Ambassador Nguyen Trung Thanh, Vietnam's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN), rejected the inaccurate, biased and unverified information provided by the spokesperson of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) on May 13.

Ambassador Nguyen Trung Thanh.

Vietnam has respected and ensured people’s fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to freedom to gathering and the right to freedom of speech, in compliance with the country’s 2013 Constitution and international standards on human rights, he affirmed on May 15, when dealing with reporters’ queries relating to the note from the spokesperson of the Office of the UNHCR.

Thanh noted international conventions, especially those on civil and political rights have prescribed that personal rights and freedoms must be exercised in line with laws and without affecting security, public order, moral standards, public health and rights and interests of others.

Based on that spirit, necessary measures that are employed by Vietnam to safeguard traffic order, security and safety for people, particularly among the elderly, women and children, are complying with the country’s law and international standards, Thanh stressed.

Actions that provoke violence and disturb social order, affecting people’s lives need to be prevented within the framework of law and for the sake of the community, he noted.

Referring to the recent environmental incident in the central region, the Government, relevant localities and socio-political organisations have been working together to support affected residents.

Vietnam, with support from international experts and partners, is working as fast as possible to establish the causes of the incident and is providing regular updates on it on the mass media, Thanh stressed.

Vietnam welcomes international cooperation, including the UN in dealing with the situation in a scientific, unbiased and constructive spirit, he said.

VNA