Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited students and teachers of Hy Vong School - a boarding school for unfortunate children who lost their parents due to the COVID-19 pandemic_Photo: VNA

Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on human rights

Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on human rights were formed and deeply influenced by: 1- Humanism in the cultural and historical traditions of the Vietnamese people , where the values ​​of humanity, love, justice and equality are respected. In particular, the thoughts on freedom and independence have been clearly expressed through the history of the Vietnamese people's struggle against oppression and invasion. In addition, through the process of leading the struggle for national independence, President Ho Chi Minh realized that human rights are not only an individual issue, but are also closely linked to the freedom, independence and territorial integrity of a nation. He deeply realized that only when a nation gains independence, can its people truly have basic rights; 2- Philosophy and ideology of Marxism-Leninism: President Ho Chi Minh inherited and creatively developed the ideology of Marxism-Leninism on human liberation and a society without oppression and exploitation; 3- Progressive ideological values ​​of humanity : President Ho Chi Minh absorbed universal values ​​of human rights from major revolutions in the world, especially from the Declaration of Independence of the United States, the Declaration of Human Rights and the Rights of the Citizen of France, other progressive ideas of humanity and he creatively applied these universal values ​​to the practice of the Vietnamese revolution; 4- Life experience and practical activities: During his travels in many countries, President Ho Chi Minh witnessed the injustice and loss of freedom of many peoples, especially the Vietnamese people. This practical experience reinforced his thoughts on the necessity of liberating the working people and oppressed peoples in the world from oppression and injustice, fighting for equality and social justice, and protecting human rights. Therefore, Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on human rights are deeply humane, suitable for the circumstances and needs of the Vietnamese people in the process of fighting for independence and building the country, having contemporary and timeless values.

Since its founding, our Party has always affirmed that Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought are the “compass” for all actions, which must be firmly grasped and creatively applied in practice in order to “contribute to the development of Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh Thought, constantly enriching intelligence, improving political mettle, moral qualities and organizational capacity to be able to solve problems posed by revolutionary practice” ⁽¹⁾ . In particular, Ho Chi Minh Thought on human rights is a comprehensive and profound system of viewpoints on human liberation, ensuring and protecting human rights, on the people’s right to mastery, improving the material and spiritual life of the people..., is the result of the creative application and development of Marxism-Leninism in the specific conditions of our country, inheriting and developing the fine traditional values ​​of the nation, absorbing the quintessence of human culture. It can be said, President Ho Chi Minh creatively applied and developed the principles of the right to independence, freedom, and happiness on the basis of combining the fine traditions of the Vietnamese people with the quintessence of human culture, such as the ideology of leader VI Lenin on the right to national self-determination under the model of socialism in the Soviet era; the values ​​of freedom, equality, and fraternity of the French bourgeois revolution (1789); the "Three Principles of the People" doctrine (national independence, civil rights, and people's livelihood and happiness) of the Chinese patriot Sun Yat-sen; the universal value of human rights from the perspective of law and international practice, etc., creatively applied in accordance with the conditions and circumstances of Vietnam. In particular, the core content of Ho Chi Minh's ideology on human rights is expressed in the following basic aspects:

Firstly , socialism is the best regime to ensure human rights for everyone in Vietnam, that "if we advance to socialism, our people will become more prosperous every day, and our Fatherland will become more prosperous every day" ⁽²⁾ . The characteristics of socialism in our country are of a realistic social nature by the people, for the people; promoting the values ​​of freedom, prosperity, and happiness; harmoniously combining personal and collective interests with social interests; satisfactorily resolving the issue of contribution and enjoyment; having the highest level of humanistic ethics, expressing the aspirations of humanity in general, and the Vietnamese nation and people in particular. President Ho Chi Minh pointed out that socialism is the place that will " bring the masses to a worthy, glorious and increasingly prosperous life, making all workers have a free, happy and powerful Fatherland, heading towards bright horizons " ⁽³⁾ , "only socialism and communism can liberate oppressed peoples and workers around the world from slavery" ⁽⁴⁾ , because in the communist regime "everyone is well-off, happy, free; everyone is wise and moral" ⁽⁵⁾ . In that spirit, he devoted much effort to comprehensively and fully preparing for the birth of a new, beautiful, progressive and civilized society, where our people are truly completely liberated and have the conditions to satisfy their material and spiritual needs. Because according to him: “We have won freedom and independence but if people still starve and freeze to death, then freedom and independence are meaningless. People only know the value of freedom and independence when they have enough to eat and wear” ⁽⁶⁾ and “if the country is independent but the people do not enjoy happiness and freedom, then independence is meaningless” ⁽⁷⁾ .

