Urgent Action: HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER ARBITRARILY DETAINED (Viet Nam: UA 44.21)

Prominent human rights defender and advocate Nguyen Thuy Hanh, was arrested on April 7, 2021 and charged under Article 117 of the Criminal Code for “opposing the State of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam”, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years. Nguyen Thuy Hanh, through the organization she founded, the 50K Fund, has provided essential humanitarian support to countless unjustly detained prisoners and their families. The arrest of Nguyen Thuy Hanh is likely to have a serious negative impact on the welfare of many unjustly detained prisoners in Viet Nam. The Vietnamese authorities must immediately and unconditionally release her as she is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for peacefully exercising her human rights and carrying out vital humanitarian work.

TAKE ACTION:

1. Please take action as-soon-as possible. This Urgent Action expires on August 17, 2021.
2. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
3. Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 44.21. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.

CONTACT INFORMATION

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SAMPLE LETTER Your Excellency the State President, I am writing to express my grave concern over the recent arrest of Nguyen Thuy Hanh, a humanitarian and human rights defender who should be celebrated and supported by the Vietnamese authorities, rather than harassed and detained. Nguyen Thuy Hanh’s work has focused on helping the families of prisoners so that they can see their loved ones who are serving lengthy prison sentences once a month. Many of these prisoners have been separated from their families for years and even decades, often in dire prison conditions. It is distressing to learn that Nguyen Thuy Hanh faces up to 20 years in prison under Article 117 of the Criminal Code. Her selflessness, sincerity, and tireless work on behalf of those in need have made her one of the most widely respected human rights defenders in Viet Nam. Nguyen Thuy Hanh is a prisoner of conscience, who has been detained solely for her peaceful exercising of her human rights and undertaking humanitarian work. Therefore, I urge you the State President, to ensure that:

• Nguyen Thuy Hanh is released immediately and unconditionally;
• Pending her release, Nguyen Thuy Hanh is granted prompt, regular and unrestricted access to family visits and access to a lawyer;
• Nguyen Thuy Hanh is treated in full accordance with the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules), and is protected from torture and other ill-treatment, including poor conditions of detention and prolonged pre-trial detention.

Sincerely, [YOUR NAME] ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• READ THE FULL URGENT ACTION: Word or PDF
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• CONTACT US: [email protected]