With the vote of 192/193, Vietnam was officially elected a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the term 2020-2021.

In the context of the constantly changing world situation, terrorism, extremism, violence, conflict ... threatening the lives of tens of millions of people around the world, preventing war, preserving peace, and maintaining peace, stable and stable security environment is the cornerstone of human rights protection in the world. It is also Vietnam's top goal in its commitment to promoting human rights.

With the desire to truly become a "Partner for sustainable peace", Vietnam always proactively contributes to the international mission of peace protection, which is also to protect human rights through joining the United Nations peacekeeping activities, carrying out the noble mission of helping the countries devastated by conflict and war to consolidate peace, rebuild the country to create conditions to promote human rights there, first of all the right to live in peace and stability.

Officially contributing to the UN’s peacekeeping operations since 2014, after 5 years, Vietnam has deployed officers in two missions in South Sudan and Central African Republic. In particular, in 2018, Vietnam for the first time sent the No. 1 Field Hospital, level 2 to perform missions at the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan and recently, in late November, the No. 2 Field Hospital, level 2 left Vietnam for South Sudan, after the No.1 Field Hospital had completed its mission.

The term of non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 will open opportunities for Vietnam to proactively propose and promote its initiatives to directly and constructively contribute to the common effort of the international community for peace, security and development, the prerequisites for ensuring and promoting human rights wherever they are.

Therefore, Vietnam has set very specific priority goals: Contributing to prevent conflict, strengthen preventive diplomacy, resolve conflicts through peaceful measures, enhance multilateralism, strengthen sustainable development, combat climate change and promot human rights.

Speaking to the media on Vietnam's priorities in the month of holding the position of the UNSC Chairmanship, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Head of the Vietnam Permanent Mission at the United Nations shared three priorities Firstly, well performing an executive role so that the UN Security Council can well handle arising problems, firmly safeguarding international peace and security; Secondly, promoting the role of the President, raising awareness of the international community on the importance of the UN Charter in the maintenance of international peace and security, the importance of the rule of law, compliance with the UN Charter to protect international peace and security; Thirdly it is to promote cooperation between the UN and ASEAN. The role of ASEAN in the maintenance of peace and security in the region and the world has been strengthened.

Looking at those priorities, it is clear to see Vietnam's commitment with the other members of the United Nations to work together to solve very complex challenges, strengthen global partnership for a peaceful world, for the people and taking the people as the center. It is also the highest goal to ensure human rights.

This is not the first time that Vietnam has been elected to serve as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. In 2007, Vietnam was elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2008-2009 term. This was the first time Vietnam participated in the most important agency of the United Nations for international peace and security.

Vietnam's peacekeepers.

In the context that the UN Security Council has to handle a huge volume of work due to the appearance of many complex security issues, many new global security challenges and the negative impact of the global economic and financial crisis, Vietnam successfully took on this important responsibility, taking part in decisions related to conflict resolution, post-conflict reconstruction, anti-international terrorism, peacekeeping activities and promotion of the UN Security Council’s transparency.

Some outstanding contributions during this term were the UN Security Council’s approval of the 1889 resolution proposed by Vietnam on Women, peace and security, which focused on the needs of women and girls in the post-conflict situation and increasing women's participation in all stages of the peace process. Vietnam also launched an initiative to organize extensive consultations with UN members outside the UN Security Council on the council’s annual report before the UN General Assembly.

Vietnam is a member of most of the major international treaties on disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and is the 10th country to ratify the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

It can be said that Vietnam has been receiving the support of all members of the UN Security Council and the United Nations member countries. Vietnam is showing its position as "an active and responsible member of the international community" through increasingly practical contributions to global issues, which are also the contributions to promote and ensure human rights in Vietnam, in the region and the world.

Along with the achievements in ensuring human rights in Vietnam, which was recognized by the international community at the 41st Session of the United Nations Commission for Human Rights in mid-2019, Vietnam's "peace marks" continue to be highlighted at international multilateral forums.

Minh Van