Three Imprisoned Vietnamese Activists Receive 2025 Human Rights Award

The 2025 Vietnam Human Rights Award has been presented to three imprisoned Vietnamese activists—Phan Tat Thanh, Nguyen Chi Tuyen, and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh—recognizing their persistent advocacy for human rights despite government persecution and imprisonment. This annual award, established by the Vietnam Human Rights Network in 2002, honors individuals and organizations demonstrating outstanding achievements in defending Vietnamese citizens' rights and aims to build solidarity between Vietnamese communities worldwide and human rights advocates within the country.

Phan Tat Thanh, a 39-year-old activist, served as administrator of the Facebook page Nhat Ky Yeu Nuoc (Patriotic Diary), which addressed human rights violations, environmental pollution, corruption, and territorial disputes with China while accumulating over 200,000 members. Arrested on July 13, 2023, on charges of "propaganda against the State," Thanh endured physical and mental abuse during detention before receiving an eight-year prison sentence with three years probation on May 8, 2024. During his trial, Thanh maintained his actions aligned with both Vietnam's Constitution and United Nations human rights conventions, declaring "I do not recognize this trial" and refusing to appeal due to distrust in Vietnam's judicial system. He remains detained at Xuan Loc Prison in Dong Nai Province.

Nguyen Chi Tuyen, a 51-year-old activist, co-founded the "No U" group in 2007 to counter China's territorial claims in the East Sea while using social media platforms including Facebook and YouTube to defend persecuted activists and critique government policies across social, environmental, and economic issues. After repeated assaults by undercover police, Tuyen was arrested during a February 29, 2024, home invasion and sentenced to five years imprisonment on August 15, 2024, for "conducting propaganda against the State." Before his trial, Tuyen stated, "I can absolutely choose my own safety if I ignore the country's problems. But as a citizen, I cannot help but be responsible for my country," reflecting his commitment to civic engagement despite personal risk. He is currently 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 political participation through social media discussions about official misconduct and participation in 2018 protests against the Law on Special Economic Zones and Law on Cyber Security. After being kidnapped from the street on September 3, 2018, Hanh endured eleven months of solitary confinement and torture before her family's first visit and received an eight-year sentence—the highest among eight group members tried on July 31, 2020—for "Disruption of security" as authorities identified her as the group's mastermind. She remains imprisoned at An Phuoc prison in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Vietnam Human Rights Network, which organizes the award ceremony scheduled for December 7, 2025, in Montreal, Canada, through cooperation with the Vietnamese Community of Montreal, has recognized 63 individuals and six organizations since the award's inception. Previous ceremonies have occurred on International Human Rights Day in cities worldwide including Paris, Frankfurt, Melbourne, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, and various U.S. locations. The network's mission focuses on defending human rights, civil liberties, and fundamental freedoms for Vietnamese citizens as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent international instruments, with additional information available at https://www.vietnamhumanrights.net.