We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, welcome the White House’s recent announcement that you will be visiting Vietnam later this month. Among the important issues to be discussed with your Vietnamese counterparts, we urge you to press for the release of human rights defender Nguyễn Bắc Truyển and other prisoners of conscience in Vietnam.
In 2018 Nguyễn Bắc Truyển was sentenced to eleven years in prison and three years’ house arrest for “carrying out activities that aim to overthrow the people’s government” under article 79 of the penal code.
The charges against Truyển were completely unfounded and unjust. Truyển, a Hoa Hao Buddhist, has dedicated his life to providing pro-bono legal assistance and support to oppressed religious communities, victims of land grabs, and families of political prisoners. He is deeply committed to the right to freedom of religion or belief, and has worked to build capacity for religious communities so that they can fully exercise their basic rights.
Truyển also meticulously collected evidence submitted to the different UN mandate holders, and provided valuable assistance to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief during the Special Rapporteur’s July 2014 visit in Vietnam.
In retaliation for his human rights work, Nguyễn Bắc Truyển was arrested for the first time in 2006 and sentenced to three and a half years followed by two years’ house arrest. Upon his release he continued to assist prisoners of conscience and their families; the authorities responded by harassing Truyển and his wife, Ms. Bùi Thị Kim Phượng. In the latest Intimidation and Reprisal Report in 2020, the UN Secretary-General expressed concern regarding Truyển’s frail health and the lack of proper medical care in prison.
Truyen’s case has drawn international attention and support. He has been adopted as a prisoner of conscience by Gyde Jensen, Chair of the Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid Committee of Germany’s Bundestag, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) under its Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project, and Representative Zoe Lofgren under the Defending Freedom Project of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
On August 13, 2020, 65 current and former parliamentarians from 28 countries sent a joint letter to Vietnam’s Prime Minister, calling for Nguyễn Bắc Truyển’s immediate and unconditional release.
Tragically, Nguyễn Bắc Truyển is not the only prisoner of conscience in Vietnam.
Bùi Văn Trung and his son Bùi Văn Thâm, also Hoa Hao Buddhists, were each sentenced to six years in prison in February 2018 after peacefully protesting against the authorities’ suppression of religious freedom; Tham has reportedly been attacked in prison by another inmate.
Phan Văn Thu, a leader of the banned An Dan Dai Dao Buddhist Sect, is serving a life sentence and is reportedly suffering from multiple health conditions in prison.
Montagnard Christian Pastor Y Yich was imprisoned from 2006 to 2011 and was arrested for the second time in May 2013. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison where he has reportedly been beaten and tortured.
Hoàng Đức Bình, a Catholic activist and blogger, is serving 14 years in prison for participating in peaceful protests about the Formosa-created environmental disaster in 2016.
Human rights organisations estimate that there are over 200 prisoners of conscience in the country, including an increasing number of individuals detained in connection with exercising their right to freedom of expression online, and particularly on Facebook. The Vietnamese authorities continue to supress the rights to freedom of expression, association, and religion or belief, in violation of Vietnam’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
We respectfully ask that you highlight the case of Nguyễn Bắc Truyển and call for his release, and the release of all people imprisoned or detained for exercising their basic civil and political rights, at meetings with the Vietnamese leadership, in keeping with the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to championing human rights in foreign policies.
