Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Thanh Tinh
Accordingly, the Vietnamese delegation with representatives of 9 agencies including the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Ethnic Minorities and Religions, and the Government Office .
To better understand this important event, the Government Electronic Newspaper interviewed Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Thanh Tinh.
Dear Deputy Minister, it is known that Vietnam has been very active in implementing the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Can you tell us when Vietnam joined this Convention?
Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Tinh: The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) is an important multilateral international treaty with a large number of participating countries (173 countries). The content of the Convention stipulates the rights associated with individuals from birth to the end of life (right to life, right to security, personal safety, freedom of speech, right to association, right to belief, religion, right to participate in social management...). Some rights in the ICCPR were later developed by the United Nations into separate international treaties such as the right not to be tortured, the right to gender equality... Vietnam joined the ICCPR on September 24, 1982.
At the 3rd Dialogue between Vietnam and the United Nations Human Rights Committee on the Implementation of the ICCPR, which took place on March 11-12, 2019 in Geneva, Switzerland, Vietnam presented its 3rd Report on the Implementation of the ICCPR (2002-2017). The United Nations Human Rights Committee made recommendations after the dialogue, and Vietnam has made efforts to implement these recommendations, while continuing to improve the legal framework and practices for implementing civil and political rights.
Building and perfecting the Socialist Republic of Vietnam's rule of law state is a major policy of our Party and State at present. What is the significance of implementing this major policy in protecting and promoting human rights, Mr. Deputy Minister?
Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Tinh: Ensuring and promoting human rights is a consistent and pervasive viewpoint of the Party and State. The 13th National Party Congress affirmed: "The people are the center and the subject of the renovation, construction and protection of the Fatherland; all guidelines and policies must truly originate from the lives, aspirations, rights and legitimate interests of the people, taking the happiness and prosperity of the people as the goal to strive for", "The Party and State promulgate guidelines, guidelines, policies and laws to create a political and legal foundation, respect, ensure and protect the people's right to mastery".
Regarding the activities of judicial agencies, the 13th National Party Congress determined: "Continue to build a Vietnamese judiciary that is professional, fair, strict, honest, serving the Fatherland and the people. Judicial activities must have the responsibility to protect justice, protect human rights, civil rights, protect the socialist regime, protect the interests of the State, and the legitimate and legal rights and interests of organizations and individuals."
A rule of law state is, in essence, a state in which the law plays a supreme role. Therefore, our Party and State implement the policy of building a rule of law state to ensure human rights, individual freedom, and ensure fairness and equality in society. From that perspective, in the work of building and perfecting the legal system, organizing law enforcement, and judicial reform, the Party has also issued many Resolutions and conclusions to promote and protect human rights.
I cite Resolution No. 27-NQ/TW dated November 9, 2022 of the 6th Conference of the 13th Party Central Committee on continuing to build and perfect the socialist rule-of-law state of Vietnam in the new period (Resolution No. 27-NQ/TW) requiring continued institutionalization, timely and complete concretization of the Party's viewpoints and policies and provisions of the Constitution on human rights, basic rights and obligations of citizens; internalization of international treaties on human rights to which Vietnam has participated.
The Resolution clearly defines the responsibility of state agencies in respecting, ensuring and protecting human rights and civil rights. It is necessary to properly implement the principle that citizens are allowed to do everything that is not prohibited by law; civil rights are inseparable from civil obligations; civil rights must not infringe upon national interests, the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals.
Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW dated April 30, 2025 of the Politburo on innovation in law-making and enforcement to meet the requirements of national development in the new era also has very clear messages about perfecting the legal system, such as "seizing every opportunity, paving the way, unleashing every resource, turning institutions and laws into competitive advantages, solid foundations, strong driving forces for development, creating room to promote "double-digit" economic growth, improving people's lives..."; "substantially ensuring the right to freedom of business, property ownership rights and freedom of contract, equality between enterprises of all economic sectors"... These contents are all aimed at promoting social development, ensuring freedom, equality, happiness and prosperity for everyone, that is, better ensuring human rights.
How have the Party's policies on respecting, ensuring and protecting human rights and civil rights been institutionalized by sectors and levels in Vietnam, Deputy Minister?
Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Tinh: The viewpoint that identifies people as the center, subject, most important resource and goal of development has been fully institutionalized in the Constitution and laws of Vietnam.
The 2013 Constitution recognized the principle: "In the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, human rights and civil rights in the political, civil, economic, cultural and social fields are recognized, respected, protected and guaranteed in accordance with the Constitution and laws"; at the same time, it also clearly stipulates that everyone has the obligation to respect the rights of others, and the exercise of human rights and civil rights must not infringe upon national and ethnic interests, and the legitimate rights and interests of others.
