Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has affirmed that the country puts people at the center of all its efforts in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic.

Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh delivers speech at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. Photo: VNA

“Vietnam believes strongly that building a safe society against pandemics like Covid-19 is the best way to ensure each and every member in the society can fully enjoy their human rights,” Minh said at the 46th Session of the UN Human Rights Council that concluded on March 24.

He said Vietnam continues to strive for the protection and promotion of all human rights and fundamental freedom of the people, even in this most difficult period of time.

He went on to say that Vietnam has made efforts to maintain economic growth and social welfare to leave none behind.

Timely support has been given to businesses, people affected by the pandemic, and vulnerable groups like the elderly, women, children, and people with disabilities, Minh emphasized.

What we have experienced and achieved have clearly indicated that efforts to ensure human rights must take into account the historical, political, social and developmental particularities of each country," he noted.

Minh’s statement reiterated Vietnam’s efforts to keep its people safe amid the global health crisis, even when the country is blamed for violating human rights in the pandemic fight.

United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra believed there’s a bias against Vietnam’s success because of its system of government, saying that Vietnam had a better response to fighting the virus than New Zealand that ranked the first in the Covid Performance Index released in late January by Sydney-based independent think tank Lowy Institute.

At the session, Vietnam, together with the Philippines and Bangladesh were co-authors of an announcement on climate change and human rights, warning people of impacts of climate change on the enjoyment of human rights, mostly among women, children, and people with disabilities.

In addition, Vietnam has jointly built a number of documents, including approved resolution on ensuring fair vaccine distribution around the globe.

Vietnam and other ASEAN member states released some joint statements on the impact of Covid-19 on regional residents.