Promoting Human Rights through Dialogue and Cooperation

​

Contributing to Common Standards

One of the key obligations of states parties to international human rights conventions is the preparation and submission of periodic national reports. Rather than being a mere procedural formality, this process serves as an opportunity for nations to review their own legal systems and policies, engage in open dialogues with international experts, and adopt relevant recommendations. To date, Vietnam has diligently completed numerous national reports under key treaties, including the ICCPR, ICESCR, CEDAW, ICERD, CRC, CRPD, and CAT.

In 2025 alone, Vietnam participated in dialogues on its national reports concerning the implementation of the CEDAW and ICCPR, while actively preparing for an upcoming dialogue on the Convention Against Torture (CAT).

Notably, during the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) sessions, many countries have commended Vietnam's achievements in poverty reduction, expanding access to education and healthcare, advancing gender equality, and protecting vulnerable demographics.

Furthermore, Vietnam has consistently demonstrated proactive and responsible engagement at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee of the UN General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, and other UN forums. The shared objective is to ensure and promote human rights alongside the fundamental principles of international human rights law.

Vietnam has also contributed to and co-authored multiple draft resolutions promoting the implementation of economic, social, and cultural rights, particularly those related to children's rights, women's rights, education, and the fight against drugs and transnational crime.

In 2008 and 2009, during its tenure as the rotating President of the UN Security Council, Vietnam chaired and advanced two critical initiatives: the Presidential Statement on "Children and Armed Conflict" and Resolution 1889 on "Women, Peace, and Security."

As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, Vietnam spearheaded the adoption of initiatives concerning humanitarian efforts and civilian protection. These included a Presidential Statement on addressing the aftermath of landmines and Resolution 2573 on the protection of essential infrastructure during armed conflicts.

Amidst the devastating socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic globally, Vietnam spearheaded the adoption of Resolution A/RES/75/27, officially establishing December 27 as the annual International Day of Epidemic Preparedness.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has repeatedly acknowledged Vietnam's active participation in UN human rights mechanisms, encouraging the country to maintain its spirit of cooperation and dialogue while implementing recommendations from treaty bodies.

​

Vietnam's Signature Initiatives

In international relations, however, a nation's prestige is not solely measured by the number of treaties it joins or national reports it completes; it is also reflected in its contributions to solving the international community's shared challenges. For Vietnam, this hallmark has become increasingly prominent at the UN Human Rights Council.

As a member of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023–2025 and 2026–2028 terms, Vietnam outlined eight priority areas. These include enhancing the Council's efficiency in alignment with the UN Charter, international law, and its mandate; addressing human rights in the face of climate change; combating violence and discrimination while stepping up protection for vulnerable groups; advancing gender equality; upholding human rights in the digital transformation era; the right to health; the right to decent work; and the right to quality education and human rights education.

During the 52nd Regular Session in 2023, Vietnam, alongside a core group of nations (Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Fiji, India, Panama, Romania, South Africa, and Spain), proposed and promoted a 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), ultimately securing co-sponsorship from 121 countries.

At the UNHRC, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Vietnam form the core group on "Climate Change and Human Rights," aiming to raise global awareness and foster international cooperation to protect human rights amidst the increasingly severe impacts of climate change.

Additionally, Vietnam continues to prioritize gender equality and the rights of vulnerable groups, especially in the digital age, while ensuring the right to health. The nation also emphasizes promoting decent work rights in the collective effort toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as the right to quality education.

Beyond the council chambers, Vietnam has proactively contributed to joint international efforts in peacekeeping, search and rescue, and humanitarian assistance, earning high praise from the international community. Since 2014, Vietnam has deployed hundreds of military personnel, police officers, and civilian officials to UN Peacekeeping Missions in South Sudan, Abyei, and the UN Headquarters, successfully operating Level-2 Field Hospitals and Engineering Units.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix has frequently characterized Vietnam as a "strong and reliable partner of the UN in peacekeeping operations," acknowledging the increasingly substantial contributions of Vietnamese forces to various missions.

Regarding search and rescue operations, in February 2023, Vietnam dispatched 76 officers and soldiers from the Ministry of National Defense and 24 from the Ministry of Public Security, fully equipped, to provide emergency humanitarian assistance in earthquake-stricken Turkey.

In 2025, a 106-member Vietnamese search and rescue team comprising military and police personnel deployed to Myanmar for an 8-day mission to assist in earthquake relief efforts. Most recently, Vietnam sent a 124-member rescue mission to help alleviate the aftermath of an earthquake in La Guaira State, Venezuela.

Evolving from a nation that adopts international norms, Vietnam is steadily transforming into a country that helps shape these very standards through concrete initiatives and a spirit of dialogue and cooperation. This journey underscores that advancing human rights is not an isolated destination for any single country, but a collective endeavor of the global community.

Vietnam has chosen to walk this path driven by responsibility, practical contributions, and consistent objectives, ensuring that human rights values are not merely enshrined in international conventions but are tangible realities in the everyday lives of its people.