visited the place where Dak Lak Catholics practiced their religion, in 2023. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Human rights foreign information work has received attention and focus but has not yet become a widespread movement; foreign propaganda is not yet synchronous, has not yet created a comprehensive strength; awareness of the importance of human rights foreign affairs work among a number of cadres, party members and people is not really complete and profound; human rights foreign affairs mainly focus on State activities, people's diplomacy is still limited; there is not yet initiative in approaching and advocacy methods to help the other side understand the human rights situation in Vietnam...

Therefore, to improve human rights diplomacy, it is necessary to focus on implementing the following solutions well:

Firstly, strengthen external human rights information on the basis of thoroughly grasping and seriously and effectively implementing Conclusion No. 57-KL/TW dated June 15, 2023 of the Politburo on continuing to improve the quality and effectiveness of external information work in the new situation and directly deploying the Project on communication on human rights in Vietnam (Decision No. 1079/QD-TTg dated September 14, 2022 of the Prime Minister).

It is necessary to renew thinking, proactively promote information and foreign propaganda; expand the scope, diversify the forms, measures and content of propaganda in many languages. There is a need for creative ways, taking advantage of science and technology to reach foreign readers, bringing positive information about Vietnam to other countries.

Second, clearly distinguish the subjects and partners in human rights diplomacy; fight against the plots and tricks of hostile forces to defame and distort the human rights situation in Vietnam; expose dark tricks and false and hostile arguments so that the world can clearly see the nature of organizations that borrow the name of "human rights" to slander and sabotage Vietnam through accurate arguments and evidence, and tight and convincing reasoning.

Third, flexibly and creatively apply diplomatic methods and art, consistently following the Vietnamese "bamboo" school of diplomacy: steadfast in principles, flexible in tactics; gentle and clever but resilient and resolute; flexible and creative but courageous and brave in the face of all difficulties and challenges, for national independence, for the freedom and happiness of the people; united and benevolent but resolute and persistent in protecting national interests.

“Wherever problems arise, resolve them” when they arise in human rights diplomacy. Make partners understand the human rights situation in Vietnam, avoid problems that are prolonged and not handled promptly; properly implement the motto “words go with actions” to create trust and strengthen consensus.

Fourth, closely combine human rights diplomacy with economic, political, cultural, and social diplomacy; diversify foreign affairs activities, promote Party foreign affairs, state diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy.

Seriously implement international human rights treaties that Vietnam has participated in and signed; proactively and actively contribute effectively to the UN's human rights activities; promote initiatives on protecting human rights against traditional and non-traditional security threats and challenges.

Continue to facilitate domestic and foreign NGOs and representatives of countries to promote human rights diplomacy on the basis of respecting international law and Vietnamese law.

Fifth, linking economic growth with sustainable development, improving the material and spiritual life of the people; strengthening socialist democracy, ensuring social equality and progress. Promoting the strength of the great national unity bloc; combining national strength with the strength of the times. Correctly and effectively resolving the relationship between internal and external affairs in the spirit of "warm inside, peaceful outside".

Firmly uphold the viewpoint of taking people as the subject and center of all development policies and guidelines, human rights for all. Build a clean, strong political system that operates effectively and efficiently; enhance Vietnam's position and prestige in the international arena as a solid foundation and premise to improve the quality of foreign affairs in general, and human rights diplomacy in particular.

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