VP/HR — Protecting human rights activists in Vietnam

4.10.2017

Question for written answer E-006233-17
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Marlene Mizzi (S&D)

According to a recent Human Rights Watch report, human rights activists and bloggers are regularly being attacked by anonymous offenders in Vietnam, an issue that is essentially limiting people’s freedom of speech and expression. Such cases date back as far as 2005, when the late dissident Hoang Minh Chinh and his family were set upon by a mob of about 50 people. In some incidents, uniformed police have been present, but have done nothing to help the activists or stop the offenders, while offenders have seldom been found guilty. Such physical assaults against human rights activists and bloggers are a violation of both Vietnamese and international law.

Can the VP/HR indicate what possible measures the EU could take to secure the safety of Vietnamese human rights activists and bloggers and to further promote freedom of speech in Vietnam?