Second , the core nature of human rights is always associated with “independence - freedom - happiness”, associated with national and class rights, because to gain human rights “is the result of the long struggle through the ages of the working people and oppressed peoples in the world and is also the result of the struggle of mankind to master nature; thereby, human rights become the common value of humanity” ⁽⁸⁾ . Historical practice shows that when a country loses its sovereignty, human rights are seriously trampled, specifically during the period of French colonial rule, President Ho Chi Minh pointed out: “Never in any era, in any country, have people violated all human rights so cruelly and brazenly” ⁽⁹⁾ ; the prerequisite for human rights to be guaranteed is that the nation must have freedom, independence, and national sovereignty must be maintained. Indeed, it was not until the August Revolution (1945) succeeded, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) was born, that our people were freed from slavery, and enjoyed the value of independence and freedom; from here, civil rights were first stipulated in the Constitution and laws. The country developed towards the goal of “a rich people, a strong country, democracy, fairness, and civilization” - the highest and most concrete expression of human rights, of the protection of national sovereignty and people.

Third , “democracy” is the fundamental element in establishing and protecting human rights, expressed in the right to be the owner associated with the right to be the master, because “OUR COUNTRY IS A DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY. All benefits are for the people . All powers belong to the people… The government from the commune to the central government is elected by the people ” ⁽¹⁰⁾ . Thus, the people are the true subjects of the regime, holding power, electing representatives to run that government on their behalf. and if “the Government harms the people, the people have the right to oust the Government” ⁽¹¹⁾ . It can be said that “democracy” is the foundation for building a legal system, ensuring human rights, civil rights, linked to community interests and national interests.

Fourth , human rights must be guaranteed in all social classes and strata, from children, teenagers, young people, women, the elderly, workers, farmers, intellectuals, ethnic minorities, etc. in the spirit of "Our country is a unified country of many ethnic groups. All ethnic groups living in Vietnam are equal in rights and obligations" ⁽¹²⁾ . In addition, human rights are demonstrated in all fields, such as politics, economics, civil affairs, culture, society, everyone is equal, men and women have equal rights. President Ho Chi Minh affirmed that "we make revolution to fight for equal rights, men and women have equal rights" ⁽¹³⁾ . This is demonstrated in the fact that all citizens are allowed to participate in the government, have the right to vote; freedom of speech, publication, organization and assembly; freedom of belief and residence, travel within the country and abroad; At the same time, disadvantaged groups in society are always supported and protected according to the principle of fair distribution: "Work a lot, get a lot, work less, get less, don't work, get nothing. The elderly or disabled will be helped and cared for by the State" ⁽¹⁴⁾ .

Fifth , President Ho Chi Minh requested to focus on fulfilling responsibilities in the position of "public servant" and "servant" to serve the maximum to ensure the rights of the people. On the other hand, he further affirmed the view that rights are inseparable from personal obligations and responsibilities, that "The democratic rights and freedoms of each individual are inseparable from the obligations and responsibilities of citizens" ⁽¹⁵⁾ . The White Paper "Achievements in protecting and developing human rights in Vietnam" also emphasized: "The rights and freedoms of each individual can only be guaranteed and promoted on the basis of respecting the rights and common interests of the nation and the community; rights must go hand in hand with obligations to society" ⁽¹⁶⁾ . In addition, according to him, it is necessary to determine that the rights of the Vietnamese people are guaranteed on the basis of respecting the rights of other nations.

