Press Release

At the 12th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva: Vietnam scorns UN proposals for reform in Universal Periodic Review as dissidents await trial in Hanoi

GENEVA, 24 September 2009 (VCHR) – As the UN Human Rights Council met today to adopt the final report on the Universal Periodic Review of Vietnam, Mr Vo Van Ai, President of the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR), denounced Vietnam’s rejection of a host of essential measures proposed by …

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United Nations’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention condemns unlawful imprisonment of government critics in Vietnam

PARIS, 7 September 2009 (VCHR) – The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, a prominent body which reviews cases of unlawful imprisonment, has declared that several Vietnamese dissidents are wrongfully detained, in violation of international human rights laws. They include blogger Nguyen Hoang Hai (Dieu Cay), writer Nguyen Xuan …

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Police arrest UBCV monk Thich Vien Dinh in Binh Dinh and prevent UBCV leaders from attending Memorial Service of late Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang

PARIS, 23 July 2009 (IBIB) – This morning, Security Police arrested Venerable Thich Vien Dinh, Secretary General of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) in Binh Dinh Province, where he had come to attend a Memorial Service for the late UBCV Patriarch Thich Huyen Quang. According to the …

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At the Australian Parliament in Canberra:
Buddhist leaders urge Australia to take urgent steps to ensure security in the Asia-Pacific region and respect of religious freedom and human rights in Vietnam

CANBERRA, 17 June 2009 (IBIB) – Mr. Vo Van Ai, International spokesman of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam (UBCV) and a delegation of senior dignitaries from the Overseas UBCV from the USA, Canada and Australia visited the Australian Parliament today to warn of current threats to Vietnamese sovereignty and …

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US Commission on International Religious Freedom visits UBCV leader Thich Quang Do in Saigon

PARIS, 16 May 2009 (IBIB) – A delegation from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) visited Patriarch Thich Quang Do of the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam today (Saturday 16 May) at the Thanh Minh Zen Monastery in Saigon. The delegation included USCIRF Vice-Chairman Michael Cromartie, David Dettoni, …

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Report by the UN Human Rights Council on Vietnam’s Universal Periodic Review: Vietnam Rejects UN Recommendations for Concrete Reforms to Advance Human Rights

GENEVA, 13 May 2009 (VIETNAM COMMITTEE) – The Vietnam Committee on Human Rights expresses deep disappointment at the report of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Vietnam issued by the UN Human Rights Council’s UPR Working Group on Tuesday, 12th May 2009. Whilst accepting some general recommendations on the promotion …

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Vietnam Committee urges U.N. members to raise urgent human rights concerns at the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review on Vietnam

GENEVA, 8 May 2009 (VIETNAM COMMITTEE) – The Socialist Republic of Vietnam will be examined by the United Nations Human Rights Council for its first Universal Periodic Review (UPR) today. The review, which is based on information from three reports – Vietnam’s country report, a compilation of information from UN …

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Before the United Nations in Geneva: Demonstration for Human Rights and Religious Freedom during the Universal Periodic Review of Vietnam

GENEVA, 30 April 2009 (VIETNAM COMMITTEE) – The Vietnam Committee on Human Rights and Quê Me: Action for Democracy in Vietnam are organizing a one-day demonstration at the Place des Nations, outside the United Nations headquarters in Geneva on 8th May 2009 from 8.00 am onwards to call for the …

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UBCV leader Thich Quang Do calls for a month of civil disobedience and at-home demonstrations in May to protest environmental destruction

PARIS, 1st April 2009 (IBIB) – The International Buddhist Information Bureau (IBIB) received an appeal today from Patriarch Thich Quang Do, leader of the outlawed Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, calling on all Vietnamese to stage peaceful protests in their homes throughout the month of May 2009 as a “gesture …

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At the 10th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva: Vo Van Ai denounces Vietnam’s non-compliance with UN Treaties, dangers of Bauxite mining in Central Highlands, and Secret VPC anti-Human rights plan

GENEVA, 23 March 2009 (VIETNAM COMMITTEE) – Speaking before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva today, Mr. Vo Van Ai, President of Quê Me: Action for Democracy in Vietnam and the Vietnam Committee on Human Rights denounced “grave violations of human rights” in Vietnam, and the government’s systematic “non-compliance …

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