Australia-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue

Australia and Vietnam are holding their fourth round of annual bilateral human rights talks in Canberra today.

The dialogue is an example of the Australian Government's practical and constructive approach to addressing human rights issues.

The dialogue will cover a range of issues such criminal justice matters, including the death penalty and prison management, freedom of religion and expression, women's rights and reform of the UN human rights machinery.

Vietnam and Australia are expected to introduce a program of technical cooperation on human rights in 2006.

The program will provide opportunities to foster practical cooperation between agencies such as the Vietnam Women's Union and the Ministry of Justice and Australian institutions with human rights responsibilities.

Areas of cooperation include support for raising awareness for human rights Treaty obligations, dissemination of legal information, enhancement of access to justice, women's rights and postgraduate study in Australia in human rights related subjects.

Tomorrow, the Vietnamese delegation will visit the Human Right and Equal Opportunity Commission in Sydney to examine the ways independent human rights institutions promote and protect human rights, and the Brush Farm Academy to discuss the training of prison personnel.

The Australian delegation is lead by Lydia Morton, First Assistant Secretary of DFAT's International Organisations and Legal Division, and will include Senator Marise Payne, Chair of Parliament's Human Rights Sub-Committee, Ms Pru Goward, Sex Discrimination Commissioner, and officials from relevant Australian Government departments.

We welcome Vietnam's willingness to engage on human rights issues with Australia, demonstrating the high level of maturity in our bilateral relationship.

Media inquiries : Ministerial 02 6277 7500, DFAT Media Liaison 02 6261 1555