Pledges of Human Rights Council Candidates vs. the Reality – 2022

ALGERIA

NO PLEDGE SUBMITTED

KYRGYZSTAN

The Human Rights Pledge of Kyrgyzstan

"The Kyrgyz Republic is committed to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Kyrgyz Republic supports the universality of human rights and their application on an equal, non-discriminatory and non-selective basis."
(Voluntary pledge for candidacy to Human Rights Council - Kyrgyzstan, A/77/319)

Some of what Kyrgyzstan neglected to mention in its pledge:

"Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: an arbitrary killing by police; a high-profile disappearance; use of torture by law enforcement and security services; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; arbitrary interference with privacy; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including violence and threats of violence against journalists and censorship; serious restrictions on internet freedom; interference with freedom of association including overly restrictive laws on the funding and operation of NGOs and civil society organizations; serious acts of government corruption; lack of investigation of and accountability for gender-based violence; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting members of minority groups and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex persons; and the existence of the worst forms of child labor."
(Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Kyrgyzstan 2021, U.S. Department of State)

MOROCCO

NO PLEDGE SUBMITTED

SUDAN

The Human Rights Pledge of Sudan

"The Sudan is a party to most human rights instruments. It is committed to fulfilling obligations stemming from international and regional conventions it has ratified, and to moving forward with accession to those which it has not yet joined. The Sudan supports a comprehensive human rights approach that takes into account social, economic and cultural rights as well as political and civil rights. It offers its national experience in dealing with its own challenges, which are the same that those facing a wide cross section of the world’s countries. They include issues surrounding sustainable development, environmental preservation, climate change, peace and conflict resolution."
(Voluntary pledge for candidacy to Human Rights Council - Sudan, A/77/348)

Some of what Sudan neglected to mention in its pledge:

"Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings; cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment by the government; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention; political prisoners or detainees; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; serious abuses in a conflict, including killings, abductions, and physical abuses or punishment; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including violence or threats of violence against journalists, censorship, and the existence of criminal libel and slander laws; serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedom of association, including overly restrictive laws on the organization, funding or operations of nongovernmental organizations and civil society organizations; serious government corruption; lack of investigation of and accountability for gender-based violence, including but not limited to domestic and intimate partner violence, sexual violence, child, early and forced marriage, female genital mutilation and other harmful practices; existence or use of laws targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex persons; and the worst forms of child labor."
(Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Sudan 2021, U.S. Department of State)

VENEZUELA

The Human Rights Pledge of Venezuela

"The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is a democratic and social State of law and justice. Its Political Constitution has been recognized as one of the most advanced constitutions in the world. The Venezuelan Constitution provides full guarantees of human rights. Through its participatory, proactive and dependable democracy, which promotes a broad-based and pluralistic exchange of ideas for its decision-making, the Bolivarian Government has been implementing policies for the full exercise of human rights. Thus, through its domestic laws and practical actions, the State is working to ensure that the fact that human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated is fully understood, respected and promoted."
(Voluntary pledge for candidacy to Human Rights Council - Venezuela, A/77/335)

Some of what Venezuela neglected to mention in its pledge:

"Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings by regime forces; forced disappearances by the regime; torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment by security forces; harsh and life-threatening prison conditions; arbitrary arrest or detention by security forces; political prisoners or detainees; serious problems with independence of the judiciary; unlawful interference with privacy; punishment of family members for offenses allegedly committed by an individual; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including violence or threats of violence against journalists, unjustified arrests or prosecutions of journalists, and censorship; serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, including overly restrictive laws on the organization, funding, or operation of nongovernmental organizations and civil society organizations; inability of citizens to change their government peacefully through free and fair elections; serious and unreasonable restrictions on political participation; serious government corruption; serious restrictions on or harassment of domestic and international human rights organizations; lack of investigation of and accountability for gender-based violence; significant barriers to accessing reproductive health; trafficking in persons; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting indigenous persons and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex persons; and the worst forms of child labor."
(Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Venezuela 2021, U.S. Department of State)

VIETNAM

The Human Rights Pledge of Vietnam

"5. Throughout their millenniums-long history of nation-building and defence, the Vietnamese people have fought hard and made untold sacrifices to defend their own inalienable human rights and fundamental freedoms. Viet Nam’s development, particularly since the Doi Moi reforms, has always been people-oriented and people-driven. Our people-centric vision, policies and actions all aim at the goal of a “prosperous people, strong nation and equal, democratic and civilized society” where the legitimate needs of the people would be better met."
(Voluntary pledge for candidacy to Human Rights Council - Vietnam, A/77/276)

Some of what Vietnam neglected to mention in its pledge:

"Significant human rights issues included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings by the government; torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment by government agents; arbitrary arrest and detention; political prisoners; politically motivated reprisals against individuals in another country; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; arbitrary or unlawful interference with privacy; serious restrictions on free expression and media, including arbitrary arrest and prosecution of government critics, censorship, and criminal libel laws; serious restrictions on internet freedom; substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association; restrictions on freedom of movement, including exit bans on activists; inability of citizens to change their government peacefully through free and fair elections; serious restrictions on political participation; serious government corruption; trafficking in persons; significant restrictions on workers’ freedom of association; and use of compulsory child labor."
(Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Vietnam 2021, U.S. Department of State)