ICJ highlights the need for protection of lawyers in Viet Nam

May 30, 2013 –
Advocacy: Legal submissions

The ICJ today addressed the Human Rights Council, and the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, concerning the need for protection of lawyers in Viet Nam.

[pullquote]The  ICJ recalls that  article  16 of  the UN Basic  Principles  on  the  Role  of  Lawyers  states  that “governments  shall  ensure  that  lawyers  are  able  to  perform  all  of  their  professional  functions without  intimidation,  hindrance,  harassment  or  improper  interference  and  that  they  shall  not suffer,  or  be  threatened  with,  prosecution  or  administrative,  economic  or  other  sanctions  for  any action  taken  in  accordance  with  recognised  professional  duties,  standards  and  ethics”.[/pullquote]

In an interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Knaul, the ICJ emphasised that legal aid (the subject of the Special Rapporteur’s report to the Council) is fruitless without proper protection of the legal profession. Referring to articles 16-18 of the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, the ICJ drew attention to challenges faced by human rights lawyers in Viet Nam, particularly those who have been disbarred and not allowed to practice in their work representing victims of discrimination and land confiscation. 

The ICJ urged the Government of Viet Nam to extend to the Special Rapporteur an invitation to undertake a mission to Viet Nam and to cooperate with her and allow her to effectively consider these and other obstacles to the effective functioning of the legal profession in the country.

The statement was delivered under Item 3 (promotion and protection of all human rights) of the agenda of the Human Rights Council’s 23rd regular session (27 May to 14 June 2013).

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United Nations Human Rights Council

23^rd Regular Session, 27 May to 14 June 2013

Agenda Item 3

ICJ Oral Statement in the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Knaul

PROTECTION OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION IN VIET NAM

30May 2013

Check against delivery

 Madam Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers,

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)welcomes your report and especially appreciates the fact  that  it  emphasizes  the  important  role  legal  aid  plays  in  ensuring  the  protection  of  victims  of human rights violations.

The  ICJ  emphasises that  legal  aid  is often  ineffective without  proper  protection  of  the  legal  profession. We therefore draw your attention, and that of this Council, to certain challenges faced  by human rights lawyers in Viet Nam, particularly those who have been disbarred and not allowed  to  practice  law in their  work  representing  victims  of  discrimination  and  land  confiscation.  These   lawyers include Le Quoc Quan, Nguyen Van Dai, Huynh Van Dong, Le Thi Cong Nhan, Le Cong Dinh and Le Tran Luat. Many of them were charged and convicted under articles 79 and 88 of the Viet Nam’sPenal Code, which criminalises conduct by those who seek to overthrow the Government or those who conduct propaganda against the Government. Currently, Le Cong Dinh and Nguyen Van Dai  are  under  house  arrest,  while  Huynh  Van  Dong, Le  Thi  Cong  Nhan and  Le  Tran  Luat  are  no longer  under  arrest  or  in  detention,  but  are  under  constant  surveillance. What  are  alleged  to  be fabricated charges  of  tax  evasion  have  been made against  Le  Quoc  Quan,  who was  arrested  in December 2012 and is still awaiting trial.

The  ICJ recalls that  article  16 of  the UN Basic  Principles  on  the  Role  of  Lawyers  states  that “governments  shall  ensure  that  lawyers  are  able  to  perform  all  of  their  professional  functions without  intimidation,  hindrance,  harassment  or  improper  interference  and  that  they  shall  not suffer,  or  be  threatened  with,  prosecution  or  administrative,  economic  or  other  sanctions  for  any action  taken  in  accordance  with  recognised  professional  duties,  standards  and  ethics”. Articles  17 and  18 affirm that  “where  the  security  of  lawyers  is  threatened…  they  shall  be  adequately safeguarded by the authorities” and that “lawyers shall not be identified with their clients’ or their clients’  causes…”. Without  adherence  to  these  principles,  access  to  justice  through  legal  aid  is typically frustrated.

Against  this  background,  Madam  Special  Rapporteur, we  urge  the  Government of  Viet  Nam  to extend to  you an  invitation to  undertake  a  mission  to  Viet  Nam and  to  cooperate  with you and allow you to effectively consider these and other obstacles to the effective functioning of the legal profession in the country.

Finally, Madam Rapporteur, the ICJ wishes to reiterate its support to the mandate you hold and to remind States of their obligation to cooperate with your and all other Special Procedure mandates, including with respect to allegation lettersand urgent appeals.

I thank you.

[stextbox id=”info”]Statement delivered by:
Ms Ilaria Vena, ICJ Centre for the Independence of Judges and Lawyers
Further contact:
Ms Emerlynne Gil (emerlynne.gil@icj.org), ICJ Asia Pacific Programme[/stextbox]

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