European Parliament: Question for written answer to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative) about Human Rights Violations in Vietnam

Overall, according to Human Rights Watch, 2013 saw a deterioration in regard to Vietnam’s human rights situation and was marked by a severe and intensifying crackdown on critics of the government and other civil society activists.

EU parliamentEuropean Parliament – On 31 January 2014

Human Rights Watch reported that Vietnam has failed to adhere to its commitments to improve its human rights record. The organisation reports that in the last few years the Vietnamese government has continued to systematically violate rights in areas such as freedom of expression, association, assembly and religion, as well as labour rights. Hanoi has called for the imprisonment of numerous human rights activists and land rights activists. Vietnamese citizens who have called for reforms have faced retaliation. Civil society groups such as the Social Democratic party and the Network of Vietnamese Bloggers have been targeted following their actions helping to monitor Vietnam’s bid for membership of the UN Human Rights Council.

In early December 2013, government security forces were sent to violently break up peaceful gatherings in Hanoi and Saigon, which had been organised to mark Human Rights Day. This was followed up by a series of assaults on bloggers, democracy activists and land rights protesters, and in some cases people were attacked in their homes. At the same time, the government has prevented civil society activists from leaving the country. In the run-up to the country’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), a number of Vietnamese bloggers travelled to the US, Europe and Australia in order to put additional pressure on the government in Hanoi to improve its human rights record.

Overall, according to Human Rights Watch, 2013 saw a deterioration in regard to Vietnam’s human rights situation and was marked by a severe and intensifying crackdown on critics of the government and other civil society activists.

1. In light of Vietnam’s UPR, what steps is the High Representative/Vice-President taking in order to put pressure on the Vietnamese Government in Hanoi to adhere to its human rights obligations?

2. What steps is the EU taking to support human rights activists in Vietnam who are vulnerable to persecution by the authorities?

3. At present, is aid provided to Vietnam by the EU subject to conditions vis-à-vis its commitment to human rights reform?