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Bulletin on human rights and religious freedom |
Download document Word of the BULLETIN ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN VIET NAM IN 2004.
Overview
The Bulletin on Human Rights and Religious Freedom in Viet Nam in 2004 presents an overall picture of practice of human rights and religious freedom in Viet Nam in 2004 and during recent years. It describes both progress and outstanding issues. It focuses on the following areas: 1) the situation of human rights and religious freedom in Viet Nam, 2) efforts to create a stable environment for the implementation of fundamental rights and the administrative functions of public authorities, 3) progress made in improving the legal system to ensure human rights and religious freedom, and 4) efforts of the Viet Nam Government to create the most favorable conditions for socio-economic development programs in the Central Highlands. The situation of human rights and religious freedom in recent years, particularly in 2004, has seen positive developments.
Firstly, more attention has been given to ensuring fundamental human rights including socio-economic, cultural, civil and political rights as well as equal rights among ethnic groups. Freedom of press has been broadened, which has become instrumental in fighting social problems, especially corruption. Amnesties for prisoners continue to be granted, with 8,325 prisoners have been released in the Lunar New Year Amnesty. The number of religious followers and dignitaries as well as worshiping places keeps growing.
Secondly, the legal system has been further improved. On June 18, 2004, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly of Viet Nam passed an Ordinance on Religion and Belief followed by a decree of the Government being drafted to implement the Ordinance. At the same time, the ability of the National Assembly to oversee the executive and the judiciary has also been strengthened.
Thirdly, public administrations from central to local levels have created a stable environment for development, including human rights and religious freedom. It is the State’s consistent policy to take the welfare of the people as the end and the drive of every socio-economic development policy. After 20 years of Doi Moi reforms, significant economic and social achievements have been recorded. In 2004, Viet Nam continues to see her people’s living standards improved, its law-governed state strengthened, its hunger eradicated and poverty reduced, and the gap between its rich and poor narrowed.
Fourthly, the economic and social development situation in the Central Highlands continues to see positive developments, which helped to improve the life of the people, especially the region’s ethnic minorities. In addition, the religious situation in the Central Highlands has become normal, and by 2004 account, more than 36 Protestant chapter churches have been established.
| Box 4 – Human Rights Dialogue between Viet Nam and other countries | |
| 1994-2002 | Viet Nam – US Human Rights Dialogue (10 rounds) |
| 2002 – 12/2004 | Viet Nam – EU Human Rights Dialogue (4 rounds) |
| 2002-6/2004 | Viet Nam – Australia Human Rights Dialogue (3 rounds) |
| 2002-2003 | Viet Nam – Norway Human Rights Dialogue (2 rounds) |
| 10/2003 | Viet Nam – Sweden Human Rights Dialogue |