Sincerely,
Individuals (*):
Bui Thi Kim Phuong Wife of Nguyễn Bắc Truyển, Religious Prisoner of Conscience, Vietnam
Vo Van Thanh Liem Abbot, Hoa Hao Buddhist Quang Minh Temple, Vietnam Former Religious Prisoner of Conscience in Vietnam
The Most Venerable Thich Thien Minh Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam Former Religious Prisoner of Conscience in Vietnam
The Most Venerable Thich Nhat Ban Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam Former Religious Prisoner of Conscience in Vietnam
Rev. Joseph Maria Le Quoc Thang Parish Priest, Phu Hanh Parish, Catholic Church, Vietnam Former Secretary, Committee for Peace and Justice, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam
Rev. Nguyen Vu Viet Parish Priest, St. Petersburg Parish, Florida, United States Former Religious Prisoner of Conscience in Vietnam
Rev. Thomas J. Reese, S.J. Former Chair, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett President, Lantos Foundation for Human Rights & Justice Former Chair, US Commission on International Religious Freedom
Nina Shea, Director Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom Former Vice-Chair, US Commission on International Religious Freedom
Jared Genser Adjunct Professor of Law, Georgetown University Law Center Founder of Freedom Now
W. Cole Durham, Jr. Founding Director, International Center for Law and Religion Studies Brigham Young University
Amjad Mahmood Khan Founding Partner at Brown, Neri, Smith & Khan LLP National Director of Public Affairs, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA
Dr. Nguyen Dinh Thang CEO & President, Boat People SOS (BPSOS) Laureate of 2011 Asia Democracy and Human Rights Award
Edward Charles Brown Secretary General, Stefanus Alliance International, Norway
Jan Figel Former Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU Former Deputy Prime Minister of Slovakia Former Vice President of the Slovak Parliament
The Honorable Kasit Piromya Former Foreign Minister of Thailand Former Ambassador to the United States Member of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Heiner Bielefeldt Chair of Human Rights and Human Rights Politics Institute for Political Science University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany Former UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief MP
Gyde Jensen (FDP) Chairwoman, Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid German Bundestag MP Martin Patzelt (CDU/CSU) Committee on Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid, Rapporteur on Southeast Asia German Bundestag
MP Margarete Bause Spokesperson, Human Rights and Humanitarian Aid Alliance 90/The Greens German Bundestag
Dr Ewelina U. Ochab Co-founder of the Coalition for Genocide Response
Professor The Lord Alton House of Lords, United Kingdom
The Baroness Cox Independent Member of the House of Lords, United Kingdom
Mary Shanthi Dairiam Former CEDAW Committee member, Malaysia
Irene Xavier Executive Director, Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor, Malaysia
Sarajun Hoda Abdul Hassan Social Activist Former Deputy Chair of Bersih 2, Malaysia
Andrew Khoo Advocate & Solicitor Co-chair, Constitutional Law Committee of Bar Council, Malaysia
Hon. Teo Nie Ching Member of Parliament, Malaysia Hon.
Kasthuri Patto Member of Parliament, Malaysia
Prof. Wong Chin Huat Political scientist, Malaysia
Wai Wai Nu Founder & Executive Director, Women’s Peace Network Former Rohingya Prisoner of Conscience in Myanmar
(*) Institutional Affiliation given for purposes of identification only
Organizations:
ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights
Boat People SOS – Religious Freedom Project
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) – Malaysia
Coalition to Abolish Modern-day Slavery in Asia (CAMSA)
Click here for a Bahasa Indonesian translation of this statement
Click here for a Bahasa Indonesian translation of the Sentul Declaration for Peace Building and Freedom of Religion or Belief
JAKARTA – Parliamentarians and religious leaders from Indonesia have signed the “Sentul Declaration for Peace Building and Freedom of Religion or Belief”. The Declaration enshrines moral commitments to promote and strengthen the protection of freedom of religion or belief (FORB) for all, and to counter the rise of hate speech in West Java. Further, on the occasion of Pancasila Day, which falls on June 1, they agreed to participate in Caucus Pancasila, a multi-parties platform for Indonesian parliamentarians to contribute in reviving the values of Pancasila.
“As our region has witnessed far too often, hate speech has a dangerous impact on society, and it is minorities who are some of the worst affected by it, including women,” said Maman Imanul Haq, an MP from Indonesia. “Hateful narratives pose a major threat to democratic societies, including by stifling debate, heightening tensions between communities, and inciting discrimination, hostility and violence.”
