Deputy FM highlights education’s role in ensuring human rights

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Đỗ Hùng Việt (middle) speaks at the human rights session on Friday. — VNA/VNS Photo

GENEVA — Education is an effective tool that helps citizens ensure their rights as well as improve respect and understanding in society, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Đỗ Hùng Việt said on September 27.

Việt made the statement while delivering his opening remarks at an international seminar on integrating human rights education into education system, co-sponsored by Việt Nam, the Philippines, Australia and Italy, as he is attending the 57th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)’s meeting to adopt Việt Nam’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) cycle IV report.

Highlighting Việt Nam’s efforts in this area, Việt said promoting education rights and human rights education is among Việt Nam’s priorities during its membership of the UNHRC in the 2023-2025 tenure.

Việt Nam hopes for further co-sponsorship of the seminar, creating a forum for nations to share their experiences and contribute to the preparation for the implementation of the fifth phase of the World Programme for Human Rights Education (WPHRE) for the 2025-2029 period, he stated.

The Vietnamese diplomat held that although countries and international organisations have obtained various achievements in promoting human rights education, with the integration of it into school system as the core, and made efforts in promoting international cooperation in the area, it is necessary to enhance experience and knowledge sharing since not many countries have provided information for the programme yet.

Lê Xuân Tùng, from the Institute for Human Rights under the Hồ Chí Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA), shared Việt Nam’s implementation of its project on engaging human rights education in formal education with several standout results, including organising training courses for teachers and lecturers, compiling and publishing documents related to the field, incorporating human rights education into the education system, and establishing a partnership between the HCMA and the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Representatives from other countries and regions shared their stories, underscoring the important role of schools, families, society and competent parties in educating human rights for children.

Elena Ippoliti, of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Research Division, said a comprehensive approach to human rights education involves the combination of policy building, ways to carry out the policies, process and teaching and learning tools, capacity building for teachers and education staff, and a conducive learning environment.