Practical application of Ho Chi Minh's thought on human rights in nearly 40 years of implementing the renovation process In Vietnam

Achievements

In the pre-renovation period, due to various reasons, some provisions in the Vietnamese Constitution and laws on human rights were not yet fully effective. Since 1986, Vietnam's achievements in protecting and ensuring human rights have been increasingly recognized and appreciated by the world... In addition, Vietnam has been and is continuing to build a state of the people, by the people and for the people with a consistent policy of respecting and ensuring human rights integrated into all strategies and development programs of the country, contributing to helping people have a peaceful, prosperous, free and happy life.

Along with that, Vietnam has participated in most of the most important and basic international treaties on human rights, such as the Convention on Civil and Political Rights; the Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; is an active member in regional and international forums and conferences in the field of human rights, etc.; thereby, demonstrating our country's increasingly high international position and prestige, rejecting the denial, distortion, and sabotage arguments from hostile forces about the achievements in protecting and ensuring human rights in Vietnam. On the other hand, the Vietnamese legal system on human rights in the economic, political, civil, social, and cultural fields institutionalizes   timely policies of the Party and State in the spirit of "Taking care of happiness and comprehensive development of people, protecting and ensuring human rights and legitimate and legal interests of people, respecting and implementing international treaties on human rights that our country has signed" ( ¹⁷⁾ .

Thus, based on the inheritance and promotion of the results of the work of protecting and implementing civil rights and human rights through the revolutionary stages, our Party has creatively applied Ho Chi Minh's thought on human rights, aiming at the goal of ensuring the rights of all social classes, from children, teenagers, to youth, women, workers, farmers, soldiers, intellectuals, ethnic minorities, religious people, people with disabilities, etc. Along with that, the values ​​of independence - freedom - happiness for each person and each nation are protected; properly and appropriately resolving the two-way relationship between respecting, protecting, implementing and promoting the rights of equality, mutual assistance, and solidarity of all people and of large and small communities (gender, ethnicity, religion, etc.) towards the task of "maximizing the human factor; people are the center, the subject, the main resource and the goal of development" ⁽¹⁸⁾ .

Some limitations

Firstly, the process of perfecting and organizing the implementation of the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws on the protection of human rights still has some limitations: "(i) Some major policies and orientations of the Party have not been institutionalized promptly and fully, or have been institutionalized but their feasibility is not high; (ii) the legal system still has contradictory and overlapping provisions, which are not suitable for economic and social development, and are slow to be supplemented, amended, and replaced. (iii) Mechanisms, policies, and laws have not created a truly favorable environment to promote innovation and attract resources from domestic and foreign investors as well as from the people" ⁽¹⁹⁾ . Some officials, civil servants, and people have inadequate awareness of human rights; that rights always go hand in hand with obligations; the institutions on citizens' obligations are not yet complete; has not ensured a good balance between economic development and the protection of human rights, especially environmental rights, land use rights, and the rights of vulnerable groups; lacks an independent and effective monitoring mechanism for the implementation of the Party's guidelines and policies, and the State's policies and laws on the protection of human rights; people do not have many opportunities to participate in the process of formulating and implementing policies related to human rights.

Second , the challenge comes from inadequate awareness and ineffective implementation. human rights-based approach in planning and implementing socio-economic development plans and programs. The authority to delegate implementation has not strictly followed accountability, public ethics, moral degradation, lifestyle, bureaucracy, corruption, waste, and negativity leading to the restriction of people's human rights.

Third, there is a lack of coordination mechanism between central and local ministries and branches in harmoniously and reasonably resolving a number of human rights issues.

Fourth, the use of mainstream media to inform and propagate foreign affairs through various channels, to gain support from the international community and overseas Vietnamese, in identifying and refuting bad and toxic information, false and distorted arguments of reactionary and hostile forces about achievements in protecting and ensuring human rights in Vietnam has not been timely and effective. Sometimes, it has not been proactive and positive in approaching and resolving to limit the plots and tricks of "politicizing" human rights issues by hostile forces at home and abroad, as well as Western-style "human rights diplomacy".

