Human rights in Vietnam
Politics portal |
Human rights in Vietnam (Vietnamese: Nhân quyền tại Việt Nam) are among the poorest in the world, as considered by various domestic and international academics, dissidents and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Amnesty International (AI), Human Rights Watch (HRW), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).[1][2][3]
This has long been a matter of controversy between the Government of Vietnam, led by its Communist Party (CPV), and other countries and political unions, such as the European Union (EU) and the United States. Under the current constitution, the CPV is the only legal political party: all other parties are outlawed, making Vietnam one of a few legally constituted one-party states, along with China, Cuba, Eritrea, Laos, and North Korea.[4]
Elections in Vietnam have been characterized as nothing more than a rubber stamp, with every election resulting in 99% of votes for the CPV. Freedom of association, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to a healthy environment are severely restricted.[5] Citizens critical of the Vietnamese government or who discuss certain topics deemed "unacceptable" by the CPV are often subject to intimidation and imprisonment.[6]
The Vietnamese government has also made use of online operatives and nationalist netizens or "public opinion brigades", state-sponsored anonymous political commentators and trolls who combat any perceived dissent against CPV policies or protest over the status of human rights.[7] A Vietnam Human Rights Day is observed each year on 11 May in the U.S. state of Virginia, particularly by the Vietnamese diaspora who left after the Vietnam War and the Fall of Saigon[a] as well as by dissidents who fled the country in subsequent decades.[8]
Rights
Environmental rights
De jure, the article 43 of the constitution of Vietnam includes a right to a healthy environment.[9] The state is obliged to "…protect the environment; manage, and effectively and stably use natural resources; protect nature and biodiversity; take initiative in prevention and resistance against natural calamities; and respond to climate change."[9] These rights were further advanced through the Law on Environmental Protection in 2014.[9]
Freedom of religion
While the
Rights of specific groups
LGBT rights
Ethnic minorities
According to the Vietnamese constitution: "All the ethnicities are equal, unified and respect and assist one another for mutual development; all acts of national discrimination and division are strictly forbidden."[21]
The
Various ethnic minority organizations like the
Repression of Chams
The Cham in Vietnam are only recognized as a minority, and not as an indigenous people by the Vietnamese government despite being indigenous to the region. Both
In 2012,
The Vietnamese government fears that evidence of
Reporting
Vietnamese UNHRC report
A report drafted by the Vietnamese government on 18 June 2007 for the United Nations Human Rights Council to review the implementation of human rights in the territory of Viet Nam stated: For Viet Nam, the people are both the ultimate objective and driving force of any social and economic development policy, and protecting and promoting human rights are always the Government's consistent policy. The 1992 Constitution, the supreme law of the country, guarantees that all citizens enjoy equal political, economic, cultural and social rights, and are equal before the law. Every citizen has the right to participate in the management of the State and the society, the freedoms of religion and belief, the right to free movement and residence in the territory of Viet Nam, the right to complaints and petitions, the right to employment, education and healthcare etc. regardless of gender, race and religion. On that basis, Vietnamese laws enumerate the specific rights in accordance with international human rights standards.[25]
According to the Vietnamese embassy, the UN ratified Vietnam's human rights report.[26] The embassy also stated that many of these countries appreciated Vietnam's renewal, achievements and strong commitment to fostering human rights.[27]
According to a 1997 report by the
Reports regarding human rights in Vietnam
Recent US reports maintain the same observations and international human rights organizations that share these views include Human Rights Watch[29] and the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization.[30] The United Nations[31] has highlighted religious persecution.
In 2009, the European Parliament expressed concern about "the growing climate of intolerance in Vietnam towards human rights defenders and members of officially unrecognized religious communities." It called on the government to end repression against freedom of expression, belief, and assembly, and to release its "political prisoners".[32]
Freedom of expression remains a problem as the Vietnamese authorities continue to use tough national security laws to punish critics of the Vietnamese government. According to the British government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, official media remained tightly controlled by government censorship and obstruction.[33]
As of 2017, Vietnam held over 100 political prisoners for the crime of criticizing the government or participating in religions, protests, activism, or political parties not sanctioned by the government.[34][35]
According to Human Rights Watch, the government of Vietnam has increased its crackdown on dissidents, human rights activists and independent journalists, ahead of the 13th party congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam that took place in January 2021. The court has also increased the prison time for dissidents serving detention.[36]
On 23 December 2021, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) condemned the conviction and long-term sentencing of four prominent human rights defenders and journalists in Vietnam. The sentences against Do Nam Truong, Trinh Ba Phoung, Nguyen Thi Tam and Pham Doan Trang stemmed from their continuous advocacy and reporting on human rights in Viet Nam.[37]
In 2009,
Vietnam currently holds several other individuals in detention whom
In January 2019, the authorities of Vietnam arrested and sentenced an
Dozens were arrested and tried in 2021. [44]
In May 2023, activist Trần Văn Bang was sentenced to eight years in prison after making Facebook posts critical of the government.[45]
See also
- Vietnam Human Rights Network – founded by Vietnamese dissidents
Notes
- ^ Also known as the "Liberation of Saigon" by the regime.
- ^ Article 4, Decree 01/VBHN-BYT prohibits discrimination against people who has undergone sex reassignment. Article 35, Decree 176/2013/NĐ-CP establishes monetary fine of 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 Vietnamese dong for those engaging in discriminatory acts against transgender people, while Article 155 of the 2015 Penal Code specified a sentence of probation up to 3 years for repeated violation.
