Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, Head of the Vietnam Mission to the UN, asserted Vietnam’s commitment to ensuring and promoting human rights in a speech at the October 30 debate of the Third Committee of the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. “The State of Vietnam attaches great importance to and considers the promotion and protection of human rights as a matter of highest priority. The well-being and happiness of each and every Vietnamese is the ultimate goal of all our development strategies and policies”, she said. The diplomat urged the international community to make every effort to ensure peace, stability and sustainable development as they are the solid foundations for the full enjoyment of human rights. She spoke highly of the role played by the UN in fostering cooperation and dialogue among countries in the field. Nga also underlined the importance of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the UN in September, saying that it has mainstreamed the respect for human rights, including the right to development, and elimination of inequality across all goals and targets, giving priority to vulnerable groups including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities. By implementing this Agenda, the root causes of insecurity and conflict will be addressed, thus ensuring truly that no one is left behind, she noted. The Vietnamese diplomat took the occasion to introduce attendees to Vietnam’s prominent achievements in ensuring human rights, affirming that Vietnam, as a responsible member of the UN Human Right Council, will continue to work closely with other member countries and counterparts for the protection and promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms. She also stressed that Vietnam attaches great importance to international cooperation and dialogue in the field of human rights. The Ambassador said, “As a responsible member of the Human Rights Council, Vietam has substantively contributed to the work of the Council. We promote a balanced agenda of the Council which covers all social, economic, cultural, civil and political rights. We uphold the principles of international law, support dialogue and cooperation, and voice against imposition.” The diplomat emphasized that Vietnam has been actively implementing all accepted UPR's recommendations. This year, the country deposited its instrument of the ratification of the Convention against Torture and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and presented its combined reports to CEDAW Committee. Vietnam is now preparing for our national report on the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. She went on to say that Vietnam also continues to conduct regular constructive bilateral human rights dialogues with several partners and actively participate in regional efforts, particularly the ASEAN Intergovernmental Committee for Human Rights and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children. To conclude, the diplomat reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to collaboration with all partners, in a constructive and sincere manner, for the protection and promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.-VNA