Vietnam praised for efforts to harmonise domestic law with international human rights commitments
Vietnam has been widely commended for its increasingly proactive and responsible approach to aligning domestic legislation and policies with international human rights standards, particularly through dialogue, cooperation and experience-sharing with international partners.
Speaking at a workshop held in Quang Ninh on January 6, Federica Dispenza, Deputy Resident Representative and Head of Governance and Participation at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, highlighted the country’s steady progress in engaging with the global human rights system.
“Over recent years, Vietnam has demonstrated a growing openness to dialogue, cooperation and mutual learning. By ratifying seven out of the nine core international human rights conventions, the Vietnamese Government has accumulated valuable experience in harmonising its legal and policy framework with global commitments”, she said.
Sharing from international experts
Beyond introducing the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED), the workshop—co-organised by Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security and UNDP—created a substantive forum for open dialogue. International experts and representatives from countries that have ratified the Convention shared practical experiences, offered positive assessments of Vietnam’s approach, and discussed the careful, responsible manner in which Vietnam is studying the possibility of accession.
Participants emphasised that ratifying the ICPPED is not a symbolic act but a long-term process requiring thorough legal preparation and strong institutional capacity.
Representing Switzerland, Aldo de Luca, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the Swiss Embassy in Vietnam, noted that Switzerland’s main challenge stemmed from its federal system, where cantons enjoy extensive autonomy over policing, justice and prison administration. Implementing the Convention therefore required not only amendments at the federal level to criminalise enforced disappearance, but also ensuring consistent understanding and application across all cantons.
Only after confirming that both the legal framework and enforcement capacity were fully prepared did Switzerland proceed with ratification, in order to guarantee feasibility and credibility in fulfilling its international obligations, he said.
From Norway’s experience, Mette Moglestue, Deputy Ambassador of Norway to Vietnam, identified three key pillars for effective implementation of the ICPPED: domestic incorporation, training and transparency. This includes revising the Criminal Code to clearly define enforced disappearance in line with international standards, strengthening training for law-enforcement officials, prosecutors and judges, and maintaining accurate detention records while promptly informing families of persons deprived of liberty—measures considered crucial for prevention.
From the United Nations’ expert perspective, Gabriella Citroni, Chair of the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, stressed that education and training—enshrined in Article 23 of the Convention—are often underestimated obligations. Enhancing awareness and understanding among authorities at all levels, she said, is fundamental to the effective implementation of all other provisions, alongside prevention measures, modern investigative standards and the right of families to know the truth.
Vietnam’s proactive and cautious approach
At the workshop, representatives from the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and legal experts reaffirmed that Vietnam is approaching the ICPPED through a comprehensive, objective and context-appropriate assessment. Consideration of accession is embedded within Vietnam’s consistent policy of respecting, protecting and promoting human rights, in parallel with deepening international integration.
Any decision to join the Convention, they stressed, must be accompanied by continued legal reform, strengthened institutional capacity and adequate resources to ensure that obligations can be implemented effectively, substantively and sustainably.
Lieutenant Colonel Dao Anh Toi, Deputy Director of the Department of Legal Affairs and Administrative and Judicial Reform under the Ministry of Public Security, said the discussions and insights gained at the workshop constituted valuable reference material for relevant authorities in shaping appropriate orientations and roadmaps for Vietnam’s continued study of the Convention.
Meanwhile, Senior Colonel Nguyen Thuan, Deputy Director of Quang Ninh Provincial Police, underscored that protecting human rights is a foundation for peace, stability and sustainable development. He noted that Quang Ninh province has consistently pursued a people-centred development approach, linking economic growth with social progress, fairness and the protection of citizens’ legitimate rights and interests.
Under the leadership of the Party committees and authorities at both central and local levels, Quang Ninh police have implemented numerous measures to enhance human rights protection, including administrative reform, expanded e-government services, strengthened public dialogue, safeguards for detainees’ rights, and improved training in legal knowledge, professional ethics and standards of conduct.
From UNDP’s viewpoint, Ms Dispenza concluded that the workshop marked a constructive and forward-looking step in Vietnam’s ongoing engagement with the international human rights system. The timely organisation of the event, she said, reflects Vietnam’s genuine interest in understanding the ICPPED and learning from the diverse experiences—both successes and challenges—of other countries in implementing the Convention.