References
- ^ "Vietnam: World Report". English. Human Rights Watch. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ "Overview: Vietnam". Amnesty International. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ Ratcliffe, Rebecca (17 February 2022). "Vietnamese activists routinely placed under house arrest, report finds". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ "How One-Party States Work in Cuba, Vietnam & North Korea". study.com. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ Sochua, Mu. "Vietnam's National Assembly Vote: A Futile Gesture". thediplomat.com. The Diplomat. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
The May 23 election is designed to affix a rubber stamp to the Vietnamese Communist Party's monopoly on political power.
- ^ "Vietnam jails journalists for 'propaganda' critical of state". Reuters. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- ^ Vietnam: Challenges and Opportunities for Freedom of Expression, Internet Freedom Festival, 2016, archived from the original on 7 April 2022, retrieved 9 June 2022
- ^ "§ 2.2-3310.3. Vietnam Human Rights Day". Virginia's Legislative Information System.
- ^ a b c "Prosperous and green in the Anthropocene: The human right to a healthy environment in Southeast Asia". The Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
- ^ "How Vietnam respects and protects religious freedom has implications beyond its own borders - America Magazine". 22 February 2016. Archived from the original on 22 February 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.hrw.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Freedom of religion in Việt Nam clear to see". vietnamnews.vn.
- ^ "World Report 2020: Rights Trends in Vietnam". Human Rights Watch. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ Freedom House website, retrieved 2023-08-08
- ^ Open Doors website, retrieved 2023-08-08
- ^ "Gays Rights and the Law, Legality of Homosexuality in Vietnam by Utopia Asia". Retrieved 29 April 2017.
- ^ Linh, Nguyễn. "Phân biệt đối xử, chê giễu, cô lập người xác định lại giới tính có thể bị phạt tù". Thư viện Pháp luật (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 10 October 2022.
- ^ "Người Việt chính thức được quyền chuyển đổi giới tính". Báo Thanh Niên (in Vietnamese). 24 November 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
- ^ "Vietnam's first gay pride parade helps unite the LGBT community". Retrieved 29 April 2017.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Getting ready for the fourth Viet Pride
- ^ Constitution of Vietnam: Chapter I, Article 5, Section 2.
- S2CID 43522886. Archived from the original(PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2014.
- ^ "Mission to Vietnam Advocacy Day (Vietnamese-American Meet up 2013) in the U.S. Capitol. A UPR report By IOC-Campa". Chamtoday.com. 14 September 2013. Archived from the original on 17 February 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
- ^ Bray, Adam (16 June 2014). "The Cham: Descendants of Ancient Rulers of South China Sea Watch Maritime Dispute From Sidelines". National Geographic News. National Geographic. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2014. Alt URL Archived 26 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "News | Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the United States".
- ^ "UN ratify Vietnam's human rights report". Archived from the original on 9 October 2011.
- ^ "Vietnam adheres to human rights, says diplomat".
- ^ "Human Rights in Vietnam During Renovation Process: Achievements, Challenges and Prospects". China Internet Information Center. 19 August 1997. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
- ^ "Vietnam's Human Rights Defenders". Human Rights Watch. 23 March 2010.
- ^ "UPR: Vietnam's Human Rights Violations Exposed by". UNPO. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
- ^ "SUMMARY PREPARED BY THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 15 (C) OF THE ANNEX TO HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL RESOLUTION 5/1*" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- ^ "Motion for a resolution on human rights in Vietnam and Laos – B7-0157/2009". Europarl.europa.eu. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
- ^ "Vietnam | Human Rights and Democracy 2012". Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ^ Rushford, Greg (23 July 2013). "Mr. Sang Comes to Washington". Rushford Report. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
- ^ "Vietnam: Release All Political Prisoners". hrw.org. Human Rights Watch. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
- ^ "Vietnam: Crackdown on Peaceful Dissent Intensifies". Human Rights Watch. 19 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ "Viet Nam: UN experts appalled by the conviction of four human rights defenders". OHCHR. Retrieved 23 December 2021.
- ^ Mydans, Seth (24 December 2009). "Vietnam Charges Lawyer With Capital Crime". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
- ^ a b c "Vietnam lawyer subversion charge". BBC News. 24 December 2009. Retrieved 4 May 2010.
- ^ "Prominent Vietnamese activist jailed over democracy calls". Amnesty International. 5 April 2011. PRE 01/185/2011. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011.
- ^ "Vietnamese authorities must release Dr. Nguyen Dan Que". Amnesty International. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 29 April 2011.
- ^ "Viet Nam: Further information: Catholic priest risks being returned to prison: Father Nguyen Van Ly". Amnesty International. 9 February 2011. ASA 41/001/2011. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
- ^ "Australian democracy activist Chau Van Kham released from Vietnam jail and reunited with family". The Guardian. 10 August 2023. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ "Vietnam: Dozens of Rights Activists Detained, Tried". 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Vietnam: Free Democracy Campaigner Tran Van Bang". Human Rights Watch. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
- "Rafto Laureates". Archived from the original on 20 August 2006. Retrieved 9 December 2006.
External links
Media related to Human rights in Vietnam at Wikimedia Commons
- Vietnamese Human Rights Newspaper
- US Department of State Human Rights Report 2009 Vietnam
- Censorship in Vietnam – IFEX
- Human rights in Vietnam on websites of international NGOs: Human Rights Watch and FIDH
- Vietnam Human Rights Network
- Vietnam: from "Vision" to Facts. Human Rights in Vietnam under its Chairmanship in ASEAN FIDH, 2010
- UNPO – Vietnam Human Rights Report 2009
- National report of Vietnam under the universal periodic review of UN human rights council
- Indigenous People Face Deliberate Persecution in Vietnam
- Highlighting Vietnamese Government Human Rights Violations In Advance of the U.S.-Vietnam Dialogue: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, 11 April 2013
- Continuing Repression by the Vietnamese Government: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, 4 June 2013
- Vietnam: Repression of peaceful demonstrations revealed, FIDH 2023.