CCPR Centre

#HRCttee 🇺🇳 grades #Germany 🇩🇪 with a 🟡 B on the right to privacy, welcoming reforms to surveillance laws and the creation of an independent oversight body. However, it raises concerns over the lack of clear information on how these reforms are applied and remedies for abuse.

On institutional care in #Germany 🇩🇪, #HRCttee 🇺🇳 grades:

🟡 a, b, c, e. Noted abuse prevention and legal steps, but calls for more reforms
🔴 d. Criticizes ongoing allowance of forced sterilization of adults with disabilities
🟢 f. Praised COVID-19 protections for older persons

#HRCttee 🇺🇳 welcomes #Germany’s 🇩🇪 2021 law banning non-consensual sex-assignment surgeries on #intersex children unless medically necessary & court-approved. However, it remains concerned about lack of concrete steps to ensure implementation and access to remedies.

Grade: B 🟡

#HRCttee 🇺🇳 downgraded its assessment from 🟡 B to 🔴 C (not satisfactory) on para. 40(a) over the prolonged lack of accountability for the 2008 crackdown. With investigations still pending 15+ years later and no victim compensation, impunity and inadequate redress persist

#HRCttee 🇺🇳 praises #Armenia’s 🇦🇲 electoral reforms but flags legal barriers preventing persons declared “incapacitated” from voting or standing for office. It also calls for stronger enforcement and updates on the 2024 reform package.

Grade: B (partially satisfactory) 🟡

On peaceful assembly #HRCttee 🇺🇳 welcomes #Armenia’s 🇦🇲 reforms, including Police Guard and legal amendments, but raises concern over continued excessive force, arbitrary arrests and impunity, especially for 2008, 2015, 2016 & 2018 protests

Grade: B (partially satisfactory) 🟡

The #HRCttee 🇺🇳 welcomes #Armenia’s 🇦🇲 steps to combat domestic violence #GBV, including legal reforms and the "SAFE YOU" app, but urges stronger enforcement, better victim support, and progress on ratifying the Istanbul Convention.

Grade: B (partially satisfactory) 🟡

4257th Meeting, 144th Session, Human Rights Committee (CCPR) Progress report of Special Rapporteur on concluding observations

The #HRCttee 🇺🇳 adopted its follow-up reports on concluding observations of #Germany 🇩🇪 and #Armenia 🇦🇲

🔴 Watch again here: webtv.un.org/en/asset/k10...

🆕 The #HRCttee has just published its latest recommendations for:
🔹Guinea-Bissau 🇬🇼
🔹Haiti 🇭🇹
🔹Kazakhstan 🇰🇿
🔹Latvia 🇱🇻
🔹North Macedonia 🇲🇰
🔹Spain 🇪🇸
🔹Viet Nam 🇻🇳

Available here: shorturl.at/QgHWs

#HRCttee 🇺🇳 raised concerns once again over the broad restrictions on freedom of expression in #Vietnam 🇻🇳, reminding that under General Comment 34, any limits must be lawful, necessary & proportionate.

Shutting down media outlets for “distorting information” may be excessive

#HRCttee 🇺🇳 member Ndiaye finds #Vietnam 🇻🇳’s replies insufficient and presses further:

'Who disciplines judges, and how is independence from the Party ensured? Can non-Party candidates run without approval? What protects lawyers in sensitive cases from reprisals?'

#Vietnam 🇻🇳 replies to #HRCttee 🇺🇳 that civil society operates freely within the law and no one is prosecuted solely for CSO membership, including HRDs or journalists. Recent convictions, such as for tax evasion, followed legal procedures and clemency was granted where applicable

#Vietnam 🇻🇳 replies to #HRCttee 🇺🇳 that Decree 126/2024 regulates associations to ensure lawful operation and prevent abuses like terrorist financing.

It cites over 70,000 registered groups and claims the rules are transparent and non-discriminatory, in line with the Constitution.

#Vietnam 🇻🇳 replies to #HRCttee 🇺🇳 and justifies restrictions on online speech as necessary to combat disinformation and protect national security, citing threats from foreign websites spreading false information. It insists that its legal framework aligns with int' obligations

#Vietnam 🇻🇳 replies to the #HRCttee 🇺🇳 and claims to promote religious freedom and equality among all communities, highlighting outreach efforts such as conferences and legal awareness activities in 2024.

