Vietnam - Respect for and promotion of democratic principles and human and fundamental rights at work constitute an essential element of the EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) signed in June 2012. The EU's main concerns include civil and political rights, specifically the freedoms of expression, of the media and of religion or belief, as well as the application of the death penalty. In the framework of the advanced implementation of the PCA, the EU and Vietnam in October held the preparatory meeting for the fourth round of the enhanced human rights dialogue due to take place in January 2015 in Brussels.
Human rights were mainstreamed throughout the year during high-level bilateral visits. In particular, human rights were raised at the highest level when President Barroso visited Vietnam and during Prime Minister Dung's visit to Brussels, where he met Presidents Van Rompuy, Barroso and Schulz. The ninth EU-Vietnam Joint Commission and the third round of high-level political consultations, both held in March, also provided the opportunity to address human rights concerns. Through the preparatory contacts for the human rights dialogue, public statements and discreet diplomacy, the EU urged the government to remove restrictions on freedom of expression and the media, requested prison visits and trial observation and called for the liberation, on humanitarian grounds, of several imprisoned activists who were in poor health. The EU has made public statements regarding trials against human rights activists, the application of the death penalty and the release of several persons of concern.
Furthermore, in its regular political dialogue, the EU repeatedly expressed its concerns about the arrest and sentencing of a number of activists and bloggers and reiterated its calls for the release of all imprisoned peaceful advocates of human rights in the country. The EU’s list of persons of concern was regularly updated and shared with the authorities. The release in April of the activist Mr Trung, who was on this list and had been visited in prison by the EU Head of Delegation in July 2013, was a tangible result of the EU's efforts. Unfortunately, in 2014, requests to visit persons of concern in prison were not accepted by the authorities. The EU also met with the Ministry of Public Security to express its concern about the harassment and violence directed against human rights activists attempting to attend human rights events organised by the international community.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 17 April on the negotiations for the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, which includes several references to human rights, including core labour rights.
The EU regularly met with human rights defenders and civil society organisations, and carried out field visits and trial observations on two occasions. It also monitored developments in relation to freedom of religion or belief, which remained a concern (notably persecution of non-recognised religious groups and destruction of their property) although gradual improvement was noted on the registration of churches. EU representatives met with religious leaders from different denominations on several occasions.
In 2014, Vietnam underwent its second Universal Periodic Review in Geneva. While acknowledging positive steps taken by the government of Vietnam since the first UPR cycle, many delegations (including EU Member States) highlighted the need for improvements regarding e.g. freedom of expression and the media, space for civil society, the death penalty, etc. Vietnam participated constructively in the exercise, accepted 182 of the 227 recommendations received, and by year end was working on an action plan for their implementation. The EU played an active role in the UPR process and its follow-up and offered support to Vietnam in implementing the recommendations it had accepted.
Vietnam is still to make its mark in the promotion of human rights domestically and at international level as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council since November 2013 (for the 2014-2016 term).
The EU continued to support the modernisation of the judicial system, inter alia as regards access to justice, with a contribution of EUR 8 million to the Justice Partnership Programme, a joint donor initiative involving the EU, Denmark and Sweden. The project supports key institutions such as the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy and the Bar Association, and includes training for judges, lawyers and other law professionals. Governance and rule of law is also a focal sector of the EU's Multiannual Indicative Programme 2014-2020 adopted in August.
The EIDHR supported seven projects covering a broad range of issues, including empowering people with HIV and populations at higher risk of HIV infection, the rights of persons with disabilities, support for civil society organisation networks, the rights of persons belonging to ethnic minorities, workers’ rights and labour relations. In the framework of the Strategic Dialogue Facility, the EU also supported activities in the areas of anti-corruption, rights of persons belonging to ethnic minorities, freedom of religion or belief, governance and migration. In July the EU Delegation and EU Member States' Embassies adopted the EU Roadmap for Engagement with Civil Society Organizations.
