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Vietnam Human Rights Network
FoundedSeptember 1997 in California, USA
TypeNon-profit
NGO
Location
  • Global
    Headquarter in California, USA
ServicesAdvocating and defending human rights
Key people
Tung B Nguyen
President
Duc V Nguyen
Chair of Supervisory Board
Websitewww.vietnamhumanrights.net


As a non-profit NGO founded in 1997, the Vietnam Human Rights Network (VNHRN) – named Mạng Lưới Nhân Quyền Việt Nam in Vietnamese - gathers a number of human rights activists and organizations concerned with human rights in Vietnam. VNHRN believes that all Vietnamese citizens are entitled to universal human rights as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and other international human rights instruments. Members of the VNHRN are present in many countries around the world even though its headquarters are in Orange County, California, U.S.A. As a network, participating organizations are entirely equal in their standing and votes, the only condition being that they work together on common projects while retaining their identity as individual organizations with their own activities.

Formation of the VNHRN

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Toward the end of the 1990's, the increasing repression of dissidents by the Vietnamese authorities at home and the collapse of many communist dictatorial regimes in Eastern Europe, especially through non-violent revolutions, led many Vietnamese activists and organizations concerned with human rights in Vietnam to the realization that we needed worldwide coordination in order to make our struggle more effective. As a result, on 1 November 1997, a founding convention was held in Santa Ana, California, gathering several activists representing a variety of human rights organizations from around the world.[1] After two days of deliberation, it was decided to form the Vietnam Human Rights Network, and a By-laws was adopted to serve as the basis for operation of the organization. By 2000 the VNHRN obtained its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. Since its founding, the VNHRN has held up to now (2014) eleven Conventions gathering participants from many countries in the world to go over past operations, assess the human rights situations in Vietnam and in the world, and lay out the general directions and future activities. Organizationally speaking, VNHRN consists of three main bodies: the Coordinating Committee,[2] the Supervisory Board,[3] and the Advisory Board.[4] Up to now (2014), the following three persons have been entrusted with the function of heading the Coordination Committee: Prof. Nguyen Thanh Trang (1997-2005 and 2007-2009), Dr. Le Minh Nguyen (2005-2007), and Dr. Nguyen Ba Tung (2009 up to the present). The existence and activities of the VNHRN have been lauded by Vietnamese everywhere as well as by international human rights NGOs and human rights activists inside Vietnam. However, at the same time, it is condemned by the Vietnamese authorities as "a reactionary organization of Vietnamese in exile... hiding behind the shield of 'democracy and human rights' to oppose the Vietnamese government through slander and distortions."[5]


Typical Activities

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The activities of VNHRN are aimed at three main goals:

Information and Education

  • Producing Human Rights Newsletter.
  • Establishing a website on the Internet to rapidly disseminate human rights news and developments, http://www.vietnamhumanrights.net/
  • Translating and publishing the International Human Rights Code, of documents and writings on human rights for dissemination both inside Vietnam and in the Diaspora.
  • Organizing human rights seminars and conferences in Montreal (Canada), Sydney (Australia), Munich (Germany), Paris (France), Washington DC, New York (NY), Orlando (FL), New Orleans (LA), Houston and Dallas (TX), Westminster, Los Angeles, San Jose, Sacramento, and San Diego (CA), Seattle and Tacoma (WA), Denver (CO), etc. . .
  • Publishing Annual Human Rights Reports (since 2009).

Seeking International Support

  • Cooperating with international human rights organizations such as American and Chinese, Burmese and Tibetan NGOs, as well as with the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner's Office, the UN Human Rights Council, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Reporters sans Frontières, etc. . .
  • Participating in the Vietnam Human Rights Day (May 11 every year) held annually at the U.S. Senate since 1998.
  • Meeting with both executive and legislative branches of a number of countries so as to seek support for human rights in Vietnam, such as a meeting held with U.S. President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney in the White House (on 29 May 2007), or one with Honorable Geoffrey Harris, Chairman of the Human Rights Committee of the European Union (on 6 May 2008)…
  • Participating in several international conferences on human rights, such as the 2000 United Nations Millennium Forum in New York, the 2001 International Conference for Human Rights in Holland, the First World Forum for Democratization in Asia (Taipei, Taiwan, 2005), the Third International Conference on Human Rights Education in Cracow Poland, 2012…

Providing Support to Activists inside Vietnam

  • Establishing annual Vietnam Human Rights Awards and awarding them to outstanding human rights activists (since 2002).
  • Helping financially and for medical reasons those activists who run into difficulties.