The new context requires creative application of Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on human rights.

The new context of Vietnam today can be viewed from many aspects, from politics, economics, society, international relations. This is the period when Vietnam is facing many great opportunities and challenges, when continuing the process of innovation and deep international integration, entering a new era, the era of national development: “… that is the era of development,… All people have a prosperous and happy life, are supported to develop and enrich; contribute more and more to the peace, stability, development of the world, the happiness of humanity and global civilization. The destination of the era of development is a rich, strong country, a socialist society, standing shoulder to shoulder with the great powers of the five continents” ⁽²⁰⁾ .

First , economic transformation and international integration : Vietnam has undergone nearly 40 years of innovation, from a centrally planned economy to a socialist-oriented market economy, and has become an important link in the global supply chain. Economic growth has been stable for many years, attracting strong foreign investment, and improving people's lives. The country's position has been increasingly enhanced in the international arena, especially in regional economic and trade issues. However, regional and global competition is increasing, posing challenges in terms of employment for the workforce that has not been trained according to international standards.

Second, Vietnam's politics are stable, but it faces new requirements : Political stability is an important factor in ensuring the continuous development of the economy. Under the leadership of the Party, Vietnam maintains the principles of independence and autonomy in political decision-making and national development. However, Vietnam also faces great challenges in the need to perfect mechanisms to innovate management, administrative reform, fight corruption, waste, and negativity, and effectively implement policies and laws on human rights, especially the pressure from protecting national sovereignty in the context of increasingly fierce geopolitical competition.

Third, culture is diverse and rich, but there are still many challenges: Vietnam has 54 ethnic groups and many different religions, creating cultural richness, the right to preserve, access and enjoy culture, and the right to freedom of belief and religion. However, the country still faces a number of social problems, such as the gap between rich and poor, inequality in access to opportunities, and differentiation between regions.

Fourth, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and digital transformation open up new development opportunities for the Vietnamese economy, from manufacturing to services. However, the quality of human resources for the Fourth Industrial Revolution may be a challenge and a barrier to accessing jobs; information security, privacy and personal data protection are also challenges as these become increasingly important in the context of integration.

Fifth, international relations and global status: Strategic and comprehensive partnerships with many major countries, such as the US, Japan, China, India, etc. and ASEAN countries help Vietnam develop its economy and ensure national security; participate extensively in free trade agreements (FTAs) and actively promote international cooperation on global issues, such as climate change, sustainable development, and disease prevention and control. However, this also poses challenges in protecting national sovereignty and security, and at the same time requires a flexible and skillful approach to foreign affairs and complex international relations.

Sixth, environmental issues and sustainable development: Vietnam can take advantage of opportunities from global initiatives on sustainable development and green growth as the international community is focusing on green development, renewable energy use and environmental protection. However, Vietnam also faces major challenges in environmental protection and sustainable development. Environmental pollution, climate change and natural disasters are issues that are greatly affecting economic development and people's quality of life; challenges in ensuring human rights in emergency situations due to natural disasters from climate change: the right to safety of life, health, the right to an adequate standard of living, the right to live in a clean environment.

Our Party and State have issued many policies and guidelines to ensure that all people have a prosperous and happy life. Source: nhiepanhdoisong.vn

Tasks and solutions for creatively applying Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on human rights in the new context

Firstly, creatively applying Ho Chi Minh's thought on human rights to best ensure human rights for all Vietnamese people requires continuing to implement the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws on protecting human rights ⁽²¹⁾ ; identifying human rights as the goal and driving force of the cause of socialist-oriented innovation in the common spirit of "protecting justice, protecting human rights, civil rights, protecting the socialist regime, protecting the interests of the State, and the legitimate and legal rights and interests of organizations and individuals" ⁽²²⁾ . This task not only requires proper leadership and management from the Party and the State, but also requires active participation from all people.

