PARIS, 25.4.2018 (VCHR) –The Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR) welcomes the 2018 Annual Report issued by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on Wednesday, and its recommendation that Vietnam be designated as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC). Under the 1998 US International Religious Freedom Act, CPC designation applies to “any country whose government engages in or tolerates particularly severe religious freedom violations that are systematic, ongoing, and egregious”. A total of 16 countries were recommended by USCIRF for CPC designation this year.
USCIRF, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has consistently recommended that the US State Department designate Vietnam as a CPC every year since 2002. Vietnam was placed on the CPC blacklist in 2004 and 2005, but removed in 2006. USCIRF has expressed regrets that the US lifted the CPC designation too soon, resulting in backsliding and continuing abuses of freedom of religion or belief in Vietnam.
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