Press Releases

PRESS RELEASE : Sentencing of Vietnamese climate advocate – FCDO statement [October 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 2 October 2023.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has released a statement on the sentencing of Vietnamese climate advocate Hoang Thi Minh Hong.

An FCDO spokesperson said:

The United Kingdom is deeply concerned by the conviction and sentencing of Hoang Thi Minh Hong, former leader of environmental campaign group CHANGE. There is a pattern of environmental experts being arrested and imprisoned in Vietnam.

The Government of Vietnam committed to consult NGOs, media and other stakeholders as part of the Just Energy Transition Partnership. The UK urges the Vietnamese authorities to ensure civil society organisations can operate and participate without fear of unfair treatment, targeting or prosecution.

Civil society plays a crucial role in supporting sustainable and inclusive development. We reiterate our call on Vietnam to respect all human rights, including freedom of expression and association.