HCM City (VNA) – The national report on the implementation ofthe International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) was the centreof discussion at a seminar held by the Justice Ministry in Ho Chi Minh City onJuly 17.

Addressing the seminar, Deputy Director of the Department ofInternational Law Nguyen Linh Kha said the report, the third drafted so far,has highlighted civil and political rights that were stipulated in the 2013Constitutions 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 andSocial Council for 2016-2018. The country has also actively engaged indialogues on human rights with many countries.

Participants, including experts and delegates from relevant agencies andorganisations, acknowledged the country’s efforts in enforcing the ICCPR. Theyagreed that the work is facing difficulties due to the incomplete legalframework, the uneven levels of development among regions, deep-rooted customsand beliefs, and changes in international situation.

Le Khac Quang from the Vietnam Lawyers Association suggested that thereport should also deal with factors affecting the convention’s enforcementsuch as economic impacts and guiding viewpoints.

Deputy Minister of Justice Nguyen Khanh Ngoc said the report was draftedon a multi-dimensional approach with the aim of reflecting the enforcement ofthe ICCPR in Vietnam in an objective fashion.

Opinions contributed at the seminar will serve as reference for thedrafting board to refine the report before submitting it to the UN Human RightsCommittee.

The ICCPR was adopted in 1966 and came into force in March 1976. Itcurrently has around 170 members. -VNA