Director of the Institute for Human Rights Studies under the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Associate Professor, Dr. Tuong Duy Kien confirmed: "In the field of protection and struggle in the field of human rights, civil rights in Vietnam today, the role of the media is indispensable".

The role of the media

The media plays the role of an essential means of communication in social life, the mouthpiece of the Party's agencies, the State, political and social organizations, the forum of the people. The function of information provision and orientation is the most important of the press and communication. Therefore, Associate Professor, Dr. Tuong Duy Kien affirmed that, in protecting and fighting in the field of human rights, civil rights, the role of the media and the press is indispensable.

Reality shows that, in addition to the role of the Party and State in policy-making to protect and ensure human rights and citizenship, it is necessary to pay attention to the role of the media and the press in conveying views, the policies of the Party and the State in order to bring policies and laws to life.

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At the same time, the media and the press also detect and criticize violations of human rights and citizen's rights, thereby fighting to protect the legitimate rights and interests of citizens and the interests of the State; participating in the struggle on the front of ideology and theory in order to protect the views and lines of the Party, and the State's policies in the field of human rights and citizenship.

In the reality of social life, there are still violations of human rights, civil rights such as infringement of private life, holding personal information, discrimination, or delay in solving complaints of the people…. Therefore, in order to prevent violations, the media should focus on propagating human rights, the achievements of the State of Vietnam in promoting human rights, honoring brave individuals and organizations in fighting against violation of human rights; at the same time reporting about the handling of the abuse of human rights, democratic freedoms to disturb the order, thereby contributing to raising awareness of human rights.

"Human rights communication and education should be conducted regularly, continuously, proactively and comprehensively, convincingly through practical stories", Associate Professor, Dr. Tuong Duy Kien emphasized.

Sharing information and knowledge about human rights

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An elaborate, ministerial-level study entitled "Strengthening the role of media institutions in the protection of human rights and citizenship in Vietnam” shows that, only when officials, State employees, officials and the people understand the Party's policies and the State's laws on human rights, they will know how to selectively filter information on social networks.

But to achieve that, the media and each journalist needs to innovate the way of receiving, collecting and processing information on human rights. They need to improve in-depth knowledge of human rights issues, legal knowledge, to be able to give accurate information.

Therefore, Ministry of Information and Communications has continuously organized training conferences on human rights information and communication for media staff and reporters of news agencies in the provinces and cities nationwide, with specific topics.

This year, the training conference was held in Dak Lak, with 5 topics, to update, evaluate, and provide new information on human rights assurance in Vietnam; to consolidate knowledge about human rights and consistent policies of the Party and State in ensuring the rights of ethnic minorities for attendants.

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Through this training session, attendees were provided with information about the results of Vietnam's foreign relations on human rights and forecast for 2021; lessons and methods to promote human rights propaganda in the coming time. The participants also discussed and shared experiences in the actual working process on human rights; the implementation of ethnic - religious policies at localities; results of communication and propaganda on human rights in Dak Lak province.

Mr. Nguyen Van Ky, Deputy Director of the Standing Office of the Government's Human Rights Steering Committee, affirmed that the press plays a very important role in helping officials, people in the country, the Vietnamese community abroad and international friends clearly understand the achievements in the fight and protection of human rights, to recognize and understand the Party's views and policies on human rights, as well as efforts of the Government and relevant agencies, and local governments in ensuring human rights.

“The Organizing Committee hopes that the press to continue to have publications on human rights, especially in the field of freedom of belief, religion, ethnicity and at the same time, to continue propagate and raise awareness of people, especially ethnic minorities about prevention and combat of human trafficking", Mr. Nguyen Van Ky said.

Hong Huong