Your Excellency the State President,

I am writing to express my grave concern over the recent arrest of Nguyen Thuy Hanh, a humanitarian and human rights defender who should be celebrated and supported by the Vietnamese authorities, rather than harassed and detained.

Nguyen Thuy Hanh’s work has focused on helping the families of prisoners so that they can see their loved ones who are serving lengthy prison sentences once a month. Many of these prisoners have been separated from their families for years and even decades, often in dire prison conditions.

It is distressing to learn that Nguyen Thuy Hanh faces up to 20 years in prison under Article 117 of the Criminal Code. Her selflessness, sincerity, and tireless work on behalf of those in need have made her one of the most widely respected human rights defenders in Viet Nam.

Nguyen Thuy Hanh is a prisoner of conscience, who has been detained solely for her peaceful exercising of her human rights and undertaking humanitarian work.

Therefore, I urge you the State President, to ensure that:

• Nguyen Thuy Hanh is released immediately and unconditionally;

• Pending her release, Nguyen Thuy Hanh is granted prompt, regular and unrestricted access to family visits and access to a lawyer;

• Nguyen Thuy Hanh is treated in full accordance with the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules), and is protected from torture and other ill-treatment, including poor conditions of detention and prolonged pre-trial detention.

Yours sincerely,