Three Imprisoned Activists Receive 2025 Vietnam Human Rights Award

The Vietnam Human Rights Network has selected three imprisoned activists—Phan Tat Thanh, Nguyen Chi Tuyen, and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh—as recipients of the 2025 Vietnam Human Rights Award for their dedicated efforts to advance human rights in Vietnam. All three recipients are currently serving prison sentences imposed by Vietnamese authorities for their activism, underscoring the risks faced by those advocating for human rights in the country.

Phan Tat Thanh, 39, served as administrator of the Facebook page Nhat Ky Yeu Nuoc (Patriotic Diary), which focused on human rights violations, environmental pollution, corruption, and territorial disputes with China. The page once had more than 200,000 registered members before his arrest on July 13, 2023. During his detention, investigating police subjected him to physical and mental abuse to force confessions. Following a quick trial on May 8, 2024, he received an eight-year prison sentence and three years probation for "propaganda against the State." At his trial, Thanh maintained his actions were consistent with both the Vietnamese Constitution and United Nations human rights conventions, shouting "I do not recognize this trial" after the verdict. He is currently detained at Xuan Loc Prison in Dong Nai Province.

Nguyen Chi Tuyen, 51, co-founded the "No U" group in 2007, which works against China's territorial expansion in the East Sea. Active on social media platforms including Facebook and YouTube, Tuyen defended persecuted human rights activists and criticized the Vietnamese government across social, environmental, and economic issues. He had been repeatedly assaulted and injured by undercover police prior to his arrest on February 29, 2024. The Hanoi People's Court sentenced him to five years imprisonment on August 15, 2024 for "conducting propaganda against the State." Before his trial, Tuyen told his defense lawyer, "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." He is currently held at Prison No. 6 in Nghe An Province.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh, 49, a former math teacher at the Canadian International School in Saigon, co-founded the Constitution Group in 2018 to promote implementation of citizens' rights outlined in the Vietnamese Constitution, particularly freedom of expression, assembly, and participation in state management. The group used social media to discuss constitutional violations by officials and participated in protests against the Law on Special Economic Zones and the Law on Cyber Security in June 2018. Police kidnapped Hanh from the street on September 3, 2018, holding her in solitary confinement for 11 months before allowing family visits. After nearly two years of detention, she and seven other group members were tried on July 31, 2020, receiving a total of 40.5 years imprisonment for "Disruption of security." Hanh received the highest sentence of eight years as authorities considered her the group's mastermind. She is currently detained at An Phuoc prison in Phu Giao district, Ho Chi Minh City.

The Vietnam Human Rights Award, established in 2002 by the Vietnam Human Rights Network, honors individuals and organizations with outstanding achievements in defending Vietnamese people's rights while creating solidarity between Vietnamese people worldwide and human rights advocates in Vietnam. Since its inception, 63 individuals and six organizations in Vietnam have received the award. The 2025 award ceremony will be held on December 7, 2025, in Montreal, Canada, organized by the Vietnam Human Rights Network in cooperation with the Vietnamese Community of Montreal. The network's mission focuses on defending and promoting human rights, civil liberties, and fundamental freedoms for all Vietnamese citizens as set forth by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent international human rights instruments. More information about their work is available at https://www.vietnamhumanrights.net.