Human rights need to be ensured through the implementation of a number of specific tasks: 1- Building a socialist rule-of-law state on the basis of creatively applying President Ho Chi Minh's ideology. State agencies must comply with the law, while also protecting the legitimate rights and interests of the people. This requires a transparent, fair and effective legal system; 2- Provinces, cities, departments, ministries and branches proactively innovate leadership and management work on the basis of applying and attaching importance to research, propaganda and education on human rights issues associated with democracy; effectively implementing information - press, judiciary, religion and ethnic minority work; 3- Close, synchronous and regular coordination between ministries, departments, branches and localities in harmoniously and reasonably resolving human rights issues . Only then can Ho Chi Minh's ideology on socialism be truly applied creatively and effectively, bringing prosperity and happiness to everyone, contributing to building a prosperous, fair and happy Vietnam.

Second, creatively applying Ho Chi Minh's thought on human rights in the current situation requires the synchronous implementation of a number of tasks and solutions as follows: 1- Protecting and consolidating independence. National independence is the fundamental foundation for ensuring human rights. Therefore, the top task is to protect and consolidate the independence of the Fatherland against all external challenges. Strengthening national defense and security; strengthening national unity and enhancing patriotism. At the same time, it is necessary to build an independent and self-reliant economy to create a solid foundation for ensuring human rights; 2- Closely combining human rights with national rights and class rights. Ensuring human rights is inseparable from national rights and class nature. Building a strong Party and political system. At the same time, continuing to promote socialist democracy, creating conditions for people to participate in state and social management; 3- Uphold universal values ​​of human rights on the basis of protecting national sovereignty in conjunction with socio-economic development conditions. Continue to proactively and actively integrate into the international community, improve the effectiveness of dialogue on human rights; improve the quality and effectiveness of mainstream media in identifying and refuting bad and toxic information, false and distorted arguments of reactionary and hostile forces about achievements in protecting and ensuring human rights in Vietnam; organize well foreign information and propaganda work through various channels, seek support from the international community and overseas Vietnamese. In particular, in domestic and foreign relations, it is necessary to proactively and actively approach and resolve human rights issues to prevent the plots and tricks of "politicization" by reactionary and hostile forces to defame and distort achievements in protecting human rights of Vietnam, as well as refute the imposition of a Western-style "human rights diplomacy policy".

Third , creatively applying Ho Chi Minh's thought on "democracy", people being the masters associated with the people's right to mastery requires: 1 - Continuing to build a strong socialist state, where the law is a tool to protect the people's ownership. The masses in social criticism, supervision and contribution to the planning and implementation of policies of the State; 3- Ensuring transparency and responsibility to explain in the State management; 4- Economic development must go hand in hand with the guarantee of the right to master of workers and people, creating conditions for people to participate in socio-economic activities; 5- Creating conditions for the media to play an important role in promoting the people's ownership, ensuring information is truthfully, fair and timely to the people; contributing to building a fair, civilized society, where all people have opportunities and conditions for comprehensive development.

Fourthly, the creation of Ho Chi Minh's thought on human rights must be associated with all classes, social classes and in all fields of politics, economy, civil, social and cultural, the rights of the vulnerable, specific group: 1- Ensure human rights for all classes and social class The law must be implemented fairly, without any class or class, not to let anyone stay behind. Continue to improve institutions and laws on the rights and obligations of citizens to ensure that international commitments and in accordance with the conditions of Vietnam; 3, widely used and widely approached on human rights in planning and implementing socio -economic development plans and programs. , organizations, units and individuals strictly implement the explanation and morality; uphold the role of the subject to enjoy the right to be the people; 4- Economic development must go hand in hand with ensuring human rights for all classes of social classes. Implementing the economic and remote economic development program, promoting small and medium small and medium enterprises to ensure respect for the market rules and in accordance with international treaties to which Vietnam is a member, creating conditions for people in the area with difficult socio -economic conditions that can develop economic and enjoy basic social services.

