EU-Vietnam Sub-Committee on Good Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights

06.11.2020
Hanoi

On November 6, 2020, the first session of the Sub-Committee on Good Governance, Rule of Law and Human Rights within the framework of Viet Nam – EU Joint Committee, the institution established under the Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Framework Agreement between Viet Nam and the European Union (PCA), was organized in Hanoi.

The Subcommittee aims at elaborating cooperation on Rule of Law, good governance and exchange information on human rights cooperation.

Vice Minister of Justice Nguyen Khanh Ngoc and H.E. Giorgio Aliberti, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Viet Nam, delivered speeches at the opening session. Vice Minister Nguyen Khanh Ngoc expressed hope that contents of mutual interest and areas of further cooperation would be exchanged and discussed to facilitate the implementation of commitments within the PCA. The European Union Ambassador recalled that investing in good governance, rule of law, human rights, sustainable development and in the fight against climate change was an essential part of EU’s foreign policy.

The meeting was then co-chaired by Mr. Nguyen Huu Huyen, Director General of the International Cooperation Department and Ambassador Aliberti. Vietnamese participants included representatives from the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Labor - War Invalids and Social Affairs. On the EU side, there were representatives of EU Member-States.

Issues discussed at the meeting ranged from cooperation to promote gender equality, migration, including cooperation combating the human trafficking; cooperation in disaster prevention; implementation of Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations of the Human Rights Council, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights (ICCPR). Both sides also discussed Viet Nam's achievements in implementing the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT); updated information on legal and judicial reforms in Viet Nam, and on the implementation of the "EU Justice and Legal Empowerment Program in Viet Nam" (EU JULE) and ratification of ILO’s conventions and discussed future cooperation.

The results of the meeting will be reported at the second session of the EU-Viet Nam Joint Committee scheduled to be held in December.