The EU reported having a positive and deep exchange with Vietnam at the sixth meeting of EU-Vietnam dialogue on human rights in Brussels on Thursday 8 December, according to a press release issued by the European External Action Service (EEAS).
The discussions covered judicial reforms in Vietnam, freedom of expression, religion and belief, freedom of assembly and peaceful association, labour rights, promoting the rule of law, fighting torture and ill-treatment, arbitrary arrest, capital punishment and support for civil society organisations and human rights activists in Vietnam.
The European Union offered to continue its support, including to the implementation of the UN Convention against Torture, as well as to share best practices in legal review processes. The EU also shared its experience on the fight against trafficking in human beings.
The EU also raised the ongoing harassment and detention of an increasing number of human rights defenders and activists. The EU reiterated that all persons detained for peacefully exercising their freedom of expression should be released.
Cooperation in international fora and the implementation of recommendations from international bodies were also raised. The EU reiterated its encouragement, to issue a standing invitation to UN Special Procedures and in particular invitations to the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders.
Finally, the EU encouraged Vietnam, to ratify and implement remaining international human rights and labour standards and ensure meaningful social dialogue. It welcomed efforts made to allow awareness-raising on the LGBTI rights.
The seventh meeting of the human rights dialogue will take place in Hanoi in 2017. The human rights dialogue is part of the EU-Vietnam partnership and cooperation framework-agreement, which entered a new stage in October (see EUROPE 11637).
A new visit to Vietnam by the European Parliament’s human rights subcommittee is scheduled in 2017. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)