Inhis remarks during the third working week at the 28th regular sessionof the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, theambassador said Vietnam shared the international community’s concernabout human rights and humanitarian issues in the DPRK, including theabduction issue and the need to ensure the rights to food, healthcareand education for its citizens.
Vietnam supportsefforts for constructive dialogues and cooperation between partiesconcerned to address any existing problems, he said, adding that Vietnamstands ready to join endeavours to promote and facilitate substantialdialogues among related parties.
On the status ofhuman rights in Iran, he lauded the recent commitments and progress inthe country, particularly regarding women’s status and the rights toeducation and healthcare, as well as its collaboration with relevant UNmechanisms, including the second cycle of the Universal Periodic Review.
He suggested Iran and relevant parties build onthe positive momentum and hold practical dialogues towards addressingissues of shared concern.
In a speech as anincumbent member of the UNHCR, Thanh said Vietnam welcomed Myanmar’sachievements in reform, democratisation and national reconciliation thathave translated into social stability, economic development, improvedgender equality and protected rights of vulnerable groups, includingethnic minorities.
Vietnam took note of theinternational community’s interest in Myanmar’s process towardselections in 2015, he said, adding that the concern should be expressedin line with international laws, particularly the principles ofself-determination and no interference in internal affairs as stipulatedin the UN Charter.
Given Myanmar’s needs forglobal cooperation and technical support in the protection and promotionof citizens’ rights, the Vietnamese delegate said the assistance shouldbe provided through sincere dialogues as opposed to exerting politicalpressure.
In its capacity as a co-Coordinator ofthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the UNHRC, Vietnamalso reiterated the ASEAN’s solidarity with Myanmar and backing of thecountry’s commitments to reform, democratisation and nationalreconciliation as well as its good will coordination with the UN’srelevant mechanisms.
Thanh conveyed the ASEAN’smessage that the international community needs to take an objective andunbiased approach free from double standards and politicisation when itcomes to considering human rights concerns.
Duringthe session which is to conclude on March 27, the UNHCR will weigh thepossibility of issuing resolutions or decisions on human rightssituation in the DPRK, Iran, Myanmar and Syria, among others, anddiscuss more than 30 other topics.-VNA