January 27, 2014
GENEVA – In advance of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam’s Universal Periodic Review, a group of Vietnamese and international human rights organizations will host a side event on February 4, 2014 at the Palais Des Nations to shine a spotlight on the most egregious human rights abuses in Vietnam today.
The event, titled “With Membership Comes Responsibility: Ensuring Human Rights in Vietnam,” will bring together human rights experts and activists. Among the speakers are human rights defenders from Vietnam including: a human rights lawyer, the mother of an imprisoned activist, and a citizen journalist. They will speak on the challenges facing civil society and the growing crackdown in Vietnam.
Confirmed speakers and panel moderators include:
- Ann Harrison, Director, PEN International Writers in Prison Committee
- Duy Hoang, 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
- Do Phu Nguyen, Board of Directors, Human Rights for Vietnam PAC
- Binh Nguyen, Chairwoman of Vietnam Progress
- Thierry Oppikofer, Chairman of COSUNAM
- Leon Saltiel, Deputy Director, UN Watch
- Judy Taing, Asia Programme Officer, Article 19
- Anne-Marie von Arx, Swiss MP who visited Vietnam in 2012
The list of human rights defenders from Vietnam will be published before the event.
Details:
With Membership Comes Responsibility: Ensuring Human Rights in Vietnam
What: Pre-UPR Side Event
When: February 4th, 12:30pm – 2:30pm
Where: Palais Des Nations, Room XXV
Press and media must register (http://bit.ly/upr-2014) for accreditation and entrance into the Palais Des Nations.
For interviews or press inquiries:
- Judy Taing, Asia Programme Officer, Article 19: judy@article19.org, +44 (0) 770 762 7571
- Nani Jansen, Senior Legal Counsel, Media Legal Defence Initiative: nani.jansen@mediadefence.org, +44 780 540 4089
- Sarah Clarke, International Policy & Advocacy Officer, PEN International: Sarah.Clarke@pen-international.org, +44 (0)20 7405 0338
- Trinh Nguyen, Communications Director, Viet Tan: trinhnguyen@viettan.org, +1 202 596 7951