VN asks for impartial view on its human rights achievements

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang at a regular press conference

She made the remark at a regular press conference in Ha Noi on January 18 in response to the Viet Nam News Agency’s question about Viet Nam’s viewpoint on some partners having shown interest in the country’s promotion and protection of human rights recently.

She said: “Human rights are the common value of mankind, yet there are differences in approaches to and priorities on human rights due to differences in history, culture, political regimes and development levels. This is a normal fact in international relations, but the important thing is that we need to be ready to cooperate and dialogue in cooperative and constructive spirit and with mutual respect.”

Viet Nam is maintaining dialogues on human rights with some countries and partners to enhance mutual understanding, share experience, and open up bilateral cooperation opportunities in terms of human rights, Hang noted.

The spokesperson said Viet Nam has made important progress in promoting human rights. In the time ahead, it will continue perfecting the legal system to better ensure people’s fundamental rights on the basis of the 2013 Constitution and the country’s commitments to the international community.

The country is going to bolster socio-economic development to improve conditions and resources for reducing poverty and promoting people’s material and spiritual life. It will work to boost people’s access to social welfares and improve the quality of education, including education on human rights to raise public awareness of the issue and improve law enforcement agencies’ capacity in the field.

Viet Nam will also push ahead with promoting gender equality as this is an important factor in creating strong human resources and boosting the quality of life of each person, each family, and the whole society, Spokesperson Hang noted.

She said another priority is public health care towards a healthy society that has access to both physical and mental healthcare services.

Meanwhile, the country will also intensify cooperation with all countries, mechanisms, and specialised organisations relating to human rights in the region and the world, Hang added.

Also on January 18, the Foreign Ministry released the book “Protection and Promotion of Human Rights in Viet Nam” written in Vietnamese, English and French.

With four chapters, the book provides updated information about Viet Nam’s law, policies, efforts, and achievements in human rights, along with relevant challenges and priorities.-VNA