The 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council opened on February 24 in Geneva, Switzerland - VNA reported. The high-level session was attended by heads of state, senior officials of United Nations member states, along with the President of the General Assembly, the Secretary General and High Representative of the United Nations for Human Rights, leaders of intergovernmental international organizations and non-governmental organizations.
At this session, the Vietnamese delegation led by Ambassador Mai Phan Dung - Head of the Vietnamese Delegation in Geneva - attended and contributed to the discussion process on important topics such as climate change, children's rights, rights of people with disabilities... as well as other issues of common concern to the international community.
In his opening speech, UN Secretary-General Philemon Yang and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted serious challenges to human rights globally - including war, inequality, climate change and uncontrolled technology; called for an end to conflicts in Ukraine, Palestine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar and Haiti, and promoted peaceful solutions based on international law and the United Nations Charter; emphasized the role of human rights in sustainable development, especially gender equality, education and global financial reform to support poor countries.
Secretary General Guterres called for the implementation of the Treaty for the Future to enhance peace, development, rule of law, climate action and technology governance, to protect human rights and build a more fair world.
Also at the event, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated that the global human rights system is under unprecedented pressure due to conflict, inequality, climate crisis and technology abuse; calling for responsibility to explain and respect international law in conflicts in Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Haiti.
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights Volker Türk warned of rising inequality, climate change and digital technology eroding human rights, and that artificial intelligence could be abused for monitoring and manipulating information, while social media platforms cause social division; emphasize the role of human rights in governance, the economy and society; and urge investment in human rights protection mechanisms. At the same time, it called on leaders to act based on truth, law and compassion to protect humanity and build a more just future.
According to the agenda, Mr. Volker Türk will continue to present reports on notable human rights situations in different regions of the world such as Myanmar, Ukraine, Sudan, Haiti, Democratic Republic of Congo, etc.
It is expected that the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council will continue to be held in person from 24-24.4, including 4 dialogue sessions with the United Nations Commission on Human Rights; 7 thematic discussion sessions on topics and 25 dialogue sessions with Special Procedures; reviewing and discussing 80 thematic reports; approving the UPR Reports of 14 countries.
