The United States is deeply concerned by the conviction and nine-year prison sentence of prominent Vietnamese author and journalist Pham Doan Trang. Trang, the 2022 winner of the Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award, has been recognized internationally for her work in advancing human rights and good governance in Vietnam. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found in September 2021 that Trang’s detention is arbitrary and violates Vietnam’s international human rights commitments. We are aware of Trang’s declining health and urge Vietnam to ensure adequate medical care and allow access to Trang to assess his medical condition.
Trang’s continued detention is the latest in a troubling pattern of arrests and punishments in Vietnam for peacefully expressing their views. We call on the Vietnamese government to release Trang and allow all Vietnamese people to exercise their right to freedom of expression without fear of reprisals, in accordance with the human rights provisions of the Vietnamese constitution and Vietnam’s international obligations and commitments.
