Human Rights and Religious Freedom in Vietnam

Date:

Tue, 03/23/2010 - 2:00 PM

Location:

B-318 Rayburn House Office Building

Hearing Notice

Despite the recent release of famed religious and political dissident, Father Ly, the human rights situation in Vietnam remains bleak. The U.S. Department of State's 2009 Human Rights Report on Vietnam states that "during the year the government increased its suppression of dissent" and "the government severely restricted freedom of association."

Additionally, reports indicated that mobs which included undercover police officers and Communist Party officials terrorized and assaulted monks and nuns at Phuoc Hue pagoda in Lam Dong province for three days in December. Montagnard Christians and Catholics have also come under increased pressure over the past year. These instances are indicative of a troubling pattern of abuses of human rights and religious freedom.

If you have any questions, please contact 202-225-3599.

Hosted by:

Joseph R. Pitts
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC

James P. McGovern
Member of Congress
Co-Chair, TLHRC

Witnesses

Panel 1

The Honorable Anh "Joseph" Cao, member of Congress, 2nd District of Louisiana
Written testimony

Panel 2

Michael Cromartie, Commissioner, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
Y Hin Nie, Montagnard Christians
Sister Dang Nghiem, Deer Park Monastery
Sophie Richardson, Asia Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch
Dr. Binh Nguyen, Founding Chair, International Protection for Prisoners of Conscience
Dr. Quan Nguyen, Director, Internet Radio Broadcasting to Vietnam: Rallying for Democracy

Accessibility

The Commission seeks to make its events, meetings and hearings accessible to persons with disabilities.

If you are in need of special accommodations, please call (202) 225-3599 at least four business days in advance.

Questions with regard to special accommodations in general (including availability of Commission materials in alternative formats and assistive listening devices, sign language interpretation, etc.) may be directed to the Commission.