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  • Human Rights in Vietnam

    Vietnam’s human rights record remains weak in all key areas. The government suppresses virtually all forms of political dissent, using a broad array of repressive measures. Freedom of expression, association and public assembly are tightly controlled. Religious activists are harassed, intimidated and imprisoned. State-run drug rehabilitation centers exploit detainees as forced laborers making goods for local markets and export. The criminal justice system lacks independence and operates under the direction of the government and party. 

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  • Eight Vietnamese bloggers and activists imprisoned for exercising basic rights. Clockwise from upper left: bloggers Nguyen Quang Lap (© 2014 Private), Ta Phong Tan (© Ta Phong Tan), Tran Huynh Duy Thuc (© Tran Huynh Duy Thuc & family), Ho Thi Bich Khuong (© Ho Thi Bich Khuong), religious activists Nguyen Van Lia (© private), Mai Thi Dung (© Mai Thi Dung & family), Dang Xuan Dieu (© Thanh nien Cong giao); and Father Nguyen Van Ly (© 2010 Reuters).
    Vietnam: Tight Control of Critics, Democracy Advocates in 2014
    The human rights situation in Vietnam in 2014 continued to be characterized by one-party rule, politically motivated convictions, lack of labor rights, widespread police abuse, and an escalating land crisis, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2015.
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Vietnam

  • Vietnam: Tight Control of Critics, Democracy Advocates in 2014
    Jan 29, 2015
    The human rights situation in Vietnam in 2014 continued to be characterized by one-party rule, politically motivated convictions, lack of labor rights, widespread police abuse, and an escalating land crisis, Human Rights Watch said today in its World Report 2015.
  • Vietnam: Plainclothes Agents Target Rights Campaigners
    Jan 25, 2015
    The Vietnamese authorities should immediately stop using violence against human rights campaigners.
  • How International Human Rights Day Is Celebrated in Vietnam
    Dec 27, 2014
    The government of Vietnam appears to have adopted an alarming new tactic against human rights activists.
  • Vietnam: Stop Using Absurd Laws to Imprison Critics
    Dec 10, 2014
    Vietnam should drop all charges and immediately release bloggers Nguyen Quang Lap and Hong Le Tho, who were arrested for operating independent blogs, Human Rights Watch said today.
  • Fixing the United States' Human Rights Misstep With Vietnam
    Oct 8, 2014
    The United States government made a mistake this month in relaxing a ban on lethal arms sales and transfers to Vietnam — a non-democratic, one-party state with an abysmal human rights record.
  • Why the US Shouldn't be Selling Arms to Vietnam
    Oct 2, 2014
    The Obama administration announced on Oct. 2 that it was relaxing a decades-old ban on sales of lethal military equipment to Vietnam. The United States will now allow the Pentagon and U.S. companies to provide Vietnam with "maritime security-related defense articles." The move coincided with a visit to Washington by Deputy Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh -- where he met with Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel -- and came without much warning. This may have been intentional given the controversy surrounding it.
  • Vietnam: Pervasive Deaths, Injuries in Police Custody
    Sep 15, 2014
    Police throughout Vietnam abuse people in their custody, in some cases leading to death, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The Vietnamese government should take immediate action to end suspicious deaths in custody and torture of detainees by police, Human Rights Watch said.
  • Vietnam: Activists Face Trial on Bogus Traffic Offense
    Aug 24, 2014
    Vietnamese authorities should drop politically motivated charges against three activists and immediately release them, Human Rights Watch said today.
  • Vietnam: Police Reforms Fall Short
    Aug 20, 2014
    New Vietnamese government regulations on police investigations improve on past rules but fall well short of the deep reforms needed to curb widespread police abuses.
  • The Brics Have a Chance to Succeed Where the World Bank Has Failed
    Jul 30, 2014
    The emerging Brics economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – struck an agreement this month to establish a development bank with an initial capital of $100bn. The Brics want the bank to mobilise resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects. From the outset, it should adopt open and transparent processes, and environmental and social rules, that are the best in the business. It should help communities become involved in the development of projects, invest in schemes that communities actually want, and ensure that its investments benefit the most marginalised people.
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