US Vice President Kamala Harris stressed human rights concerns during a roundtable meeting with civil society leaders in Hanoi on Thursday, a day after yet another state critic was jailed on charges of subversion. During the discussion, Harris spoke with advocates from Vietnamese social advocacy organisations that focus on issues related to disabilities, transgender rights and the environment.
“Transgender people deserve equal access to health care service. This is an issue we still face in the United States and it is an issue here in Vietnam,” Harris said.
She added that “women need to live free of gender-based violence” and that “people with disabilities need full accessibility.” Vietnam has long been criticised for its human rights record, particularly the silencing of criticism of the ruling Communist Party. – dpa
