The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) “has great potential to promote and protect human rights in the darkest corners of the world.” – Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General
What: UPR side event on Vietnam’s human rights record
When: February 4, 2014, 12:30-2:30pm
Where: Room XXV, Palais Des Nations, Geneva
Every four years the United Nations Human Rights Council reviews the human rights situation of each member state. In advance of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam’s UPR on February 5, a coalition of Vietnamese and international human rights organizations and activists will shine a spotlight on the most egregious human rights abuses in Vietnam today:
- Police brutality
- Persecution of bloggers and repression of Internet freedom
- Arbitrary detention of hundreds of political prisoners
- Restrictions against civil society and basic rights
We will offer specific recommendations to improve the human rights condition in Vietnam. We intend to press the international community to implement a rigorous UPR process as part of a sustained focus on human rights in Vietnam.
Now that the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member of the UN Human Rights Council, it must abide by international standards on basic rights.
Confirmed speakers and panel moderators include:
HA Huy Son, human rights lawyer
Ann HARRISON, Director, PEN International Writers in Prison Committee
HOANG Tu Duy, Spokesperson, Viet Tan
Benjamin ISMAIL, Head of Asia Desk, Reporters Without Borders
Nani JANSEN, Senior Legal Counsel, Media Legal Defence Initiative
Gisle KVANVIG, Vietnam Program Director, Norwegian Centre for Human Rights
Libby LIU, President of Radio Free Asia
NGUYEN Do Phu, Board of Directors, Human Rights for Vietnam PAC
NGUYEN The Binh, Chairwoman of Vietnam Progress
PHAM Chi Dung, independent journalist
Thierry OPPIKOFER, Chairman of COSUNAM
Leon SALTIEL, Deputy Director, UN Watch
Judy TAING, Asia Programme Officer, Article 19
TRAN Quang Thanh, independent journalist
Anne-Marie VON ARX, Swiss MP who visited Vietnam in 2012
This program was made possible by: Article 19 | COSUNAM | Human Rights for Vietnam PAC | Lawyers for Lawyers | Media Legal Defence Initiative | PEN International | Viet Tan | UN Watch
Full program and speakers’ biographies are available below.