In recent years, Vietnam has passed many laws and resolutions of the National Assembly related to human rights and citizen rights; thereby contributing to concretizing the provisions of the 2013 Constitution as well as international treaties on human rights to which Vietnam is a member. Along with that, the order and procedures for promulgating legal documents have also been improved, with regulations on principles, order and procedures for collecting public opinions to ensure the rights of the affected subjects - also ensuring human rights and citizen rights; at the same time, increasing the participation of people and society in law-making work to ensure that legal regulations are soon put into practice, meeting the requirements. Acts of violating human rights are also prevented through improving the legal framework for handling these acts. Regulations to ensure social order, security and safety, thereby better protecting people's rights are also increasingly improved.
In addition, Vietnam is also actively improving the relevant legal framework to create conditions for individuals to enjoy their rights to the highest possible extent. In addition, we are also constantly improving the legal framework on the organization of the state apparatus; improving the effectiveness of law enforcement, promoting administrative reform, aiming at the highest goal of better serving the needs of people, businesses and society.
A series of national target programs, plans and action programs have been issued to create resources to promote socio-economic development, thereby improving the material and spiritual life of the people in all aspects. Thanks to that, Vietnam has achieved many achievements in ensuring and promoting human rights, which have been recognized by the international community.
To prepare for the Dialogue Session on National Reports on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights at the 144th Session of the Human Rights Committee in Geneva this time, how has the Vietnamese Delegation prepared, Deputy Minister?
Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Tinh: In preparation for the report on the implementation of the 4th ICCPR Convention in Vietnam, the Ministry of Justice has established a Drafting Committee to develop the Report with the participation of ministries and sectors directly related to the contents of the Convention. The draft Report was consulted with relevant agencies and organizations in accordance with the guidance of the Human Rights Committee.
On March 22, 2023, Vietnam submitted its Fourth ICCPR Report to the Human Rights Committee. Based on Vietnam's Fourth National Report, in accordance with the Human Rights Committee's procedures, on May 28, 2024, the Human Rights Committee issued a List of Issues of Concern for Vietnam's Fourth ICCPR Report. Based on the List of Issues of Concern, the Ministry of Justice coordinated with relevant ministries and sectors to develop a Report in response to the List of Issues of Concern. On December 19, 2024, Vietnam submitted a Report in response to the List of Issues of Concern for Vietnam's Fourth ICCPR Report to the Human Rights Committee.
In addition, in preparation for this Dialogue, the Ministry of Justice has submitted to the Prime Minister for approval the Plan to protect the 4th ICCPR Convention. Based on the Prime Minister's approval, the Ministry of Justice has established an interdisciplinary working group with the participation of representatives from 09 relevant ministries and branches. These are units with many contents related to the implementation of specific provisions of the ICCPR Convention, including many difficult and complicated contents. The Ministry of Justice and relevant ministries and branches have reviewed the List of Issues of Concern in 2024, the 2019 recommendations of the Human Rights Committee and more than 50 Reports of non-governmental organizations (Independent Reports) on the implementation of the Convention in Vietnam to proactively prepare the content for the Dialogue with the Human Rights Committee.
Could you please tell us more about the goals and plans of the Vietnamese Delegation at the Dialogue Session?
Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Tinh: We consider the dialogue on the National Report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights at the 144th Session of the Human Rights Committee in Geneva to be an opportunity for Vietnam to report on its efforts and results in implementing the Convention.
Therefore, the Vietnamese delegation will participate in the Dialogue in a spirit of openness, sincerity, cooperation and construction. During the Dialogue, we will focus on a number of messages such as Vietnam is focusing on implementing many revolutionary breakthroughs to bring Vietnam into a new era of development, including innovation in law-making and enforcement, continuing to build a socialist rule-of-law state of the people, by the people and for the people.
Expanding democracy and creating conditions for people to participate in State management are increasingly focused on, ensuring and better protecting the civil and political rights of the people. Affirming that Vietnam always pays attention and prioritizes the best possible resources and will carry out synchronous measures to promote, protect and better ensure the enjoyment of civil and political rights... The information and evidence presented in the Report as well as the Dialogue Session will be a clear answer, refuting the still incorrect information about the human rights situation in Vietnam.
Regarding issues that are mentioned but are not accurate or objective about the human rights situation in Vietnam, we are determined to have a frank dialogue, not to avoid. For the clear content, we will inform immediately, and for issues that do not have enough information, we will request information to be provided for checking and responding later.
We also intend to participate in the Dialogue Session with a spirit of openness to the issues raised in order to absorb and continue to promote the contents that we have implemented well. At the same time, we also have an appropriate approach to promote the implementation of the Convention more effectively.
Thank you very much, Deputy Minister!
Dieu Anh (performed)
Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/viet-nam-luon-coi-trong-va-no-luc-thuc-hien-cac-cam-ket-quoc-te-ve-quyen-con-nguoi-102250705163551588.htm
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