The European Union has raised significant concerns regarding the arrest of human rights defenders and environmental advocates in Vietnam, urging the nation to release individuals detained for peacefully exercising their rights. Addressing a session at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Ambassador Lotte Knudsen expressed that the arrests negatively impact the freedoms of expression, assembly, and association. The EU calls for the protection of fundamental freedoms to enable civil society’s engagement in development without fear of intimidation.
In her remarks, Knudsen also urged Vietnam to abolish the death penalty and welcomed the ratification of workers’ rights agreements by the International Labour Organization. However, she highlighted the importance of Vietnam ratifying the ILO convention on freedom of association, which would permit the establishment of independent trade unions, as current laws severely restrict workers to a single state-run union.
Vietnam is currently vying for re-election to the UN Human Rights Council, having participated in earlier terms. Despite the E.U.-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement aimed at enhancing trade relations while safeguarding human rights, accusations of violation have surfaced with a complaint filed by four human rights organisations against Vietnam’s adherence to these commitments.
As reported by Penelope Faulkner, President of the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights, Vietnam’s commitments to uphold human rights and environmental protection have repeatedly gone unfulfilled. The complaint enumerates numerous detained activists, including journalists and lawyers, indicating a systemic issue regarding rights violations in the country. Human Rights Watch has also documented numerous wrongful convictions of dissidents within the last year, showcasing ongoing repression.
Meanwhile, inquiries directed at Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding these issues have gone unanswered, with government representatives denying the existence of political prisoners and asserting that only lawbreakers are prosecuted.
The EU has expressed deep concern over Vietnam’s arrests of human rights defenders and called for their release at the UN Human Rights Council. Ambassador Lotte Knudsen stressed the importance of protecting fundamental freedoms and urged Vietnam to abolish the death penalty. Despite a trade agreement promoting human rights, activists assert Vietnam has violated these commitments, with complaints submitted to the European Commission regarding detentions of numerous advocates.
In summary, the EU’s stern message to Vietnam underscores the ongoing concerns regarding human rights abuses and the arrest of activists in the country. There is a pressing call for the Vietnamese government to adhere to international human rights standards, allowing for meaningful civil society participation and the establishment of independent unions. The unfolding scenario indicates a tension between Vietnam’s international commitments and its domestic practices that continue to suppress dissent.
Original Source: www.rfa.org
