Viet Nam opposes wrong perspectives in U.S. Religious Freedom Report
VGP - Viet Nam rejects statements that are not objective, biased and inaccurate about Viet Nam's religious situation, as stated in the International Religious Freedom Report 2024 of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), said Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang.
The Spokesperson made the above statement at the ministry's regular press briefing in Ha Noi on May 9 in reply to a reporter's question about the USCIRF’s International Religious Freedom Report 2024.
The diplomat said that Viet Nam consistently implements a policy of respecting and ensuring people's right to freedom of belief and religion, and the right to follow or not follow a religion.
In Viet Nam, no one is discriminated on the basis of religion or belief. All activities of religious organizations are guaranteed in accordance with legal regulations.
This has been clearly stipulated in Viet Nam's 2013 Constitution, its legal system and is respected in practice, the spokesperson said.
Viet Nam's policies, efforts and achievements in ensuring human rights, including freedom of religion and belief, have been recognized and highly appreciated by many countries. These are also the assessments by the countries participating in the dialogue on Viet Nam's national report under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism.
“We have been and will continue to exchange views with the U.S. side on issues of mutual concern in the spirit of openness, frankness and mutual respect to contribute to promoting the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development between Viet Nam and the U.S.
Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet is currently leading the Vietnamese delegation to attend the dialogue on Viet Nam’s national report on human rights protection and promotion under the UPR mechanism.
Do presented the national report and reaffirmed the Government’s consistent policy for protecting and promoting human rights, and viewing the people as the center, the goal and driver of development.
The report also said that since the third cycle UPR reviews in 2019, Viet Nam has been continuously making improvements to its legal system and policies on human rights and achieved practical results, according to the spokesperson.
The Vietnamese delegation has asserted Viet Nam’s priorities on the promotion and protection of human rights in the coming future, including the building of a law-governed Socialist state, administrative reforms, fostering positive dialogue and cooperation on human rights and intensive human rights education./.
