Vietnam attends opening of UN Human Rights Council’s 51st session

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai (Photo: VNA)

Geneva (VNA) - Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, PermanentRepresentative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), the World TradeOrganisation and other international organisations in Geneva, attended theopening ceremony of the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Councilin Geneva, Switzerland on September 12 (local time).

Mai congratulated Volker Türk for his appointment as HighCommissioner for Human Rights, and affirmed Vietnam’s support for andcooperation with the High Commissioner and his Office.

She shared the office’s concerns over three major globalchallenges which have huge impacts on the enjoyment of human rights, namely climatechange, environmental pollution, and biodiversity degradation. She called onthe international community to act more urgently to respond to these challenges.

The Vietnamese representative emphasised that the UN HumanRights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights shouldrespect the diverse historical and socio-cultural conditions of countries, promoteconstructive dialogue and cooperation to protect and promote human rights inaccordance with fundamental human rights principles, including universality,objectivity, impartiality and non-selectivity.

An overview of UN Human Rights Council's 51st session (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Acting High Commissionerfor Human Rights Nada Al Nashif delivered the Office’s report on the world’shuman rights situation.

She called on countries to intensify coordination atmultilateral forums, enhance political commitments to implementinginternational human rights standards, and uphold the role of internationalconventions and mechanisms, while asserting the council’s central role in enhancinginternational solidarity for peace, stability, justice and comprehensive andeffective protection and promotion of human rights.

The council’s 51st session will last untilOctober 7./.

VNA