A/HRC/28/57/Add.1
especially regarding the definition, interpretation, content and value of the diverse
and vivid cultural heritage of the country. Meaningful debate and discussion on those
issues can only occur if freedom of expression is fully respected and guaranteed.
History teaching15
102. The Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to open spaces to foster
critical thought, analytic learning and debate in history teaching. She encourages Viet
Nam to focus on the teaching of history understood as an academic discipline. Official
standards should determine the goals and outcomes of history teaching without
prescribing the content of teaching material.
103. The first and immediate step in that direction is to allow a wide array of
textbooks by a range of publishers to be accredited, and permit teachers to choose
from amongst them. Guidelines for writing textbooks should be developed to enable
authors to offer various interpretations and diverse perspectives in textbooks. The
Special Rapporteur welcomes the information received that in November 2014, the
National Assembly passed a resolution to develop a general education programme
with a wide array of textbooks.
104. The Government should increase efforts to encourage teachers to provide
students with additional materials and to motivate them to look for supplementary
information. It is important that the curriculum allocate sufficient time (ideally, at
least 30 per cent of the time allocated to the teaching of history) for teachers to
introduce supplementary materials, in particular authentic historical sources, without
prior ministerial approval.
105. Concerted efforts should be made to ensure that history teaching includes the
various histories of minority groups.
Artistic freedom16
106. There is more space for the enjoyment of artistic freedom in Viet Nam today
than in past decades. Many challenges remain, however, owing to the multiplicity of
regulations in the area of artistic expression, and the maintenance of a system of prior
and post censorship. While artists strive to redefine the line of what can or cannot be
expressed, the Government seems to hesitate between opening the space for artistic
expression and restricting it. The Special Rapporteur encourages the Government to
address the concerns expressed by artists, in accordance with article 19 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and article 15 of the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
107. The Government is encouraged to continue supporting artists and developing
programmes to enhance access to the arts, in particular in remote areas, but to ensure
that such support is not used as a tool for controlling the content of artistic expression.
Various systems of State support can be envisaged. In particular, the Government
should establish a system whereby decisions on funding are delegated to independent
peer-review bodies acting in conformity with transparent terms of reference and rules
of procedure. Associations of artists participating in such peer-review bodies should
be fully independent of the Government and the Communist Party.
15
16
20
See also A/68/296.
See also A/HRC/23/34.