The Vietnam Human Rights Awards

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The Vietnam Human Rights Awards given out by the VNHRN since 2002 were established to highlight achievements in non-violent human rights work in Vietnam. They are also meant to illustrate the solidarity of Vietnamese all over the world with individuals and organizations who have been or are committing themselves to protect the human rights of Vietnamese citizens. The Awarding Ceremony held for the Vietnam Human Rights Awards is held every year and in a different city on the occasion of International Human Rights Day (December 10).[6] The time for nominating awardees starts in July every year and concludes by the end of September. The results of the selection are announced in mid-November every year. These awards consist of a citation and cash awards amounting to $US10.000 (total) each year. After over a decade of existence, the Vietnam Human Rights Awards have received positive marks both inside and outside of Vietnam,[7][8] [9] despite sharp criticism by the Vietnamese authorities of both the awards and the award recipients.[10][11] [12] [13] [14]


General criteria

  • Nominee must be an individual currently living or a non-governmental organization still active in Vietnam.
  • Nominee must be involved in non-violent works for the promotion and protection of Vietnamese people’s human rights.
  • The nominee's works have generated positive influence inside and outside of Vietnam.

Nomination Process

Nominations may be submitted by either an individual or an organization. There is no limit to the number of nominations a nominator can make, but no self-nominations will be accepted; Nominations should be made using the nomination form below; however, a letter containing the required information is acceptable. Supporting documents (highly recommended, including writing materials and/or statements of the nominee, and writings about the nominee already or to be published).

List of VNHRA Recipients

Since its establishment the VNHRA has been presented to a number of human rights activists in Vietnam, including:

2002 Most Venerable Thich Quang Do and Father Nguyen Van Ly
2003 Messrs Nguyen Vu Binh, Le Chi Quang, Nguyen Khac Toan, and Dr. Pham Hong Son
2004 Mr. Pham Que Duong and Dr. Nguyen Dan Que
2005 Mr. Le Quang Liem, Father Phan Van Loi, and Venerable Thich Tue Sy
2006 Mr. Do Nam Hai an Mr. Nguyen Chinh Ket
2007 Mr. Hoang Minh Chinh, Lawyer Nguyen Van Dai, and Lawyer Le Thi Cong Nhan
2008 Venerable Thich Thien Minh, Blogger Dieu Cay Nguyen Van Hai, and Tu Do Ngon Luan Magazine
2009 Pastor Nguyen cong Chinh and Writer Tran Khai Thanh Thuy
2010 Journalist Truong Minh Duc and Mr. Doan Huy Chuong
2011 Dr. Cu Huy Ha Vu and Ms. Do Thi Minh Hanh
2012 Ms. Pham Thanh Nghien, Blogger Ta Phong Tan, and Ms. Huynh Thuc Vy
2013 Messrs Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Nguyen Hoang Quoc Hung, and Lawyer Le Quoc Quan


Annual Report of the VNHRN

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Starting in 2009, the Vietnam Human Rights Network has published annual reports on Human Rights in Vietnam.[15] The reports gather human rights developments as well as egregious human rights violations by the government of Vietnam regarding its citizens' fundamental rights. The product of cooperation from many human rights activists in Vietnam and in the Diaspora, those annual reports give a faithful picture the human rights situation in Vietnam. Original stories are constantly checked against other sources, such as social networks (Facebook, Twitter etc.), individual blogs, international news or research organizations, and even Vietnamese government news sources and data. The reports include a number of chapters and articles corresponding to the fundamental human rights as mentioned in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Recommendations include concrete and feasible propositions sent to the government of Vietnam, governments and organizations in touch with the government of Vietnam, international human rights NGOs, and the overseas Vietnamese with the aim of ameliorating the situation of human rights for the people of Vietnam. Furthermore, the VNHRN Annual Reports also carry appendices listing the names of prisoners of conscience currently held in jail in Vietnam or under house arrest.

