Vietnamese Ambassador Le Hoai Trung signed the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment  (UNCAT) on Friday, making the country the latest to join the convention.  On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, the Ambassador signed the UNCAT at the United Nations headquarters on November 7. This means Vietnam became the 81st signatory to the Convention. As a signatory to the UNCAT, Vietnam once again reaffirms its unwavering commitment to prevent all acts of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of persons and to better protect and promote fundamental human rights, the Ambassador said after the signing.

Joining the Convention underlines Vietnam’s willingness to be a responsible member of the international community, and is a concrete step in Vietnam’s proactive and rigorous international integration process.

The UNCAT requires state parties to take effective measures to prevent torture within their borders, and ban states from transferring people to any country where there is reason to believe they will be tortured.

The General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the UNCAT on December 10, 1984. After being ratified by 20 states, it took effect on June 26, 1987.