Minister Dion Must Urge Greater Respect for Human Rights during His Trip to Vietnam

September 1, 2016 – Ottawa, Ontario – Senate of Canada

“Canada’s serious concerns about the critical state of human rights in Vietnam should be the focal point of Minister Stéphane Dion’s official trip to Vietnam and Cambodia from September 2 to 8, 2016 as he promotes regional security, dialogue, trade and climate action.

“This first official trip to Vietnam is a unique opportunity for the Minister of Foreign Affairs to directly call for greater respect of human rights, and to request the immediate release of Nguyen Van Dai, Tran Huynh Duy Thuc, Bui Thi Minh Hang, as well as other prisoners of conscience, pastors, and monks who have been unjustly jailed under vague criminal articles.

“If Prime Minister Trudeau can publicly raise China’s poor human rights record during his bilateral trip, then Canadians should also expect their Minister of Foreign Affairs to do the same on the human rights front and on specific cases with the Vietnamese communist government.”

Global Affairs Canada Statement: Minister Dion to travel to Cambodia, Vietnam and Micronesia

http://www.international.gc.ca/media/aff/news-communiques/2016/09/01a.aspx