A/HRC/12/11* Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 of 18 June 2007, held its fifth session from 4 to 15 May 2009. The review of Viet Nam was held at the 10th meeting on 8 May 2009. The delegation of Viet Nam was headed by H.E. Pham Binh Minh, First ViceMinister of Foreign Affairs. At its meeting held on 12 May 2009, the Working Group adopted the present report on Viet Nam. 2. On 8 September 2008, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Viet Nam: Burkina Faso, Canada and Japan. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to resolution 5/1, the following documents were issued for the review of Viet Nam: (a) A national report submitted in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/5/VNM/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/5/VNM/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/5/VNM/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Argentina, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Latvia, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was transmitted to Viet Nam through the troika. These questions are available on the extranet of the UPR. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. H.E. Pham Binh Minh, First Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, stated that Viet Nam attaches importance to the UPR national report, regarding it as a United Nations member’s obligation and an opportunity for comprehensive and participatory review of its human rights achievements and future measures. A special task force composed of members from more than 20 national legislative, judiciary and administrative departments was established. To make the report was as comprehensive, objective and authoritative as possible, consultations were held with dozen of NGOs and academic institutions. Viet Nam has also learnt from international experience and received cooperation from international partners in many ways. The UPR report and nearly 100 pages of annexes provide detailed information on the human rights implementation. 6. Viet Nam pursues a consistent policy of respecting and ensuring human rights as enshrined in its Constitution. This policy stems from the recognition that human rights are the universal values of mankind, including the right to national self-determination which is upheld in today’s core human rights conventions. 7. The policy is also rooted in Viet Nam’s thousands of years of history and culture. Fifty-four ethnic groups have been living together in peace on the Vietnamese soil without any ethnic conflict. The Vietnamese people love peace and humane values while staying open to diversity and outside values, including the major religions like Buddhism and Christianity that have come to thrive in Viet Nam since very early. The will of Viet Nam also represents the aspirations of the Vietnamese people throughout the colonial rule that GE.09-16382 3