Summary of Communications Issued by the United Nations Special Procedures,
2011- 30 April 2015
The attached table is the summary of communications issued by the United Nations Special Procedures to the Government of Viet Nam between 1
December 2010 and 30 April 2015 that have been published during the Human Rights Council sessions. (From 18 th to 29th sessions) It further
indicates the response from the Government to the communication where any. The links to the actual communications and responses are also
provided.
The numbers of communications for each year are below:
Year
2011
2012
2013
2014
Number of communications
6
5
8
10
The numbers of communications signed for each mandate are below. Kindly note that most communications are issued jointly (signed by two or
more mandate holders/Special Rapporteurs):
Mandate
Human Rights Defenders
Freedom of Expression
Arbitrary Detention
Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
Freedom of Religion
Independence of Judges and Lawyers
Torture
Health
Minority Issues
Violence against women
Cultural Rights
Adequate Housing
Summary Executions
Number
22
21
16
15
9
7
5
5
3
2
2
1
1
Y
e
Issued date
a
r
07.02.2011
Govt
response
Special Rapporteur
signed
14.04.2011
Freedom of Expression,
Human Rights
Defenders
21.04.2011
06.06.2011
19.07.2011
2
0
1 29.07.2011
1
15.08.2011
Link to the
communication
Linked to the
Government's response
Alleged imprisonment of
human rights defender Mr. Vi
Duc Hoi, member of Bloc
8406
http://spcomms.ohchr.o
rg/Docs/01ComRepSe
p2011/Com/2011_02/
UA_VietNam_07.02.1
1_(1.2011).pdf
http://spcomms.ohchr.org/
Docs/01ComRepSep2011/
Rep/2011_02coms/PR_Vi
etnam_14.04.2011_(1.201
1).pdf
Freedom of Expression,
Human Rights
Defenders,
Independence of judges
and lawyers
Alleged conviction of a
prominent human rights
activist, Mr. Cu Huy Ha Vu
under article 88
http://spcomms.ohchr.o
rg/Docs/01ComRepSe
p2011/Com/2011_04/
UA_Vietnam_21.04.11
_(2.2011).pdf
http://spcomms.ohchr.org/
Docs/01ComRepSep2011/
Rep/2011_04coms/PR_Vi
etnam_06.06.2011_(2.201
1).pdf
none
Health
Alleged negative impact on
access to medications by TPP
06.09.2011
Arbitrary Detention,
Freedom of Peaceful
Association and
Assembly,
Freedom of Religion,
Human Rights
Defenders,
Independence of Judges
and lawyers
Alleged sentencing of human
rights defenders under article
79 - Pastor Duong Kim Khai,
Ms. Tran Thi Thuy, Mr.
Nguyen Thanh Tam, Mr.
Pham Van Thong, Mr.
Nguyen Chi Thanh, Ms Pham
Ngoc Hoa and Mr. Cao Van
Tinh
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/19th/AL_Vietnam
_19.07.2011_(4.2011).
pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/19th/UA_Vietna
m_29.07.2011_(3.2011
).pdf
none
Arbitrary Detention,
Freedom of Expression,
Torture
Alleged torture, hard labour
and incommunicado detention
as a consequence of the
exercise of freedom of opinion
and expression of Mr. Nguyen
Van Hai (Dieu Cay) under
article 88
Main issues
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/19th/UA_Vietna
m_15.08.11_(6.2011).p
df
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/19th/VietNam_06.09.11
_(3.2011).pdf
2
0
1
2
01.12.2011
16.04.2012
Arbitrary Detention,
Freedom of Expression,
Freedom of Peaceful
Assembly and
Association, Human
Rights Defenders,
Independence of Judges
and lawyers
Prosecution of Messrs. Dang
Xuan Dieu, Ho Duc Hoa,
Nguyen Van Oai, Peter Tran
Huu, Dau Van Duong, Paulus
Le Van Son, Nguyen Van
Duyet and Ho Van Oah under
article 79
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/20th/UA_Viet_N
am_01.12.2011_(7.201
1).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/20th/Vietnam_16.04.20
12_(7.2011).pdf
14.06.2012
14.09.2012
Arbitrary Detention,
Freedom of Expression,
Freedom of Peaceful
Assembly and
Association, Human
Rights Defenders,
Independence of judges
and lawyers
Prosecution of three bloggers
(Mr. Nguyen Van Hai (Dieu
Cay), Mr. Phan Thanh Hai and
Ms. Ta Phong Tan) under
article 88
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/22nd/public__UA_Vietnam_14.06.1
2_(1.2012).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/22nd/Vietnam_14.09.12
_(1.2012).pdf
12.07.2012
27.09.2012
Freedom of Expression,
Freedom of Religion,
Freedom of Peaceful
Assembly and
Association
Allegations of harassment and
intimidation of individuals
participating or attempting t o
participate in peaceful protests
across the country on 30 June
2012
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/22nd/public__AL_Viet_Nam_12.07
.12_(2.2012).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/22nd/Vietnam_27.09.20
12_(2.2012).pdf
02.08.2012
15.10.2012
Freedom of Expression,
Human Rights
Defenders
Allegation that a draft decree
on management, provision and
use of internet services and
information on the network
would run contrary to the right
to freedom of expression
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/22nd/public__AL_Vietnam_02.08.1
2_(3.2012).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/22nd/Vietnam_15.10.12
_(3.2012).pdf
29.08.2012
31.10.2012
Arbitrary Detention,
Freedom of Peaceful
Assembly and
Association, Health,
Human Right
Defenders, Torture
Alleged ill-treatment of
human rights defender, Ms.
Tran Thi Thuy, land rights
activist
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/22nd/public__UA_Vietnam_29.08.1
2_(4.2012).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/22nd/Vietnam_31.10.12
_(4.2012).pdf
21.12.2012
28.02.2013
Arbitrary Detention,
Cultural Rights,
Freedom of Expression,
Freedom of Peaceful
Assembly and
Association, Human
Rights Defenders
Alleged trial and
imprisonment of two
songwriters under article 88 Mr. Vo Minh Tri and Mr. Tran
Vu Anh Binh
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/23rd/public__UA_Vietnam_21.12.1
2_(5.2012).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/20th/Vietnam_25.02.13
_(5.2012).pdf
14.01.2013
21.03.2013
27.08.2013
Arbitrary Detention,
Freedom of Expression,
Freedom of Peaceful
Assembly and
Association, Human
Rights Defenders
Alleged sentencing and
detention of 14 pro-democracy
activists under article 79 and
detention of Mr. Le Quoc
Quan
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/23rd/public__UA_Vietnam_14.01.1
3_(1.2013).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/23rd/Vietnam_21.03.13
_(1.2013).pdf
01.02.2013
03.04.2013
Arbitrary Detention,
Freedom of Expression,
Human Rights
Defenders
Alleged detention of
prominent blogger, Mr. Le
Anh Hung in a mental health
institution without judicial
process
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/23rd/public__UA_Vietnam_01.02.1
3_(2.2013).pdf
07.02.2013
08.04.2013
Arbitrary Detention,
Freedom of Expression,
Freedom of Peaceful
Assembly and
Association, Human
Rights Defenders
Allegations of conviction of
22 members of the ―Bia Son
Council for Public Law and
Affairs under article 79
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/23rd/public__UA_Vietnam_07.02.1
3_(3.2013).pdf
2
0
1
3
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/24th/VNM_27.08.13_(1
.2013)_pro.pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/23rd/Vietnam_03.04.13
_(2.2013).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/23rd/Vietnam_08.04.13
_(3.2013).pdf
12.04.2013
02.07.2013
Freedom of Expression,
Freedom of Association,
Freedom of Religion,
Human Rights
Defenders
Alleged harassment and
threats against a Buddhist
activist, writer and human
rights defender, Mr. Le Cong
Cau
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/24th/public__AL_Vietnam_12.04.1
3_(4.2013).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/24th/Vietnam_02.07.13
_(4.2013).pdf
07.08.2013
11.10.2013
Arbitrary detention,
Freedom of expression,
Health, Human Rights
defenders, Independence
of Judges and Lawyers,
Torture
Alleged arbitrary detention,
torture and denial of medical
care against an independent
journalist and blogger, Mr.
