UN Environment Programme expresses grave concern over the detention of environmental human rights defender Hoang Thi Minh Hong in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Hoang Thi Minh Hong is the fifth known environmental human rights defender arrested for alleged tax evasion in the last two years in Viet Nam. The arrest of Hong appears to represent a continuing trend of charges against individuals from civil society working on environmental issues in Viet Nam. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is deeply concerned about the arrests and intimidation of environmental human rights defenders.
As mentioned in a joint statement of UNEP and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), since June 2021, four other prominent environmental human rights defenders in Viet Nam have been arrested, detained and sentenced on charges of income tax evasion. Dang Dinh Bach, an environmental lawyer, who was arrested on the same charge last year, is currently serving a five-year prison sentence.
The arrests of individuals who work to protect the environment and support a just energy transition in Viet Nam is resulting in a chilling effect on civil society. It is deeply concerning that the intimidation and arrests of environmental advocates is taking place amid strong commitments being made to a just and sustainable energy transition in Viet Nam.
The intimidation and detention of individuals working with local communities and calling for sustainable and just energy transition, undermines the ability for such a just transition and the efforts to tackle the triple planetary crisis. Environmental defenders are fundamental partners of the government in the drive towards a just and sustainable energy transition and the achievement of the sustainable development goals. A safe and enabling space is essential to allow their vital work while supporting participatory environmental decision making.
The right to information, participation and justice in environmental matters is fundamental to the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. UNEP encourages the Government of Viet Nam to ensure that environmental advocates and civil society organizations working on the environment can operate freely, as partners in sustainable development, without fear and intimidation.
Statement made by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on the detention on environmental human rights defender Hoang Thi Minh Hong
Communication to the Government of Viet Nam from the Mandates of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders; the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention; the Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment; the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association.
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