Fifthly , the state agency focuses on fulfilling the responsibility in the position of "public servant", "exile", serving maximum guarantee of the people's rights: 1- Eliminate the role of the people: the State agency, officials, civil servants and officials must respect the people, dedicated to the people, closely contacted the people, listen to the people's opinion and the people's interests. Administration and improvement of service quality: In order to do well the role of "publicity", state agencies need to improve the working process, simplify administrative procedures, create the most favorable conditions for people; 3- resolute, persistent anti-corruption, wastefulness: corruption, waste, negative is a big obstacle in implementing the service role of the State agencies. The Party and the State should continue to be drastic, resolute, persistent to prevent and prevent corruption, waste and negative. Innovating the leadership and management methods: The Party and the State need to continue renovating the leadership and management methods to meet the requirements of the new situation: "I) Strictly implement the Party's leadership and ruling methods, absolutely do not let the excuse, replace or relax the Party's leadership. (II) focus on streamlining the apparatus, organization of the Party's agencies, the state -of -the -art nuclear leader (the general staff" (23 ⁾ ; maximize the collective and creative intelligence of cadres, party members and people in the cause of national construction and defense.

It is necessary to be aware of Ho Chi Minh's thought on human rights, ensuring the right to associate with obligations; focusing on gradually ensuring equality between the rights through democratic institutions and the socialist rule of law. In the renovation period. It is necessary to regularly propagate and educate human rights to raise people's awareness about the relationship between rights and obligations, between personal freedom and civic responsibility; 2- Building legal culture: Developing and consolidating a legal culture, in which all individuals are clearly aware of their rights and obligations in accordance with law; 3- Need to improve the mechanism to better protect the rights and legitimate interests of citizens, while ensuring that all individuals fulfill their obligations and responsibilities to society, clearly stipulating the obligations and responsibilities of each individual in different fields; 4- Encouraging and creating conditions for citizens to participate in political and social activities, thereby exercising the rights and obligations. and his citizen responsibility, and strictly handle violations; 6- Enhance the participation of social organizations in educating and supervising the implementation of citizens' rights and obligations, contributing to building a fair and civilized society.

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(1) Document of the 11th National Party Congress, National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2011, p.
(2) Ho Chi Minh: Toan, ibid , t.
(3) Ho Chi Minh: Full episode , T.
(4) Ho Chi Minh: Toan, ibid , t.
(5) Ho Chi Minh: Toan, ibid , t.
(6), (7) Ho Chi Minh: Complete episode,   ĐDD , T 4, p.
(8) Directive No. 44-CT/TW, dated July 20, 2010, of the Secretariat, "Regarding human rights in the new situation"
(9) Ho Chi Minh: Toan , ibid , t.
(10) Ho Chi Minh: Toan , ibid , t.
(11) Ho Chi Minh: Toan , ibid , t.
(12) Ho Chi Minh: Complete, SDD , t. 121 - 372
(13) Ho Chi Minh: Toan, ibid , t. 15, p.
(14) Ho Chi Minh: Toan, ibid , t.
(15) Directive No. 12-CT/TW, July 12, 1992,   of the Secretariat, "Regarding human rights"
(16) Ministry of Foreign Affairs: White Book: Achievements to protect and develop human rights in Vietnam, Hanoi, 2005, p.
(17) Document of the 12th National Congress , the National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2016, p.
(18) The 13th National Congress of Delegate , National Political Publishing House, Hanoi, 2021, T.
(19) To Lam: "Some basic awareness of the new era, the rise of the nation", the Communist Magazine, No. 1,050 (November-2024), p.
(20) To Lam: "Some basic awareness of the new era, the era of the nation", TLĐD , p. 3
(21) Directive No. 12-CT/TW, dated July 12, 1992, of the Secretariat, "Regarding human rights"; Directive No. 44-CT/TW, on July 20, 2010, of the Secretariat, "on human rights in the new situation"; Thi No. 41/CT-TTg, December 2, 2004, of the Prime Minister, "on strengthening the protection and struggle for human rights in the new situation", ...
(22) Document of the 13th National Congress, ibid , t.
(23) To Lam: "Some basic awareness of the new era, the era of the nation", TLĐD ;

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