The Vietnam Human Rights Network has selected three imprisoned activists—Phan Tat Thanh, Nguyen Chi Tuyen, and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh—as recipients of the 2025 Vietnam Human Rights Award for their dedication to advancing human rights in Vietnam. This recognition brings international attention to the ongoing suppression of dissent in Vietnam and the personal sacrifices made by those advocating for constitutional rights and freedoms.
Phan Tat Thanh, a 39-year-old activist, served as administrator of the Facebook page Nhat Ky Yeu Nuoc (Patriotic Diary), which had over 200,000 members and addressed human rights violations, environmental pollution, corruption, and territorial disputes with China. Vietnamese authorities arrested Thanh on July 13, 2023, charging him with "propaganda against the State." During detention, he reportedly faced physical and mental abuse to extract confessions. At his May 8, 2024 trial, Thanh received an eight-year prison sentence plus three years probation but refused to plead guilty, asserting his actions aligned with both Vietnam's Constitution and United Nations human rights conventions. He currently remains detained at Xuan Loc Prison in Dong Nai Province.
Nguyen Chi Tuyen, 51, co-founded the "No U" group in 2007 to counter China's territorial claims in the East Sea. Active on social media platforms including Facebook and YouTube, Tuyen defended persecuted activists and criticized government policies across social, environmental, and economic issues. He experienced repeated assaults by undercover police before his arrest on February 29, 2024. The Hanoi People's Court sentenced him to five years imprisonment on August 15, 2024 for "conducting propaganda against the State." Tuyen emphasized his civic responsibility, stating he could not ignore national problems despite risks to his safety. He is now held at Prison No. 6 in Nghe An Province.
Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh, a 49-year-old former math teacher at Saigon's Canadian International School, co-founded the Constitution Group in 2018 to promote constitutional rights including freedom of expression, assembly, and participation in state management. The group used social media to discuss official violations harming citizens and participated in 2018 protests against the Law on Special Economic Zones and Law on Cyber Security. Police abducted Hanh from the street on September 3, 2018, holding her in solitary confinement where she endured torture. After nearly two years, she and seven other group members faced trial on July 31, 2020, receiving a collective 40.5-year sentence for "Disruption of security." Hanh received the longest individual sentence—eight years—as authorities considered her the group's mastermind. She remains imprisoned at An Phuoc prison in Ho Chi Minh City.
The Vietnam Human Rights Award, established in 2002 by the Vietnam Human Rights Network, honors outstanding achievements in defending Vietnamese rights and fosters solidarity between Vietnamese communities worldwide and human rights advocates within Vietnam. Since its inception, 63 individuals and six organizations have received this recognition. Award ceremonies typically occur on International Human Rights Day in various global cities. The 2025 ceremony will take place on December 7 in Montreal, Canada, organized jointly by the Vietnam Human Rights Network and the Vietnamese Community of Montreal. The Network's mission focuses on defending human rights, civil liberties, and fundamental freedoms outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent international instruments. More information about their work is available at https://www.vietnamhumanrights.net.
This award highlights the ongoing tension between Vietnam's single-party government and civil society activists, drawing international scrutiny to Vietnam's human rights record. The recognition of imprisoned activists underscores the risks faced by those advocating for political freedoms and constitutional rights in Vietnam, potentially influencing international diplomatic relations and human rights monitoring efforts. For Vietnamese citizens and the global community, these cases demonstrate the continuing struggle for basic freedoms in a country where dissent often carries severe consequences.
