Reforming Vietnam’s Human Rights: A Call for Urgency

Vietnam: Rights Reforms Urgently Needed

Upcoming UN Review Offers Opportunities to Press for Change

Human Rights Watch Calls For Close Scrutiny

In a submission to the United Nations (UN), Human Rights Watch has called for close scrutiny of the Vietnamese government’s escalating crackdown on activists and its failure to implement meaningful reforms. Vietnam‘s human rights record has deteriorated significantly since its last review in 2019, and international actors must take stronger action to hold the government accountable for its violations.

A Broken Promise

Human Rights Watch has highlighted several major human rights issues that Vietnam must address. The government continues to prosecute individuals for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. Furthermore, due process and fair trial rights are routinely violated, affecting both ordinary criminal suspects and political dissidents. The government also represses religious freedoms, targeting religious and ethnic minorities.

Vietnam had pledged to address these concerns during its last Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in 2019 but failed to fulfill its commitments. The Vietnamese government rejected all recommendations to amend rights-violating “national security” articles in the penal code and continued to prosecute individuals under these draconian provisions. Prominent free-speech activists, including Pham Doan Trang, Pham Chi Dung, Nguyen Tuong Thuy, Pham Chi Thanh, Pham Van Diep, and Nguyen Lan Thang, have been imprisoned under these legal articles.

An Expanding Crackdown

In recent years, Vietnam has expanded its repression to include mainstream activists working on environmental and climate change issues. The authorities have used fabricated charges, such as tax evasion, to prosecute environmental campaigners and silence dissenting voices. The cases of lawyer Dang Dinh Bach and environmental advocate Hoang Thi Minh Hong are prime examples of the government’s targeting of those advocating for environmental justice.

A Call for International Action

Human Rights Watch has called on international donors and trade partners to take a tougher stance and recognize that promoting human rights in Vietnam is in their strategic interest. The organization emphasizes that international actors must not wait until the next UPR session to demand rights reforms but should press for immediate changes, including the release of political prisoners and the reform of rights-abusing laws.

The Silence of the EU and the US

Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, criticizes the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) for remaining silent about Hanoi’s human rights abuses at the expense of the Vietnamese people. Both the EU and the US have a strategic interest in Vietnam and have been willing to overlook human rights violations in the past. However, Pearson asserts that UN member countries should not prioritize strategic interests over human rights and should take immediate action to push for real changes in Vietnam.

Editorial: Urgent Action Required to Protect Human Rights in Vietnam

Vietnam‘s human rights situation has worsened significantly since its last review, and urgent action is needed to protect the rights of Vietnamese citizens. The upcoming UN Universal Periodic Review provides an important opportunity for the international community to hold the Vietnamese government accountable and demand immediate reforms.

The Vietnamese government’s systematic repression of civil and political rights cannot be ignored. Citizens are being prosecuted for exercising their rights to free expression, association, and assembly. Due process and fair trial rights are routinely violated, and religious and ethnic minorities continue to face harassment and persecution.

It is crucial that international donors and trade partners reevaluate their engagement with Vietnam. Promoting human rights should be a strategic interest for these actors, as a stable and prosperous Vietnam cannot be achieved without protecting the rights and freedoms of its people.

The European Union and the United States, in particular, must take a stronger stand on Vietnam‘s human rights abuses. They must prioritize human rights over strategic interests and use their leverage to demand immediate changes in Vietnam. By remaining silent on these issues, they are complicit in the continued violation of human rights in the country.

The upcoming UPR session is a crucial forum for dialogue and assessment. It is essential that UN member countries press for real changes, including the release of political prisoners and the reform of rights-abusing laws. Vietnam‘s government cannot be allowed to disregard its international commitments and continue its repression without consequences.

The Vietnamese people deserve the protection of their fundamental human rights, and it is the responsibility of the international community to stand up for those rights. Inaction is not an option, and urgent action is required to ensure a brighter future for Vietnam.

Advice: Promoting Human Rights as a Global Responsibility

The situation in Vietnam serves as a reminder that promoting and defending human rights is a global responsibility. Governments, international organizations, and individuals all have a role to play in protecting the rights and freedoms of people around the world.

As individuals, we can raise awareness about human rights abuses and support organizations like Human Rights Watch that work tirelessly to expose violations and advocate for change. Donations to these organizations can provide much-needed resources to support their efforts.

Governments and international organizations must prioritize human rights in their foreign policies and bilateral relationships. Strategic interests should not eclipse the need to protect human rights. Consistent and robust pressure must be exerted on countries with poor human rights records, and accountability mechanisms must be firmly in place.

It is important for the international community to hold countries to their commitments, as was the case with Vietnam‘s pledges during the 2019 UPR. Governments should not be allowed to make empty promises without facing consequences for failing to fulfill them.

Ultimately, the collective effort of individuals, governments, and organizations is necessary to bring about meaningful change and create a world where human rights are respected and protected.

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