Senator Boxer Reintroduces Vietnam Human Rights Legislation
By admin - Posted
on May 25th, 2009
May 22, 2009 --
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator
Barbara Boxer (D-CA) yesterday reintroduced the Vietnam Human Rights Act to
address systematic human rights abuses in Vietnam, including religious and
political persecution.
Senator Boxer said, “Unfortunately,
another year has gone by and Vietnam has yet to significantly improve its human
rights record. The Vietnamese government continues to arrest democracy and human
rights activists, trade union leaders, journalists, bloggers, and many others. I
support a strong U.S.-Vietnam relationship, but for that relationship to grow
further, Vietnam must make some key changes. It's time for Vietnam to end its
religious and political persecution once and for all.”
The bill specifically requires that any spending increase for U.S.
non-humanitarian development, economic, trade and security assistance to Vietnam
be matched by additional funding for programs focusing on human rights, the rule
of law and civil-society capacity building. Most of the non-humanitarian U.S.
assistance programs to Vietnam focus on business, trade and security, and have
not yet effectively addressed human rights abuses.
The legislation also prohibits Vietnam from having access to the U.S.
Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program until Vietnam improves its labor
standards. The GSP program allows developing countries to import certain items
into the U.S. duty-free. In addition, the bill encourages Vietnam to release its
religious and political prisoners.
Source: Senator
Barbara Boxer
[Click here to read the bill]