Vietnam-Australia Human Rights Technical Cooperation Program (HRTC program )

Objective

The Vietnam-Australia Human Rights Technical CooperationProgram (HRTC) directly targets the promotion and protection of human rights in Vietnam.

HRTC program is directly targeting the promotion and protection of human rights in Vietnam.

AusAID's Contribution: Approximately A$500,000

Duration: 2006-2007 (first year)

Project Components

The Vietnam HRTC program will include a number of activities with Ministry of Foreign Affairs the Supreme People's Court the Ministry of Justice and the Vietnam Women's Union.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs sub-project
This sub-project will focus on raising awareness of human rights treaty obligations. The objective of these activities is to (i) assist officials to understand the content of specific international human rights treaties; (ii) recognise Vietnam's obligations under international human rights treaties; (iii) understand the general policy of the GoV in relation to human rights promotions and protections.
Supreme People's Court sub-project
This sub-project will focus on enhancing access to justice. The activities will support the efforts of the Supreme People's Court to increase understanding of the laws. The activities will also assist the development of court rules that protect the rights of people appearing in court and that are consistent with the new Civil Procedure Code and Criminal Procedure Code. These rules will be intended to make the courts as accessible as possible to the general population.
Ministry of Justice sub-project
This sub-project will focus on dissemination of legal information. The activities will consist of (i) an initial training course for officials from the northern provinces responsible for legal dissemination; (ii) a subsequent training course for officials from the southern provinces using the material prepared under the first workshop; (iii) the preparation of booklets for use down to commune level detailing legal rights and responsibilities. The objective of these activities is to improve understanding of and respect for the law.
Vietnam Women's Union sub-project
This sub-project will focus on raising awareness of women's rights. It include activities such as developing legal advocacy materials, preparing and distributing three bi-monthly newsletters/legal bulletins, conducting four 'talk-shows' dealing with legal questions, and establishing traveling legal consultation teams. The objective of these activities is to raise legal knowledge and awareness of community women and to raise legal knowledge and advocacy skills of local women's union staff within the target area.

Australian Managing Contractor (AMC):
Australia's Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC)

Australian Contact person:
Mr David Robinson
Deputy Director, International Programs
Australia's Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC)
Telephone 02-9284-9616; Facsimile 02-9284-9611
Email: davidrobinson@humanrights.gov.au

Vietnamese Counterparts
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Department of International Organisations
Telephone 84-4-1993308; Facsimile 84-4-1993115

AusAID Contact person

Mr Nguyen Quang Anh
Activity Manager, Governance Sector
No. 8 Dao Tan, Ba Dinh, Hanoi
Tel.: 84 4 8317754/ 55 ext 129
Fax: 84 4 8317706
Email: quanganh.nguyen@dfat.gov.au

2008