National report on ICCPR implementation tabled for discussion
The national report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) was the centre of discussion at a seminar held by the Justice Ministry in Ho Chi Minh City on July 17.
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Addressing the seminar, Deputy Director of the Department of International Law Nguyen Linh Kha said the report, the third drafted so far, has highlighted civil and political rights that were stipulated in the 2013 Constitutions and institutionalized in legal documents.
She noted that Vietnam has joined seven UN conventions on human rights, including the ICCPR.
The country has seriously followed the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism and participated in several key UN mechanisms on human rights, such as the UN Human Right Council in the 2014-2016 term, the UN Economic and Social Council for 2016-2018.
The country has also actively engaged in dialogues on human rights with many countries.
Participants, including experts and delegates from relevant agencies and organisations, acknowledged the country’s efforts in enforcing the ICCPR.
They agreed that the work is facing difficulties due to the incomplete legal framework, the uneven levels of development among regions, deep-rooted customs and beliefs, and changes in international situation.
Le Khac Quang from the Vietnam Lawyers Association suggested that the report should also deal with factors affecting the convention’s enforcement such as economic impacts and guiding viewpoints.
Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Khanh Ngoc said the report was drafted on a multi-dimensional approach with the aim of reflecting the enforcement of the ICCPR in Vietnam in an objective fashion.
Opinions contributed at the seminar will serve as reference for the drafting board to refine the report before submitting it to the UN Human Rights Committee.
The ICCPR was adopted in 1966 and came into force in March 1976. It currently has around 170 members.
