Ambassador Nguyen Trung Thanh, head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the UN, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva, made the remarks at a discussion marking five years since the adoption of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training in Geneva on September 14. The discussion took place within the framework of the 33rd session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

He stressed that the declaration contributed to protecting human rights globally.

Thanh also introduced Vietnam’s plan to organise an international seminar on educating women and girls about human trafficking on the fringe of the 33 rd session on September 27.

The initiative is sponsored by several countries and international organisations, including the Philippines, Australia and the International Organisation for Migration.

The 33rd session, which runs from September 13-30, will feature discussions on the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education and Training, gender perspective, youth and human rights, and violence against women and girls.

Apart from a dialogue on the UN’s mechanisms and special procedures on human rights, the session will mull the Universal Periodic Reviews of 14 countries.

UNHRC operations, safety of journalists, access to clean water, environmental hygiene, along with situations in Georgia, Syria, Burundi and Sudan will be hot topics at the event.

This is the last session Vietnam serves as member of the UNHRC for 2014-2016. During the tenure the country has raised several initiatives, the most noteworthy being a resolution on climate change and children’s rights approved in June 2016.

Ambassador Thanh was also elected by the ASEAN Committee in Geneva as the ASEAN Coordinator at the UNHRC for 2014-2016.