Paris, Brussels, May 22, 2025 - As French President Emmanuel Macron prepares to visit Vietnam from May 25-27, four international human rights organizations are calling on him to address the country's deteriorating human rights situation. The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), the Vietnam Committee for Human Rights (VCHR), Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), and Global Witness have voiced concerns over increasing repression in Vietnam.
In a letter to President Macron, the NGOs highlight the growing crackdown on Vietnamese civil society and urge him to demand the release of arbitrarily detained human rights defenders. They also call for the repeal of restrictive legislation, particularly Decrees 126 and 147, adopted in 2024, which curtail digital rights and civil liberties.
Decree 126 subjects associations to the control of the Vietnamese Communist Party, while Decree 147 imposes censorship and surveillance of online content. The NGOs have also filed a complaint with the European Commission regarding the imprisonment of activists documenting the negative impacts of investment projects, urging Macron to prioritize human rights alongside economic interests during his visit.