On November 30, 2022, the United States Department of State announced that Vietnam was placed on its Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom.

We, the undersigned Vietnamese organizations in the US and around the world, community and religious leaders, and victims of religious freedom persecution in Vietnam, welcome this designation by the United States Department of State. The inclusion of Vietnam on the Special Watch List is an important step forward in facilitating religious freedom in Vietnam. 

Under to the International Religious Freedom Act, designation on this Special Watch List has diplomatic and economic consequences. On diplomacy, the Secretary of State shall direct the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam to develop comprehensive action plans to inform and support U.S. efforts to combat violations of religious freedom in Vietnam. On economy, the United States shall prioritize the use of appropriate economic tools to increase religious freedom, including realigning foreign assistance or restricting the issuance of visas.

At the same time, we also affirm that Vietnam should be placed on the list of Countries of Particular Concern because of the systematic, ongoing, and egregious violation of religious freedom by the communist authorities in Vietnam.

On the 74th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we respond to the United Nations' call for a year of action until Vietnam truly has democracy and human rights.

Sincerely,