UN Human Rights Briefing by Marta Hurtado on Vietnam
/
2:31
/
MP4
/
291.6 MB

Edited News , Press Conferences | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Briefing on Vietnam

At the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, OHCHR spokesperson Marta Hurtado made the following comments on Vietnam:

We are deeply troubled by the detention of prominent environmental human rights defender Hoang Thi Minh Hong in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, on Wednesday this week. According to credible sources, Hoang and several colleagues were detained for questioning by the Police Division for Economics Crimes on Wednesday. While others were subsequently released and asked to return to the police station for further questioning, she was presented with a temporary detention order with charges of tax evasion,” she said.

Hoang is the fifth prominent environmental human rights defenders arrested in Viet Nam for tax evasion in the last two years. Dang Dinh Bach, arrested last year on the same charge, is currently serving a five-year prison sentence.

“Following the arrests of other human rights defenders, Hoang had closed her environmental organization, saying that she feared she would also be prosecuted. The chilling effect of such detentions is palpable among civil society in Viet Nam, and risks halting back debate on issues of importance to society as a whole,” Hurtado said.

Arrests of environmental human rights defenders are taking place amid Viet Nam’s stated commitments to a just and sustainable energy transition. For a truly just and sustainable energy transition, human rights defenders and environmental organizations must be able to participate freely and actively in shaping climate and environmental policies and decision-making.

“We are also deeply concerned about a broader trend of arrests, arbitrary detention, and disproportionate sentencing of journalists, bloggers, Facebook users, social activists, land rights defenders, human rights defenders and leaders of registered civil society organizations,” the spokesperson said.

We have reports that at least 20 such individuals have been arrested so far this year, although the real figure may be higher. Over the past few years, UN human rights mechanisms have addressed the application of restrictive legislation, including vague anti-State propaganda charges against human rights defenders or victims, including those who engage with the UN,” she said.

There are also serious concerns about the independence of the judiciary, the right to fair trial, standards of treatment in detention, and the severity of sentences imposed on those prosecuted for exercising their fundamental rights, in particular the freedom of expression.

“We call on the Government of Viet Nam to review relevant laws to ensure their full compliance with international human rights standards. We also urge the authorities to promptly release all those arbitrarily detained, and to ensure that environmental advocates and other human rights defenders are protected and can participate meaningfully in decision-making, without being subjected to intimidation or legal harassment. This is a call that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has particularly emphasized to all States, as we mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this year. she said.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact:

Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or

Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or

Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org

Tag and share

Twitter @UNHumanRights

Facebook unitednationshumanrights

Instagram @unitednationshumanrights

Tag and share - Twitter: @UNHumanRights and Facebook: unitednationshumanrights

  1. Exterior shot: Wide shot Palais des Nations
  2. Wide Shot: Briefing room
  3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR): “We are deeply troubled by the detention of prominent environmental human rights defender Hoang Thi Minh Hong in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, on Wednesday this week. According to credible sources, Hoang and several colleagues were detained for questioning by the Police Division for Economics Crimes on Wednesday. While others were subsequently released and asked to return to the police station for further questioning, she was presented with a temporary detention order with charges of tax evasion.”
  4. Cut aways: Briefing room
  5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR): “Following the arrests of other human rights defenders, Hoang had closed her environmental organization, saying that she feared she would also be prosecuted. The chilling effect of such detentions is palpable among civil society in Viet Nam, and risks holding back debate on issues of importance to society as a whole.”
  6. Cut aways: Briefing room
  7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR): “We are also deeply concerned about a broader trend of arrests, arbitrary detention, and disproportionate sentencing of journalists, bloggers, Facebook users, social activists, land rights defenders, human rights defenders and leaders of registered civil society organizations.”
  8. Cut aways: Briefing room
  9. SOUNDBITE (English) – Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR): We have reports that at least 20 such individuals have been arrested so far this year, although the real figure may be higher. Over the past few years, UN human rights mechanisms have addressed the application of restrictive legislation, including vague anti-State propaganda charges against human rights defenders or victims, including those who engage with the UN.”
  10. Cut aways: Briefing room
  11. SOUNDBITE (English) – Marta Hurtado, Spokesperson United Nations Human Rights (OHCHR): “We call on the Government of Viet Nam to review relevant laws to ensure their full compliance with international human rights standards. We also urge the authorities to promptly release all those arbitrarily detained, and to ensure that environmental advocates and other human rights defenders are protected and can participate meaningfully in decision-making, without being subjected to intimidation or legal harassment. This is a call that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has particularly emphasized to all States, as we mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights this year.

