According to deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, the report has been drafted in a careful and timely manner, and the review is an opportunity for Vietnam to promote its image and its progress in human rights to the wider world.

“Vietnam considers human beings as the goal and the driving force behind socio-economic development policies, and is consistent in ensuring and promoting human rights,” says Mr Minh. “Having maintained a stable and peaceful environment since national unification is a great achievement, laying a firm foundation for protecting and realising human rights in Vietnam.”

Vietnam has been acknowledged internationally as one of the leading countries in hunger eradication and poverty alleviation. This is the government’s top priority programme to promote human rights in accordance with the country’s circumstances and the UN Millennium Development Goals. The latest statistics show that per capita income has increased significantly, from US$200 in 1990 to US$1024 in 2008. The poverty rate has also fallen dramatically from 60 percent to 13.8 percent last year.

The legal system has been further completed and all development strategies have been targeted at promoting and harmonising the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of every citizen in the interests of the nation and the community. Since 1986, Vietnam has issued and amended approximately 13,000 laws and by-law documents, by which civil and political rights have been established more specifically and comprehensively.

The Vietnamese government has undertaken to provide preferences and assistance to vulnerable groups in society such as women, children, ethnic minority people, people with disabilities, war victims and people living with HIV/AIDS. It has carried out a number of programmes such as national nutrition and immunisation for children, anti-tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS prevention and control, medical insurance and free medical check-ups for the poor and children under 6.

Currently, the number of female deputies to the National Assembly makes up 25.76 percent of the total, ranking 4^th in the Asia-Pacific region. About 83 percent of women of working age get steady jobs.    

Vietnam has joined almost all international conventions on human rights. It is the second nation in the world and the first in Asia to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. It has also ratified 17 conventions of the International Labour Organisation.

Given its achievements, Vietnam has drawn major lessons of experience as follows: (1) putting human beings at the centre of national development, (2) human rights cannot be separated from national independence and national sovereignty, (3) how to combine the general values of human rights and particular circumstances of the nation, (4) increase international cooperation and dialogue on human rights, (5) how to maintain political stability and economic development while ensuring social welfare, and last but not least, (6) how to increase the people’s knowledge and capability in enjoying these rights.

However, Vietnam has faced certain challenges. Its legal system is not yet complete, especially in the field of human rights and sometimes overlaps to cause misunderstanding at grassroots level. This is the biggest snag in promoting social progress as well as exercising human rights.

In addition, due to the geographical location, different customs and living conditions, a segment of the population is limited to basic social services and knowledge of State law and policies. Despite a high and steady economic growth rate in recent years, Vietnam remains a poor country which has a low development level, with many people still leading hard lives in remote and mountainous areas and areas hit by natural calamities.

The country also faces the drawback of the market economy and the negative impact of the international environment such as epidemics and climate change. In addition, a certain number of State officials still have a limited knowledge of human rights.

At the Human Rights Council on May 8, Vietnam will present its priority areas, including poverty reduction, and make commitments to defending human rights.