The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) convened the second week of its 46th regular session from March 1 to 5, with debates on promoting civil and political rights along with economic, cultural, and social rights, including the rights of the child and of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, the World Trade Organisation, and other international organisations in Geneva (Photo: VNA)
Geneva (VNA) – The UN Human Rights
Council (UNHRC) convened the second week of its 46th regular session from March
1 to 5, with debates on promoting civil and political rights along with
economic, cultural, and social rights, including the rights of the child and of
persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The online debates with UN specialists in charge
of the areas assigned by the UNHRC, including child trafficking and abuse
combat, the right to food, the rights of PWDs to participate in sport, the
freedom of religion or belief, and cultural rights, saw the participation of many
countries and international organisations like UN Women, UNICEF, and UNESCO.
During the debates, Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai,
Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, the World Trade Organisation,
and other international organisations in Geneva, highlighted the Vietnamese
Government’s policies, efforts, and achievements in promoting human rights,
including the rights of the child, the rights of PWDs, cultural rights, and the
right to food in the country.
She affirmed that amid extremely complex
developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam’s successes in controlling and
responding to the outbreak, maintaining high economic growth compared to the
world’s average, and supporting vulnerable groups in society have clearly
reflected the clear-sightedness and effectiveness of the Government’s policies
and the country’s human rights commitments under the international treaties to
which it is a party.
At panel discussions, representatives of Vietnam
also emphasised the country’s consistent implementation and outstanding
attainments in ensuring children’s rights, PWDs’ right to participate in sport,
the right to food, and cultural rights.
Vietnam stated that the promotion and protection
of human rights, including cultural rights and the right to food amid the
pandemic, have provided spiritual support for people and helped improve the
effectiveness of the COVID-19 fight.
Apart from containing the coronavirus outbreak
and boosting post-pandemic recovery, Vietnam also successfully organised the
annual national sports tournament for PWDs in December 2020, and it is actively
preparing for the ASEAN Para Games, slated for December 2021.
At general debates, Vietnam called on countries
and the UNHRC to enhance cooperation and dialogue to substantively promote
human rights in reality instead of basing on imprecise and unverified
information to criticise certain states.
Vietnam and other ASEAN countries also delivered
a joint speech at the discussion about the right of PWDs to participate in
sport, in which they highlighted ASEAN’s efforts to continually hold the ASEAN
Para Games to foster solidarity, the noble sporting spirit, and humane values
among PWDs in the region.
Opened on February 22, the UNHRC’s 46th regular
session is scheduled to last through March 23 and adopt about 30 – 40 draft
resolutions./.