Senator Boxer Reintroduces Vietnam Human Rights Legislation

May 22, 2009 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) yesterday reintroduced the Vietnam Human Rights Act to address systematic human rights abuses in Vietnam, including religious and political persecution.

Senator Boxer said, “Unfortunately, another year has gone by and Vietnam has yet to significantly improve its human rights record. The Vietnamese government continues to arrest democracy and human rights activists, trade union leaders, journalists, bloggers, and many others. I support a strong U.S.-Vietnam relationship, but for that relationship to grow further, Vietnam must make some key changes. It's time for Vietnam to end its religious and political persecution once and for all.”

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The bill specifically requires that any spending increase for U.S. non-humanitarian development, economic, trade and security assistance to Vietnam be matched by additional funding for programs focusing on human rights, the rule of law and civil-society capacity building. Most of the non-humanitarian U.S. assistance programs to Vietnam focus on business, trade and security, and have not yet effectively addressed human rights abuses.

The legislation also prohibits Vietnam from having access to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program until Vietnam improves its labor standards. The GSP program allows developing countries to import certain items into the U.S. duty-free. In addition, the bill encourages Vietnam to release its religious and political prisoners.

Source: Senator Barbara Boxer