Human rights conditions in Viet Nam are under periodic (every four years) review by the United Nations Human Relations Council on May 8, 2009.
The United States is not a member of this body, having been rejected for re-election to a seat to the predecessor organization, the UN Human Relations Commission in 2001. Under the Bush administration, the U.S. voted against formation of the new body, the UN Human Relations Council, in 2006. The Obama administration announced yesterday (April 1, 2009) it is seeking membership on the grounds of inclusion as the best means of solution to international issues of human rights.
The periodic review of Viet Nam is addressed by twelve NGO (NonGovernmental Organizations) from submission made by procedural rules in November 2008.
Amnesty International is one of these organizations, who are called 'stakeholders' in United Nations protocol.
Conditions in Viet Nam expressed by Amnesty International are excerpted here:
36. AI stated that the authorities frequently use provisions of the Penal Code to stifle freedom of expression, including criticism of government policies, and reference to issues considered as politically sensitive.46 AI further stated that the authorities continue to try to control and restrict Internet traffic deemed undesirable. Many of those arrested in the on-going crackdown include lawyers, trade unionists, religious leaders and political activists who are loosely connected through Bloc 8406, an Internet based pro-democracy movement formed on 8 April 2006, and with other un-authorized political groups advocating democracy and human rights. Charges laid against dissidents often include references to sending and placing information on the Internet aimed at “slandering” and “distorting” government policies.
37. AI called on the Government to: repeal or amend provisions in the 1999 Penal Code to
ensure that ambiguous provisions relating to national security are clearly defined or removed, so they cannot be applied in an arbitrary manner to stifle legitimate dissent, debate, opposition and freedom of expression; repeal provisions in the 1999 Penal Code allowing house arrest or probation used to violate freedom of expression and assembly; and remove all restrictions and arbitrary interference on the operation and use of the Internet that violate the right to freedom of expression and end practices, such as censorship, and surveillance.
38. AI further called on the Government to: end restrictions on the right to practice one’s religion of choice without discrimination, in accordance with Article 69 and 70 of the Constitution as well as international human rights law; ensure that relevant authorities are aware of their duty to protect individuals’ right to freedom of religion; take measures to ensure protection of the right to peaceful expression of political beliefs; take all necessary measures to end restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly; ensure that police officers are made aware of their duty to protect the human rights of all individuals; immediately and unconditionally release all prisoners of conscience; and invite the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression to visit Viet Nam.
Other stakeholders who submitted reports on human rights in Viet Nam include Human Rights Watch (HRW), the International Federation of Human Rights and Viet Nam Committee on Human Rights (FIDH and VCHR), and International PEN.
Stephen Denney, country coordinator of Viet Nam for Amnesty International USA, sends the following references:
Report on vietnam submitted by Amnesty International to UN Universal Periodic Review working group of the UN Human Rights Council:
http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session5/VN/AI_VNM_UPR_S5_2009_AmnestyInternational.pd
Other reports submitted by NGOs to this UN group can be found at:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/Pages/UPRVNStakeholdersInfoS5.aspx
click on the letter after each organization (denoting the language in which the report is published) to read the report
Vietnam's defense of its record as submitted to the same group can be found at:
http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session5/VN/A_HRC_WG6_5_VNM_1_E.pdf
The UN office of human rights summary can be found at:
http://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session5/VN/A_HRC_WG6_5_VNM_3_E.pdf
Amnesty International Group 19 in Palo Alto, California, is the re-adoption campaign manager for Father Nguyen Van Ly, imprisoned in Viet Nam after an infamous trial on March 30, 2007, in which his mouth was muzzled by a Security Officer in the courtroom when he tried to speak. Father Ly is once again a Prisoner of Conscience in the Individuals at Risk program of Amnesty International USA while he begins his 17th year in totality of imprisonment since 1976. He has been in solitary confinement at BaSao prison for the past two years.
Petitions which address the review of Viet Nam by the UNHRC are available in English and in Vietnamese, attached to this full posting and to the photograph on my blog, VietAm Review.
The deadline for return to Amnesty International Group 19 is April 30, 2009. The signed petitions will be sent to the VN Embassy in Washington D.C., with copies to the US Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate in HCM City.
Jean Libby, campaign coordinator for Father Nguyen Van Ly
Amnesty International Group 19
1222 Fulton St.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
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