EU–Viet Nam Human Rights Dialogue - 2 July 2026, Brussels, Belgium

Brussels, 2 July 2026

The European Union and Viet Nam held their annual Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels on 2 July, reaffirming their commitment to respecting, protecting and promoting human rights in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, international law, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and their respective international human rights obligations. The Human Rights Dialogue was the first to be held after the EU and Viet Nam upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January 2026.

The two sides held candid, constructive and respectful discussions on a broad range of issues, including political and civil rights; economic, social and cultural rights; rule of law, legal and judicial reforms; and human rights in multilateral fora and their associated mechanisms. The two sides provided updates on developments and progress in all these areas since the last Dialogue.

Viet Nam shared updates on its policies and vision for a new stage of national development, as well as its efforts to ensure the country's rapid and sustainable development, with socio-economic development, environmental protection, and cultural and human development placed at the centre. Viet Nam also shared information on policies and measures to protect individuals/groups in vulnerable situations, and on its successful presentation of the ninth national report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in February 2026, reaffirming its commitment to gender equality and women's empowerment.

The two sides discussed legal and judicial reforms, shared experience on strengthening effective national governance, access to justice, and enhancing administrative reform and institutional capacity.

Viet Nam informed of the adoption of an Action Plan to implement the recommendations of its ICCPR Review of 2025. The EU reiterated the importance of promoting and safeguarding civil and political rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and freedom of religion or belief, focussing on the incompatibility of certain provisions of the penal code and on laws governing associations and the media with international human rights law such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

In addition, the EU expressed serious concerns regarding reports of transnational repression, including affecting individuals in the EU territory, and raised a number of specific cases of political prisoners and human rights defenders, calling for prison visits and the release of those suffering from serious medical conditions. The EU also raised prison conditions, the possibility to attend trials and the need for consular access to European detainees. While reiterating its firm opposition to the death penalty, the EU noted ongoing efforts to further reduce the number of capital crimes, and urged Viet Nam to adopt a moratorium on the death penalty.

Both sides exchanged views on human rights issues in multilateral fora, in particular within the United Nations framework. They updated each other on their respective priorities and new initiatives within UN bodies, including the Human Rights Council (HRC). Viet Nam also shared information on the implementation of the recommendations issued during its last Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and which it accepted. The EU encouraged Viet Nam to extend an open invitation to all Special Procedures as well as further enhance engagement with UN mechanisms, in keeping with its responsibilities as a member of the Human Rights Council. Viet Nam and the EU welcomed further cooperation in UN fora on issues of mutual interest, for example on human rights and climate change.

The EU and Viet Nam reiterated the importance of implementing labour rights commitments under the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the EU reminded Viet Nam of its written commitment to the swift ratification of ILO Convention 87 on freedom of association and protection of the right to organise.

Viet Nam and the EU agreed to maintain the Human Rights Dialogue as an important channel for enhancing mutual understanding and contributing to the EU-Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The next Human Rights Dialogue will be held in 2027 in Hanoi.

The Human Rights Dialogue was co-chaired by Mr. Dominic Porter, Deputy Managing Director, Asia and the Pacific, European External Action Service and Ms. Hoang Thi Thanh Nga, Director-General, Department of International Organisations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam. EU Special Representative for Human Rights Kajsa Ollongren delivered opening remarks.