References

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  1. ^ Participants of the VNHRN Founding Convention in Septembr 1997: Dr. Lam Thu Van, President of the Human Rights Coalition from Montreal (Canada); Mr. Vu Van Hoa, Editor of the Viet Nam Moi Newspaper, Seattle (WA); Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Mr. Quach An Hoa, and Mr. Pham Van Sinh, President of the Vietnamese Community in Glendale (Arizona); Chu Ba Yen, Publisher of the Viet Bao Bi-weekly, Miami (Florida); Ms. Nguyen Hong Lien, President of the Council For Human Rights in Vietnam, New York (NY); Miss Dao Bich Lien and Mr. Dao Chi Nhan from the Radio Dallas (Texas); Messrs. Nguyen Tu Cuong and Pham Thu Dang of the Vietnam Helsinki Committee, Washington, D.C.; Mr. Huynh Luong Thien, Publisher of the Thang Mo Weekly Magazine, San Francisco; Mr. Ho Van Khoi and Dr. Do Hung, President of the Vietnamese Community of San Jose; Atty. Nguyen Huu Thong, President of the Lawyers Committee for the Protection of Human Rights, San Jose; Mr. Ngo Van Hieu, Secretary General of the Committee for Human Rights in Vietnam, Los Angeles; Mr. Nguyen Thanh Trang, Chairman of the Indochinese Committee for Radio Free Aisia; Mr. Nguyen Anh Giao, Mr.Do Nhu Dien, President of the Vietnamese Federation of San Diego; Atty. Nguyen Do Phu and Chairman Nguyen Thanh Ha of the Movement for Human Rights in VietNam 2000; Messrs. Luu Trung Khao, Tran Minh Cong, Tran Duc Thanh Phong, Ton That Dzien, Doan The Cuong and Dr. Nguyen Tuong Bach of the Council on Democracy & Human Rights for Vietnam, Westminster (CA). Dr. Nguyen Tien Canh (Florida); Mr. Pham Ngoc Luy (Virginia); Dr. Bui Trong Cuong (Australia); Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Quynh, and Lawyer Hoang Xuan Hao (California)
  2. ^ The Coordinating Committee for 2013-2015 includes: Dr. Nguyen Ba Tung, Dr. Le Minh Nguyen, Dr. Lam Thu Van, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Lien, Dr. Nguyen Mau Trinh, Mr. Doan Viet Trung, Ms. Quan My Lan, Layer Doan Thanh Liem, Mr. Nguyan Quang Huy, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Dr. Nguyen Tien Canh, Mr. Tran Minh Cong, Mr. Doan The Cuong, Mr. Ton That Dzien, Ms. Nguyen Dung, Ms. Julie Hanh Nguyen, Mr. Ngo Van Hieu, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Quynh, Mr. Ta Chi Than, Mr. Huynh Luong Thien, Ms. Do Thi Thuan, Ms. Nguyen Ninh Thuan, Dr. Truong Minh Tri, Ms. Nguyen Khue Tu, and Mr. Chu Ba Yen.
  3. ^ The Supervisory Board for 2013-2015 includes: Dr. Nguyen Van Duc, Mr. do Anh Tai, and Mr. Do Nhu Dien.
  4. ^ The Advisory Board for 2013-2015 includes: Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Bich, Mr. Nguyen Minh Can, Lawyer Tran Thanh Hiep, Dr. Doan Viet Hoat, Ms. Jackie Bong Wright, Fr. Nguyen Huu Le, Mr. Pham Ngoc Luy, Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan, Lawyer Nguyen Huu Thong, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Trang, Dr. Nguyen Van Tran, and Lawyer Lam Le Trinh.
    Two defunct advisors who were deeply devout in VNHRN activities are Poet Nguyen Chi Thien and Dr. Nguyen Tuong Bach (see Lời tưởng niệm hai vị cố vấn của MLNQVN là Thi sĩ Nguyễn Chí Thiện và Bác sĩ Nguyễn Tường Bách. http://nguyenchithien4vn.net/baiviet/LamThuVan.htm)
  5. ^ Báo Công an nhân dân điện tử. Sự thật về “Mạng lưới nhân quyền Việt Nam” tại Mỹ. http://www.cand.com.vn/vi-VN/binhluan/2009/9/119232.cand
  6. ^ From 2002 to 2008 the Awarding Ceremonies were organized in Orange County, California, USA; 2009 in Washington DC; 2010 in Houston, Texas; 2011 in Melbourne, Australia; 2012 in Montréal, Canada; and 2013 in Paris, France.
  7. ^ Reporters Without Borders. Bloggers celebrated in Paris, arrested and beaten in Vietnam http://en.rsf.org/vietnam-bloggers-celebrated-in-paris-16-12-2013,45624.html
  8. ^ RFA. Dư luận trong nước về giải nhân quyền năm 2012 http://www.rfa.org/vietnamese/in_depth/vn-hr-network-award-help-activists-gm-11042012120853.html
  9. ^ VOA. 3 nhà hoạt động bị giam cầm được trao Giải thưởng Nhân quyền Việt Nam 2013 http://www.voatiengviet.com/content/ba-nha-hoat-dong-bi-giam-duoc-trao-giai-thuong-nhan-quyen-vietnam/1806504.html
  10. ^ Vietnam Motherland. Mạng lưới nhân quyền Việt Nam và chiêu bài “Giải thưởng nhân quyền” http://vietnammotherland.blogspot.com/2013/11/mang-luoi-nhan-quyen-viet-nam-va-chieu_30.html
  11. ^ Báo Công An Nhân Dân. Sự thật cái gọi “giải nhân quyền Việt Nam 2010.” http://antg.cand.com.vn/73966.cand
  12. ^ Báo Công an Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh. Sự thật cái gọi “Giải nhân quyền Việt Nam 2011. http://www.congan.com.vn/index.php?mod=detnews&catid=942&p=&id=420164
  13. ^ Petrotimes.vn. Lật tẩy "Giải nhân quyền Việt Nam 2011″ http://petrotimes.vn/news/vn/phap-luat/lat-tay-giai-nhan-quyen-viet-nam-2011_8243.html
  14. ^ Báo Công an Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh. Mặt thật của “Giải nhân quyền Việt Nam 2012.” http://congan.com.vn/?mod=detnews&catid=942&id=483192
  15. ^ The current annual report can be found here: http://www.vietnamhumanrights.net/english/documents/VNHRN_Report_2013.pdf