MEPs call on the authorities in Vietnam to immediately and unconditionally release all human rights defenders and prisoners of conscience detained or sentenced for merely exercising their right to freedom of expression.
They reiterate their demand to end all restrictions, surveillance, acts of harassment and unfair trials against human rights defenders, journalists, dissidents and bloggers, and condemn the current abuse of repressive legal provisions restricting fundamental freedoms in the country.
The resolution also urges the Vietnamese government to ensure that the treatment of all detainees is in line with international standards, including the right to access lawyers, medical professionals and family members. Human rights defenders must be able to carry out their legitimate activities without fear of reprisal and be free from all restrictions, including judicial harassment, MEPs say.
The text was adopted by a show of hands.
