HCMC – Vietnam has been re-elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2026–2028 term with the highest number of votes among Asia-Pacific candidates.
At the UN General Assembly in New York on October 14, 190 eligible member states voted to elect 14 new members of the UNHRC for the 2026–2028 term. The elected countries include Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Egypt, South Africa, Mauritius, Angola, Estonia, Slovenia, Chile, Ecuador, Italy, and the UK.
Vietnam secured 180 votes, the highest within the Asia-Pacific group, and is the only country from the region serving in the 2023–2025 term to win re-election for the next term. The new mandate will begin on January 1, 2026.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the outcome reflects strong confidence and recognition from UN members for Vietnam’s commitment and efforts to promote and protect human rights, as well as its active contributions and initiatives during its current tenure on the council.
The re-election also underscores international trust in Vietnam’s open foreign policy, engagement in multilateral mechanisms, and growing reputation as an active, reliable partner committed to peace, cooperation, and sustainable development.
In its third term on the Human Rights Council, Vietnam will continue to prioritize eight key areas, including enhancing the council’s effectiveness, ensuring human rights in the context of climate change and digital transformation, promoting gender equality, protecting vulnerable groups, and advancing rights related to health, employment, human rights education, and education access.
Vietnam has made 12 voluntary commitments in various human rights areas as part of its candidacy. These include implementing recommendations accepted under the fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) cycle and from UN human rights treaty bodies of which Vietnam is a member.
These commitments align with Vietnam’s long-term national priorities, including building a rule-of-law state, advancing legal reforms, fostering international integration, promoting innovation, and supporting digital transformation—efforts aimed at achieving developed, high-income status by 2045.
