Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the European Union (EU), Belgium, and Denmark to urge Vietnamese President To Lam to confront the country’s worsening human rights situation during his official visit to Europe from October 19 to 24. This appeal comes ahead of Lam’s engagements, which will include meetings in Denmark, the EU, and Belgium.
According to HRW, the Vietnamese government has intensified its crackdown on fundamental freedoms such as expression, peaceful activism, and independent journalism. The organization noted that closer diplomatic and trade ties have not led to meaningful reforms, emphasizing the need for European leaders to advocate for significant human rights improvements in Vietnam.
In a recent statement, HRW urged these leaders to demand the release of political prisoners, halt the prosecution of peaceful critics, and reform restrictive laws that limit freedom of expression. The organization also insisted that ongoing human rights violations should have repercussions on diplomatic and economic relations between the EU and Vietnam.
Vietnam reportedly holds over 160 political prisoners, as highlighted by HRW. In the first nine months of 2026 alone, at least 28 activists faced convictions and lengthy sentences, while approximately 39 others were arrested for criticizing the government or engaging with banned religious or political groups.
HRW further pointed out that the Vietnamese authorities often utilize vague legal provisions from the country’s Penal Code to prosecute dissent. For example, Article 331 criminalizes “abuse of democratic freedoms,” and Articles 116 and 117 target actions deemed as undermining national unity or spreading propaganda against the state. These vague laws enable the government to punish criticism related to corruption and public services.
Lam served as Minister of Public Security from 2016 to 2024 before recently becoming President and General Secretary of the Communist Party. His European visit is viewed as a critical opportunity for advocating human rights, particularly as Vietnam seeks stronger political and economic partnerships with European nations. Despite Vietnam’s advancing relations with Denmark and the EU, HRW has noted that past dialogues on human rights have yielded minimal progress while repression has continued to escalate.
The call for action by HRW reflects ongoing concerns from multiple organizations regarding Vietnam’s treatment of activists and journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists has condemned the intimidation of journalists, including the case of Doan Bao Chau, who was sentenced to seven years in prison for his critical social media posts. Reporters Without Borders has also denounced the degrading treatment of journalists, illustrating a broader trend of harassment and repression in Vietnam.
As concerns about labor rights persist, the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement underscores Vietnam’s commitment to labor reforms, including protecting the right to organize. However, Vietnam has not ratified key international labor conventions, which has raised alarms about the state of workers’ rights within the country.
This ongoing dialogue surrounding human rights and labor reform will be central to discussions during President To Lam’s visit to Europe.
