14 hours Ago By Choe Nam-suk
Vietnam is a politically stable country experiencing rapid economic growth, reaching a GDP of 430 billion USD in 2023. While building and developing the nation, Vietnam has continuously improved its human rights framework. Human rights, encompassing civil, economic, political, and cultural rights, are clearly embedded in the Party's guidelines and the State's policies and laws.
Citizens fully exercise their rights to vote, stand for election, and participate in state and social governance. The rights to freedom of speech, the press, information, belief, religion, ethnic equality, life, human dignity, bodily integrity, movement, and residence are all respected. Vietnam has made notable achievements in socio-economic development, ensuring human rights across various areas: Vietnam has seen significant success in poverty reduction, notably improving living standards.
The poverty rate has decreased from nearly 60% in 1986 to just 2.93% in 2023. GDP per capita has risen from 86 USD in 1986 to 4,347 USD in 2023, achieving the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ahead of schedule.
The quality of social welfare has continuously improved. Vietnam's social security has shifted from humanitarian aid to ensuring citizen welfare rights. Approximately 20% of the annual state budget is allocated to social policies.
Regular social assistance beneficiaries increase yearly, reaching over 3.3 million in 2023. Vietnam has achieved several MDGs ahead of schedule, and according to the United Nations, its Human Development Index (HDI) has consistently improved, placing it in the high human development group, ranking 115th out of 191 countries and territories.
Citizens have improved access to basic social services. In 2023, the social insurance participation rate was nearly 40%, with unemployment insurance covering over 32% of the working-age population. More than 92% of the population has health insurance, and voluntary social insurance participants have steadily increased to nearly 3 million people.
Since 2015, the rate of children attending primary school at the correct age has been 99%, with over 95% attending lower secondary school since 2020. Additionally, over 90% of children under one are fully vaccinated. The government has also provided housing assistance to nearly 1 million poor rural households, supporting the construction or renovation of almost 500,000 homes.
Freedom of belief and religion has been promoted extensively. Vietnam currently has 43 organizations representing 16 different religions, with over 26.7 million followers, more than 55,000 clergy members, approximately 135,000 lay officials, and over 29,000 places of worship.
Annually, the country hosts more than 8,000 religious and belief festivals, drawing tens of thousands of participants. The government maximally supports religious and belief activities, ensuring legal compliance. Vietnam has made significant strides in promoting gender equality, prioritizing women in its development strategy.
In 2022, Vietnam ranked 60th globally, 4th in Asia, and 1st in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly for the percentage of women in elected bodies. The country also ranked 3rd in ASEAN and 47th globally in gender equality in political participation and governance. Vietnam's HDI increased by 45.
8% from 1990 to 2020, placing it among countries with the highest HDI growth rates. According to the World Happiness Report 2023, Vietnam ranks 65th out of 156 countries and territories, rising 12 places from 2022. International experts note that Vietnam's HDI surge is due to government priorities and efforts in human rights and social equality advancement.
Since becoming a United Nations member in 1977, Vietnam has actively participated in most international human rights conventions, ratifying 7 out of 9 core UN conventions and 25 International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions, including 7 out of 8 core conventions. Vietnam has actively participated in the UN Human Rights Council since its establishment in 2006, serving two terms (2014-2016 and 2023-2025). Its efforts and contributions to human rights promotion and protection are supported and recognized internationally.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised Vietnam, highlighting its importance as a UN partner contributing to peacekeeping activities. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) has endorsed Vietnam's national human rights reports for the IV cycle. Vietnam is committed to learning and ensuring human rights for all citizens.
Although resources remain limited and infrastructure for culture, education, science, and healthcare is still inadequate, the comprehensive legal mechanisms, along with the Party, State, and Government's commitment, and societal support, will enable Vietnam to improve living conditions for remote, isolated, and island populations, as well as ethnic minorities, contributing to protecting human rights in line with Party and State policies..