Nguyen Van Hai and a human
rights activist and lawyer Mr
Cu Huy Ha Vu and a well
know writer and blogger Mr.
Nguyen Xuan Nghia
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/24th/public__UA_Vietnam_07.08.1
3_(5.2013).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/24th/Vietnam_11.10.13
_(5.2013).pdf
20.09.2013
none
Arbitrary detention;
Freedom of expression;
Freedom of peaceful
assembly and of
association; Health;
Human rights defenders;
Torture; Violence
against women
Alleged arbitrary detention,
torture and denial of medical
care against a labor rights
defender and member of the
Dân Oan (Victims of
Injustice) movement Ms. X
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/24th/Public__UA_Vietnam_20.09.1
3_(6.2013)_Pro.pdf
01.10.2013
10.01.2014
Freedom of expression;
Freedom of peaceful
assembly and of
association; Human
rights defenders;
Allegation that a draft decree
on the Management,
Provision, Use of Internet
Services and Information
Content Online (No.
72/2013/ND-CP), known as
‘Decree 72’ would run
contrary to freedom of
expression, freedom of
peaceful assembly and of
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/24th/public__AL_Vietnam_01.10.1
3_(7.2013).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/25th/Vietnam_10.01.13
_(7.2013).pdf
association on 15 July 2013
28.10.2013
30.12.2013
Freedom of expression;
Alleged arbitrary arrest
against Mr. Dinh Nhat Uy
who writes his view on social
networking websites
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/24th/public__AL_Vietnam_28.10.1
3_(8.2013).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/24th/Vietnam_30.12.13
_(8.2013).pdf
28.1.2014
14.04.2014
Arbitrary detention;
Freedom of peaceful
assembly and of
association; Freedom of
religion; Minority
issues;
Alleged arrest, threats and
harassment against the up to
23 members of the Unified
Buddhist Church of Vietnam
(UBCV) youth movement in
Hue and Ho Chi Minh City
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/25th/public__UA_Vietnam_28.01.1
4_(1.2014).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/26th/Vietnam_14.04.14
_(2.2014).pdf
21.03.2014
23.05.2014
Adequate housing,
Cultural Rights,
Freedom of religion,
Minority Issues.
Alleged forced eviction of the
residents of the Con Dau
village, near Da Nang city, in
Central Viet Nam to build an
eco-resort.
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/27th/public__UA_Vietnam_21.03.1
4_(3.2014).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/27th/Vietnam_23.05.14
_(3.2014).pdf
26.03.2014
30.05.2014
Arbitrary detention;
Freedom of expression;
Freedom of peaceful
assembly and of
association; Freedom of
religion; Human rights
defenders; Violence
against women;
Alleged harassment and
assault of human rights
defender, Mr. Nguyen Bac
Truyen and his wife, and
ongoing detention of three of
his friends human rights
defenders; Ms. Bui Thi Minh
Hang, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy
Quynh, and Mr. Nguyen Van
Minh on 9 February 2014
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/27th/public__UA_Vietnam_26.03.1
4_(4.2014).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/27th/Vietnam_30.05.14
_(4.2014).pdf
2
0
1
4
31.03.2014
11.07.2014
Freedom of expression;
Freedom of peaceful
assembly and of
association; Human
rights defenders;
Alleged denial for a journalist,
writer and independent
analyst; Mr. Pham Chi Dung
to travel to Geneva to
participate in a side-event at
the Human Rights Council in
connection with the Socialist
Republic of Viet Nam’s
Universal Periodic Review on
1 February 2014 after
interrogation and confiscation
of his passport and mobile
phone
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/27th/public__AL_Vietnam_31.03.1
4_(5.2014).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/27th/Vietnam_11.07.14
_(5.2014).pdf
17.04.2014
15.07.2014
Freedom of expression;
Freedom of religion;
Health; Human rights
defenders;
Independence of judges
and lawyers;
Alleged arrest, detention,
sentencing and ill-treatment
while in detention of human
rights defenders, in particular
blogger; Mr. Ngo Hao, who
was sentenced to 15 years
imprisonment and 5 years
probation on 11 September
2013. Mr. Le Quoc Quan was
arrested on 27 December
2012, and the charges of tax
evasion against him were
upheld on 18 February 2014.
