In October 2022, Vietnam was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) by an overwhelming majority of 145 out of 189 votes. This shocking event made it the only nation in Southeast Asia to be awarded a seat for the 2023-2025 term. It marked its second foray into serving as a member of this prestigious international body. Despite protests and clamor from several human rights, civil society, and non-governmental organizations, along with the countless reported and verified cases of consistent human rights violations occurring within its borders, Vietnam managed to circumvent all these issues and secure its position.

CIVICUS, an alliance of organizations and activists that works to strengthen citizen action and civil society all over the world, has been monitoring the human rights situation in Vietnam even before its inclusion in the UNHRC. Their latest update shows that the situation of human rights defenders, activists, and journalists in the country remains grim; Vietnam’s membership in the UNHRC has done nothing to compel it to act on its international obligations to protect or respect the sanctity of human rights. As such, the country continues to be rated closed, indicating a complete closure of civic space in Vietnam.