Bangkok--12 Dec--OHCHR-Bangkok
The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) todaywelcomed the decision by the National Assembly of Viet Nam on 28 Novemberto ratify the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman orDegrading Treatment or Punishment and the Convention on the Rights ofPersons with Disabilities.
Ratification and implementation of the Convention against Torture, 30 yearssince its adoption, is one crucial means to ensure the prevention andabsolute prohibition of torture, and to ensure the provision of remedies tovictims of torture.
The ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Rights ofPersons with Disabilities also represents a significant move towardsensuring the development of an inclusive society – one that promotes andprotects the rights of persons with disabilities.
“This important step fulfils a voluntary pledge made by Viet Nam as acandidate for membership in the Human Rights Council”, said Matilda Bogner,the Regional Representative of OHCHR in Bangkok. Viet Nam is a member ofthe Human Rights Council for the term of 2014 to 2016.
Viet Nam will now be party to seven out of the nine core internationalhuman rights treaties and can be counted among those States with thehighest rates of treaty ratification in the region. OHCHR welcomes thisimportant development and encourages Viet Nam to take meaningful steps toensure full implementation of the two treaties, while reiterating itsreadiness to assist and support the Government of Viet Nam in meeting itstreaty obligations.