Decree 45 on religious freedom has also been revised for greater clarity.

#HRCttee 🇺🇳 also mentions #Vietnam 🇻🇳's issuing of arrest warrants against exiled activists, such as Nguyen Kim Kieu Vien of Towards Transparency. Targeting HRDs abroad raises serious concerns of transnational repression and aims to silence dissent beyond borders.

#HRCttee 🇺🇳 mentions the restriction of the right to association in #Vietnam 🇻🇳

Decree 126/2024 expands State powers to dissolve groups without due process, while prior authorization, funding limits, and vague tax laws are used to silence activists and shrink civic space

#HRCttee 🇺🇳 expresses concern about the lack of judicial independence in #Vietnam 🇻🇳, especially in cases related to national security. Activists and HRDs are tried under vague charges with limited access to lawyers, who themselves face harassment, disbarment or prosecution.

#HRCttee 🇺🇳 mentions that human trafficking remains a serious issue in #Vietnam 🇻🇳, with 45% of cases in 2022 linked to domestic exploitation.

Victims aged 16–17 are treated as adults, foreign victims lack protection, and shelters remain few and under-resourced.

#Vietnam 🇻🇳 replied to #HRCttee 🇺🇳 concerns on the lack of a NHRI by stating it has a mechanism with similar functions (the Citizen Defence Committee). Establishing a Paris Principles-compliant NHRI would require constitutional reform, 'a complex process still under review'.

#Vietnam 🇻🇳 responds to #HRCttee 🇺🇳 climate questions by highlighting its 1M-hectare low-emission rice program in Mekong Delta (2024–2030)

Involving 44 ethnic groups—including Khmer Krom, Hoa & Cham—it uses sustainable methods to boost yields, cut emissions & improve livelihoods

4245st Meeting, 144th Session, Human Rights Committee (CCPR) Consideration of Viet Nam (cont'd)

The continuation of the #HRCttee 🇺🇳 #ICCPR review of #VietNam 🇻🇳 just started!

🔴 Follow live at: webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1d...

#HRCttee 🇺🇳 raises concern about persistence of discrimination and violence against #LGBTIQ+ people in #Vietnam 🇻🇳 despite the de-pathologization of homosexuality and transsexuality

Cases of stigmatization, harassment, and exclusion persist, especially in rural areas and schools

#HRCttee 🇺🇳 notes credible reports of torture, ill-treatment & abusive solitary confinement in #VietNam 🇻🇳 targeting activists, journalists & religious minorities.
Authorities deny such practices and fail to guarantee independent investigations/sanctions against those responsible

#HRCttee 🇺🇳 remains concerned about #VietNam 🇻🇳application of the #deathpenalty
The State has reduced the number of punishable crimes, but it has not explained why it has not moved toward full abolition or how remaining capital offences align with the ICCPR’s 'most serious crimes' standard

Minister of Justice of #VietNam 🇻🇳 Mr. Hai Ninh underlines importance of the dialogue with #HRCttee 🇺🇳 and claims progress after last review with adoption of the National Action Plan on legal reforms, access to justice, human rights education, and coordination with UN mechanisms

The #HRCttee 🇺🇳 begins the dialogue with #VietNam 🇻🇳 emphasizing the importance of NGO submissions and reminding the State party of UN zero tolerance towards reprisals

‘No person or organization should face retaliation for cooperating with the Committee, whether in Geneva or elsewhere’

The #HRCttee 🇺🇳 #ICCPR review of #VietNam 🇻🇳 is about to start!

🔴 Follow live at: webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1i...

The session on #Haiti 🇭🇹 closes unusually early, with the delegation not using its full speaking time and leaving many questions unanswered. The #HRCttee 🇺🇳 hopes to receive the outstanding replies within two working days, as per CCPR regulations

The #HRCttee 🇺🇳 appreciates the State Party’s responses but notes that several questions remain unanswered, including concerns that many people still lack access to ID papers, leading to wide-ranging negative consequences