Press Release
August 23, 2021
Vietnam Human Rights Network concluded its 15th
Congress
The Vietnam Human Rights Network (VNHRN) held its 15th
Congress in Little Saigon, California, USA, on August 22, 2021.
Due to the Covid-19 situation, most of the members attended via ZOOM, and the
Congress program was also shortened within one day instead of two days like
previous congresses.
The Congress reviewed the VNHRN’s activities over the past two years in the
areas of information - education, support for human rights activists, and
international advocacy.
Following the guest speaker Nguyen Van Dai’s speech on the topic “how to
effectively support the Vietnamese
human rights movement in the current situation,” the Congress discussed
Vietnam’s current situation and set out essential strategies and tasks for the
time to come. The effective use of modern media to fight for human rights and
support for human rights activists in difficulties are singled out as the most
momentous tasks.
The Meeting elected the Executive
Board and Supervisory Board for the term 2021-2023. The following members are
trusted in the new Executive Board: Dr. Nguyen Ba Tung, Ms. Tam An, and Mr. Doan
The Cuong. In addition, the following members are elected for the new
Supervisory Board: Prof. Do Anh Tai, Prof. Nguyen Chinh Ket, and Mr. Vu Hoang
Hai.
The Congress also approved the Declaration on the current human rights situation
in Vietnam. The following is the full text of the Statement:
STATEMENT OF The Vietnam Human Rights Network's 15th congress
The 15th Congress of the Vietnam Human Rights Network, held in Little Saigon,
Southern California, the USA, on August 22, 2021, observes that:
- The human rights situation in Vietnam is getting worse and worse. Before and
after the 13th Congress of the CPV and the 15th National Assembly election, the
Vietnamese government has increased repression of fundamental freedoms such as
freedom of speech, movement, and assembly... The number of people being
arbitrarily arrested and detained has surpassed any record; the unjust sentences
they had to endure were much harsher than those of the exact charges in previous
years.
- Especially during the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic, the Vietnamese
government abused anti-epidemic regulations to increase suppression of
dissenting voices; Meanwhile, the vast majority of the poor have been pushed
into misery and despair caused by the government’s mismanagement and unjust
policy.
From the above observations, the Vietnam Human Rights Network solemnly states:
1. The Vietnamese government must immediately stop arbitrary arrests and
detention, immediately and unconditionally release all peaceful human rights
activists, and stop abusing anti-epidemic measures to limit fundamental rights
and persecute dissidents;
2. The Vietnamese government must fight against the Covid-19 epidemic and
provide relief to the victims in a transparent, non-discriminatory manner;
3. VNHRN actively supports individuals and organizations in Vietnam who are
making efforts to promote and fight for fundamental human rights;
4. VNHRN calls on overseas Vietnamese to continue to step up their work to
support human rights struggles in Vietnam, especially Vietnamese-American
compatriots, to actively campaign for the 2021 Vietnam Human Rights Bill (HR
3001).
5. VNHRN calls on the international community, especially those countries that
have traded with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, to pressure the Vietnamese
government to fulfill its obligation to respect fundamental human rights that it
has committed to honoring when ratifying international conventions on human
rights.
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