5th UPR Session – Statement of Japan
Review of Vietnam – 8 May 2009

The delegation of Japan would like to thank the Government of Vietnam for a comprehensive national report and for its presentation earlier by the First Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Pham Binh Minh. We would like to make some comments and offer two recommendations.

Firstly, there is a close relationship between development with a focus on poverty reduction and the protection of human rights. By improving the standard of living, socio-economic development contributes to the advancement of the economic, social and cultural rights of all citizens. Japan is delighted, as Vietnam’s main partner for its development, at Vietnam’s achievement of MDGs and would like to compliment this accomplishment.

We also welcome Vietnam’s recent decision to withdraw its reservation to the Optional Protocol to the CRC on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

Secondly, the development of the domestic legal system is an indispensable factor for the promotion and protection of human rights. For many years, Japan has assisted Vietnam in development of its legal system and relevant human resources. Japan intends to continue to assist Vietnam’s efforts in this regard.

Lastly, all human rights are indivisible and interdependent. It is essential that the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights be achieved in balance with the realization of civil and political rights, including the right to a fair trial and freedom of religion. Japan can attest from its experience to the importance of the role of political freedoms, such as freedom of expression and also the role of free and independent media, to a healthy democracy.

Based upon these views, the Government of Japan would like to make two recommendations. First, we recommend that Vietnam continue to make further efforts to advance the human rights of socially vulnerable people, including ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, women, children, persons with HIV/AIDS, and victims of human trafficking.

Second, we recommend that Vietnam develop its domestic legal system and ensure the appropriate implementation and execution of the law toward the implementation of the international human rights instruments to which Vietnam is a party.