Written questions, answers and statements

Vietnam

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Question for Foreign and Commonwealth Office

UIN 223347, tabled on 4 February 2015

Question

Mr Gregory Campbell
Democratic Unionist Party
East Londonderry
Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will discuss with the government of Vietnam freedom of religious expression in that country.

Answer

Mr Hugo Swire
Conservative
East Devon
Commons

Answered on

9 February 2015

We actively promote freedom of religion or belief in Vietnam. Our Embassy in Hanoi works closely with the embassies of likeminded countries to ensure this issue is raised regularly with the Vietnamese authorities.

At the recent EU-Vietnam human rights dialogue in January, the UK supported the EU raising the issue of freedom of religion or belief, in particular the problems encountered by the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief during his visit to Vietnam in July 2014. Our Ambassador in Hanoi also raised our concerns about Vietnam’s handling of the visit by the UN Special Rapporteur's visit with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

We remain concerned about the general human rights situation in Vietnam. I most recently raised this when I met the Vietnamese Ambassador in London in November 2014, and will continue to do so when appropriate opportunities arise.

Answered by

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
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