Similar Stories

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025

1

1

1

Edited News

Justice for Syria's disappeared - Riyad Avlar – 06 October 2025 ENG FRA

Syria prison survivor seeks justice for the missing with UN backing.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end”

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk at Human Rights Council on Ukraine: “This war needs to end” ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Friday warned that three and a half years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, the war in Ukraine has entered an even more dangerous and deadly stage for Ukrainian civilians, under relentless bombardment of their schools, hospitals, and shelters.

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF , WHO , ICRC

30 minutes in a Gaza hospital - UNICEF - WHO - ICRC ENG FRA

Quadcopter victims, terror and death: 30 minutes in a Gaza hospital 

UN aid teams on Friday highlighted the disturbing situation in Gaza’s makeshift hospitals, where premature babies cry for scant oxygen and medics attempt to save child survivors targeted by airstrikes in their tents and quadcopter victims reportedly shot while fetching bread.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 03 October 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNHCR , UNICEF , UNIS , WHO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 03 October 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

HRC 60 Press conference: Human Rights situation in the Central African Republic - 02 October 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | HRC , OHCHR

HRC 60 Press conference: Human Rights situation in the Central African Republic - 02 October 2025 ENG FRA

Report of the Independent Expert on Human Rights situation in the Central African Republic.

 

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti

2

1

2

Edited News | OHCHR

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk’s Oral update to the Human Rights Council on the situation in Haiti ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Thursday delivered his oral update to the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session on the human rights situation in Haiti.

The High Commissioner welcomed Wednesday’s decision of the UN Security Council to strengthen the Multinational Security Support mission by transitioning to the Gang Suppression Force for Haiti, stating it is a strong signal of international support for the Haitian people.

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF

Gaza aid update - UNICEF, OCHA 30 September 2025 ENG FRA

Gaza: As world waits for US peace plan news, UN aid teams stress need for ceasefire

UN agencies reiterated calls for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza on Tuesday to help alleviate Palestinian suffering, as a new US 20-point plan raised hopes of a halt to the fighting.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 30 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNECE , WHO , OCHA , UNHCR , UNICEF

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 30 September 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (the UN Refugee Agency), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the United Nations Children Fund, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the World Health Organization.

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza healthcare attacks – WHO ENG FRA

The ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza City continues to overwhelm the war-torn enclave’s medical professionals, with four more hospitals forced to shut down this month alone, the UN World Health Organization said on Friday.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 26 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | WHO , FAO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 26 September 2025 ENG FRA

Michele Zaccheo, Chief of the Radio, TV and Webcast Section at the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the Food and Agricultural Organization and the World Health Organization.

UNCTAD Press conference: Review of Maritime Transport - 24 September 2025

2

1

2

Press Conferences | UNCTAD

UNCTAD Press conference: Review of Maritime Transport - 24 September 2025 ENG FRA

Global maritime transport is facing growing uncertainty, volatility and higher costs while growth in maritime trade is slowing down, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warns in its Review of Maritime Transport 2025, released on 24 September.

 

HRC Press Conference: Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua - 23 September 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | HRC , OHCHR

HRC Press Conference: Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua - 23 September 2025 ENG FRA

Launch of the latest report by the Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua.