Southeast Asia: governments must act to counter abusive lawsuits brought by businesses targeting human rights and public interest advocates (SLAPPs)

Southeast Asia: governments must act to counter abusive lawsuits brought by businesses targeting human rights and public interest advocates (SLAPPs)

“Business enterprises continue to use their clout to nullify the work of human rights and public interest advocates through abusive lawsuits (SLAPPs) and far more needs to be done by governments to protect against this practice,” said the panelists during the forum titled ‘Addressing SLAPPs Against Human Rights Defenders in South-East Asia: Challenges and Lessons Learned’ on 9 June 2023.

Vietnam: National Action Plan on Responsible Business developed without adequate stakeholder participation

Vietnam: National Action Plan on Responsible Business developed without adequate stakeholder participation

On 10 March 2023, the ICJ submitted preliminary comments and recommendations to the Ministry of Justice of Vietnam, indicating that there has been a lack of inclusive participation in developing the National Action Plan on Policy and Law Improvement to Promote Responsible Business Practices in Vietnam (2023-2027) (‘draft NAP’). In addition, the plan has failed to fully incorporate the existing international human rights law framework, selling short individuals and communities adversely affected by the conduct of business activities.

Vietnam: UN Human Rights Council candidacy demands progress on human rights

Vietnam: UN Human Rights Council candidacy demands progress on human rights

UN General Assembly resolution 60/251 requires that members elected to the Human Rights Council (HRC) uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights. We, the undersigned organizations, have held longstanding and publicly expressed concerns about the state of human rights in Viet Nam. Viet Nam must immediately commit to taking concrete steps to improve its human rights performance, including by releasing arbitrarily detained human rights defenders, including journalists, ensuring the rights to freedom of expression and association, and improving cooperation with international human rights mechanisms. Such steps would be needed for Viet Nam to become a credible member of the Council.

Mekong Region: ICJ and EarthRights consider means to improve access to justice for victims of extraterritorial corporate human rights harms

Mekong Region: ICJ and EarthRights consider means to improve access to justice for victims of extraterritorial corporate human rights harms

“States must take steps to strengthen access to justice for victims of extraterritorial corporate human rights harms in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam (‘CLMTV’)”, according to dozens of human rights lawyers from the Mekong Region at a Workshop hosted by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) and EarthRights International on 8 and 9 September 2022 in Bangkok.

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