37th human rights council

The Hanoitimes - The UN Human Rights Committee notes Vietnam’s efforts to comply with its Covenant obligations, but incompatibility still remains between its legal framework and the Covenant. Vietnam has announced its postulation to the UN Human Rights Council as ASEAN candidate for the 2023-25 term. Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh at the UN Human Rights Council's session on February 22. Photo: Baoquocte Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Pham Binh Minh told an online high-level meeting of the Geneva-based Rights Council’s 46th Regular Session held this week. He claimed that the state fully protects “human rights and fundamental freedoms.” Human rights and freedoms can be protected and promoted only when a country defends itself against the Covid-19 pandemic, Minh said. He argued that protecting people in the pandemic is the best way to ensure that each and every member of the society can fully enjoy their human rights. Minh stressed that the country continues protecting and promoting all human rights and fundamental freedoms of the people, even in this most difficult of times. The application will place Vietnam in competition with candidates from other countries in the UN’s Asia-Pacific representational grouping. The UN Human Rights Committee in March 2019 issued its “concluding observations”, making recommendations to Vietnam on how it can strengthen its compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The concluding observations were made after Vietnam submitted its third report to the UN Human Rights Committee, the body of independent experts that monitors the implementation of the treaty. The Committee examined the report and engaged in a constructive dialogue with Vietnam in Geneva, Switzerland. The Human Rights Committee has requested Vietnam to report within two years on the steps it has taken to implement the recommendations. …

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Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized this at a national conference regarding the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 term which was held in Hanoi on January 21. The election is of particular importance, with the country currently sparing no effort to welcome the 13th National Party Congress. Indeed, this marks a major political event which is of strategic significance for the cause of continuing the comprehensive and synchronous reform, whilst boosting national development in a faster and more sustainable manner moving forward, he stated. “This is an opportunity to exercise the people's mastership through the selection and election of typical, truly virtuous, talented, and worthy representatives who represent the people in the NA and the People's Council at all levels. Fully aware of the importance as well as the great significance of this election, the Party Central Committee, the NA, the Government, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front have identified this as a key political task of the entire Party, people, and army in 2021,” said Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. He therefore asked all Party committees, organisations, and agencies to assign relevant tasks to ensure that the election will achieve the best results and will be part of a truly festive holiday for all citizens. In her closing speech, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan expressed her confidence that the conference has  provided guiding documents regarding the election to relevant delegates, agencies, and organisations. The outcomes of the conference are likely to contribute to promoting the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of citizens as part of the process of building a clean, strong, effective, and efficient state apparatus. In addition, it will help all sectors and localities to competently organise election activities towards developing, consolidating, and fine-tuning a …

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Drivers vie for position during the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit in the Emirati city of Abu Dhabi on December 13, 2020.(HAMAD I MOHAMMED / POOL / AFP) -- 2020 -- Effect of Covid-19 -- Despite widespread lockdowns following the global impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Formula One managed to deliver a competitive and dramatic season – 17 races packed into 23 weeks. The original season was mostly cancelled and races re-arranged with the cancellation of many outside Europe or the Middle East, including the customary season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March. Teams, paddock staff and media had travelled to Melbourne for that race before it was cancelled at short notice on the eve of opening practice, a decision and situation that reflected the health crisis that lay ahead. A new calendar was put together by F1 with races held in blocks of two or three together and the entire paddock staying in tightly-controlled 'bubbles' to avoid risks of spreading the virus. Some circuits – like those at Spielberg and Silverstone – held back-to-back races while drivers, teams and other staff were subjected to Covid-19 tests before, during and after every event. By the final race, a total of 78 positive tests had been returned, including three drivers -- world champion Lewis Hamilton, Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll. This signalled a ratio of around one positive per 1000 tests, a triumph for the sport’s rigorous protocols. Seven just heaven for Hamilton -- Lewis Hamilton found the need to "live like a monk" suited to his development as a driver and an activist as he stayed in a luxury camper van for weeks at a time. The defending champion revelled in the performance of the Mercedes W11 car and a chance to concentrate on the issues that mattered and interested him most including human rights and racism. He bounced back after team-mate Valtteri Bottas won the opening race in Austria and went on to win 11 of the 16 races he …

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