Wednesday, September 30, 2009

VIETNAM is making a mockery of its obligations under the UN Human Rights Watch

29 Sep 2009
VietCatholic News

Hanoi /September 26, 2009 -The communist country has rejected a raft of recommendations to improve its rights record raised during a periodic review by the UN Human RightsCouncil that ended this week, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a statement.
"Vietnam - a member of the UN Security Council - has made a mockery of its engagement at the UN Human Rights Council," said Elaine Pearson, deputy Asia director of the New York-based organisation.
"Vietnam rejected even the most benign recommendations based on the international covenants it has signed, such as allowing people to promote human rights or express their opinions."
Hanoi rejected 45 recommendations from UN member states, HRW said, including lifting internet and blogging controls on privately owned media, allowing groups and individuals to promote human rights, abolishing the death penalty and releasing peaceful prisoners of conscience.

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