Democratic Voice of Vietnam

19/01/2015

The European Union and Vietnam held on 19 January 2015 in Brussels the fourth round of their annual enhanced Dialogue on Human Rights in the spirit of the EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) signed in June 2012.

The EU delegation was led by Mr Ugo Astuto, Director for South and South East Asia in the European External Action Services (EEAS). The Vietnamese delegation was led by Mr Vu Anh Quang, Director General of the International Organisations Department of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and included experts from various services, agencies and ministries.

The Dialogue allowed the two sides to exchange views on a wide range of issues and was conducted in a frank and open atmosphere. It provided an opportunity to take stock of positive developments in the area of human rights in Vietnam, such as progress towards the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and the successful 2014 Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The Dialogue was complemented by a meeting with the European Parliament the same day and a visit to a prison in Berlin on 20 January.

The EU raised issues relating to freedom of expression and the media, including internet legislation and expressed concern regarding extensive application of national security provisions in Vietnam’s penal code. The EU reiterated its serious concerns regarding the situation of a number of human rights defenders, activists, bloggers and their relatives. The EU also raised the issue of implementation of freedom of religion or belief, noting both positive developments such as the long-awaited visit by the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief last July and concerns as to persisting restrictions. The EU encouraged Vietnam to move towards a more open society, based on the international standards of rule of law and respect for human rights.

The EU, together with some of its Member States, is supporting legal and judicial reforms under preparation in Vietnam, in the light of the Constitution amended in 2013, through technical assistance. The EU pointed to the revision of the penal code as an opportunity to ensure coherence with the principles established in the Constitution and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The EU stressed the importance of access to lawyers and the right to a fair trial, as well as the need to improve prison conditions. The EU regretted the high number of death sentences handed down in 2014 and reiterated its call on the Government of Vietnam to take steps towards eventual abolishment of capital punishment. In this context the EU encouraged Vietnam to further reduce the number of offences punishable by death penalty and improve prison conditions for persons on death row.

Read more: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/vietnam/press_corner/all_news/news/2015/20150119_en.htm