Australia Should Press Vietnam on Rights, HRW Says
Human Rights Watch calls on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to raise concerns about Vietnam's poor human rights record during a meeting with the country's leader.
As Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese prepares to meet with Vietnam's president and general secretary of the Communist Party, To Lam, he should be aware of the country's repressive nature.
Vietnam's poor human rights record has worsened since To Lam ascended to the country's highest political office in 2024. The authorities have expanded the use of draconian laws that criminalize free speech, with people risking up to seven years in prison for raising complaints about government policies or local officials.
The Vietnamese authorities have also committed abusive acts abroad, targeting independent journalists and Indigenous rights activists in exile. At least five people have been convicted and sentenced to between 7 and 17 years in prison on politically motivated charges since December.
In addition, the government has arrested people for publishing a book about Ho Chi Minh that provoked the authorities, and has issued a new decree targeting lawyers. The authorities are also revising laws to further curb freedom of expression.
The human rights situation in Vietnam is a concern that should inform all engagements between the two countries. Australia and Vietnam have agreed to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to expand cooperation across defense, economics, education, energy, and digital innovation. Australia should leverage this partnership to press the Vietnamese government to release people imprisoned for exercising their rights and to end its crackdown on free expression.
## Vietnam's Crackdown on Civil Society
The Vietnamese government has a history of cracking down on civil society, with To Lam overseeing a far-reaching crackdown as minister of the Ministry of Public Security from 2016 to 2024. The authorities imprisoned dozens of prominent independent journalists, bloggers, and activists, including Pham Doan Trang, Pham Chi Dung, Nguyen Tuong Thuy, Nguyen Lan Thang, and Can Thi Theu. Many of these individuals now live in exile for fear of persecution.
## Australia's Role in Promoting Human Rights
Australia has an opportunity to promote human rights in Vietnam through its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The country should use this partnership to press the Vietnamese government to release people imprisoned for exercising their rights and to end its crackdown on free expression. The annual human rights dialogue between Australia and Vietnam should not be the only forum for rights concerns.
| Year | Event | Details | | --- | --- | --- | | 2016-2024 | To Lam's tenure as minister of the Ministry of Public Security | Oversaw a far-reaching crackdown on civil society | | 2024 | To Lam ascended to Vietnam's highest political office as Communist Party general secretary | Vietnam's poor human rights record worsened | | 2024 | Australia and Vietnam agreed to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership | To expand cooperation across defense, economics, education, energy, and digital innovation |
