Human Rights in Vietnam – Perspectives and politics of the Communist Party and State (Part 1)

Human rights in Vietnam - Perspectives and politics of the Communist Party and Vietnamese Government were clearly emphasized in the Declaration of Independence on 2nd September 1945.

The event on 2nd September 1945 marked the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (currently: Socialist Republic of Vietnam). The Declaration of Independence explicitly provided that:

All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Create with certain inalienable rights, among these are Life, Liberty and pursuit of Happiness.

While fighting for national independence, Ho Chi Minh emphasized that:

If the State independent but people do not have happiness and free do, that independence is meaningless.

Soon after the proclamation of independence, the government issued Decree no 40/SL dated 29^th March 1946 on Protection of personal Freedoms. In addition, at its first session, the National Assembly passed the Constitution of the democratic Republic of Vietnam, which include an entire chapter (i.e. Chapter 2) dedicated citizen’s rights and obligations. Furthermore, in 1957, the Government enacted the Law on Association, the Law on Ensuring Personal Rights to Physical Inviolability, and the Rights to Inviolability of Resident Places, Property and Mail.
The perspectives and policies of the Communist party and Vietnamese Government on human rights are reflected in documents of the Communist Party and statutes of the State. All of the Constitutions of Vietnam, including Constitution 1946, Constitution 1980, Constitution 1992, and the Constitution 2013 stipulated and gradually expanded the scope of Human rights. The citizens, whereas the Constitution 2013 provided 21 articles, 29 articles, 34 articles and 35 Articles respectively.

Committing to the protection of human rights, Vietnam retailed the International Convention on Human rights. On 24^th September 1982, Vietnam ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Additionally, Vietnam ratified the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the Convention Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the convention on the Rights of the Child, Convention on the Elimination of All Form of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and various Convention of the International Lab our Organization (ILO). The Constitution 1992 and various statues have stipulated principles and basic rights set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, the International Covenant in Civil and Political Rights 1966, and other international conventions that Vietnam ratified.