Mr. Le Quoc Quan has
previous communication sent
on 14 January 2013.
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/27th/public__UA_Vietnam_17.04.1
4_(6.2014).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/27th/Vietnam_15.07.14
_(6.2014).pdf
19.05.2014
24.07.2014
Freedom of expression;
Freedom of peaceful
assembly and of
association; Freedom of
religion; Human rights
defenders;
Alleged acts of reprisals
against the head of the
Buddhist Youth Movement in
the form of arbitrary detention
through house arrest of Mr. Le
Cong Cau, who addressed an
audio message to a side-event
during the Human Rights
Council session in Geneva
before Viet Nam’s
examination under the UPR.
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/27th/public__AL_Vietnam_19.05.1
4_(7.2014).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/27th/Vietnam_24.07.14
_(7.2014).pdf
25.07.2014
06.10.2014
Arbitrary detention;
Summary executions
Alleged imposition of the
death penalty against an
individual suffering from a
mental disability. According
to the information received, in
2013, Mr. X was arrested and
detained at Tan Son Nhat
International Airport on
charges of drug possession,
after an acquaintance forced
him at gun point to carry the
drugs on a flight to Australia.
In April 2014, the Ho Chi
Minh City People’s Socialist
Republic of Vietnam Court
sentenced Mr. X to death,
disregarding his mental
disability and other mitigating
circumstances of the case.
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/28th/Public__UA_Vietnam_25.07.1
4_(8.2014)_pro.pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/28th/Vietnam_06.10.14
_(8.2014)_Pro.pdf
12.08.2014
24.10.2014
Arbitrary detention;
Freedom of expression;
Human rights defenders;
Independence of judges
and lawyers
Alleged arbitrary arrest,
detention and conviction of a
blogger based on his public
criticism of the human rights
record of the Government of
Viet Nam. According to the
information received, on 26
May 2013, Mr. Truong Duy
Nhat was arrested and
detained, after he had written
posts on his blog in which he
criticized the Vietnamese
Government’s compliance
with international human
rights law. On 4 March 2014,
he was allegedly convicted of
abusing democratic freedoms
to infringe upon the interests
of the State and sentenced to
two years’ imprisonment. On
26 June 2014, the People’s
Supreme Court of Vietnam
upheld the sentence.
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/28th/public__UA_Viet_Nam_12.08
.14_(9.2014).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/28th/Vietnam_24.10.14
_(9.2014).pdf
12.11.2014
30.01.2015
Arbitrary detention;
Freedom of religion;
Health; Human rights
defenders; Torture
Alleged inadequate medical
attention and treatment in
prison of a Hoa Hao Buddhist
leading to a critical health
condition. According to the
information received, Ms. Mai
Thi Dung was arrested in
August 2005 and sentenced to
11 years’ imprisonment for
her activism in protest of the
suppression of religious
freedom in the Mekong Delta.
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/28th/public__UA_Viet_Nam_12.11
.14_(10.2014).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/28th/Viet_Nam_30.01.1
5_(10.2014).pdf
Since her arrest, Ms. Dung has
been transferred to prison
facilities in locations far away
from her hometown, resulting
in her family having limited
access to her. Ms. Dung was
diagnosed with, amongst
others, heart failure and
gallstones, but subsequently
denied the necessary medical
treatment outside of prison.
Ms. Dung’s husband appealed
to Thanh Xuan prison
authorities twice in 2014,
without any success, for her
temporary release in order to
receive proper medical
treatment.
25.11.2014
16.03.2015
Freedom of religion;
Human rights defenders;
Minority issues
Allegations of ongoing
harassment and violation of
freedom of religion or belief
of independent religious
communities in Viet Nam, as
well as reprisals for cooperating with the United
Nations, its mechanisms and
representatives in the field of
human rights. There is also
imminent risk of the
demolition of Lien Tri Pagoda
due to an urban development
project in Thu Thiem
Peninsula.
https://spdb.ohchr.org/
hrdb/28th/public__UA_Viet_Nam_25.11
.14_(11.2014).pdf
https://spdb.ohchr.org/hrd
b/29th/Viet_Nam_16.03.1
5_(11.2014).pdf