“As MPs we have a crucial role to play in combating hateful narratives, including by
collaborating with interfaith organizations and promoting positive narratives of peace and freedom of religion or belief both in parliament and public meetings,” said Eva Kusuma Sundari, APHR Board Member and former Indonesian MP.
Parliamentarians and religious leaders agreed to integrate FoRB in the processes of representation, legislation and oversight in legislative institutions of West Java.
The calls came following a training workshop held on May 27 for parliamentarians on how they can counter the rise of hate speech against religious minorities. The event was organized by the Southeast Asia Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (SEAPFoRB), a working group set up under the joint project of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) and the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB).
The workshop was aimed at providing MPs with information about existing initiatives that can help to counter hate speech, as well as strategies they can utilize to combate hateful narratives, notably in the context of West Java, Indonesia. As reported by the Setara Institute, West Java has consistently ranked the highest when it comes to cases of religious intolerance in Indonesia.
Due to lockdowns brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the rhetoric has shifted online, and the event also invited an expert and practitioner in the field to discuss campaign strategies to counter hateful narratives online by amplifying positive messages, and intensifying dialogues and awareness-raising activities through various social media platforms.
“In our increasingly digitized world, something exacerbated by the health crisis, we are seeing many of these hateful narratives gaining more traction online, and have also witnessed governments and politicians exploiting COVID-19 related fears to scapegoat minorities. All of us in society have a role to play in combating these rhetorics, MPs included,” Sundari said.
Three years ago today Nguyen Bac Truyen disappeared from the busy streets of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, while waiting for his wife near his place of work. Later the same day, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced that he had been arrested alongside three other human rights defenders, accusing him of “acting to overthrow the people’s government.”
A member of the Hoa Hao Buddhist community, and a prominent advocate for religious freedom in Vietnam, Truyen’s case is just one example of the dismal human rights situation in the country. Religious minorities and individuals are some of the most heavily targeted.
Internationally, Vietnam has received widespread praise for its successful response to the coronavirus pandemic, having recorded just a few hundred cases and no deaths. However, the very apparatus used to combat the spread of the virus is used by the government to harass dissidents and others whose activities are deemed to threaten the state.
A major reason for Vietnam’s coronavirus success has been the neighborhood wardens who closely monitor communities, and have been able to sound the alarm and put in place heavy restrictions whenever a potential case is detected. This system comes under the remit of the MPS – the shadowy government department that detained Truyen.
Following his arrest, Truyen was held incommunicado for six months before his wife was allowed to see him. He was only granted access to his defense counsel two weeks before his trial, which lasted less than a day and saw him sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment and three years of house arrest on charges of “carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the people’s administration.”
It wasn’t the first time Truyen was targeted by Vietnam’s authorities. In 2006, he was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for “conducting propaganda” against the state, and released in May 2010.
His wife, Bui Thi Kim Phuong, has also been harassed. In March 2019, she was prevented from travelling from Vietnam to Germany and the United States, where she had planned to advocate on her husband’s behalf.
Truyen’s detainment is thought to be, at least in part, due to his work advocating for freedom of religion or belief in Vietnam, where the government continues to restrict fundamental freedoms.
According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a third of Vietnam’s more than 120 prisoners of conscience have been targeted because of their religious affiliation, or advocacy on behalf of freedom of religion or belief. USCIRF has recommended the U.S. Department of State to designate Vietnam as a “country of particular concern” due to its engagement in or tolerance of systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of freedom of religion or belief.
Those facing abuses include Hoa Hao Buddhists, such as Truyen, Khmer Krom Buddhists, Hmong and Montagnards Christians, the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, and Falun Gong, Cao Dai, An Dan Dai Dao, and Duong van Minh adherents, among others. USCIRF documented cases of prisoners of conscience being denied access to religious texts, visits, and adequate food and medical supplies.
As well as arbitrary arrests and imprisonment, harassment of religious groups in Vietnam comes in the form of interrupted religious ceremonies, the prevention of religious gatherings, forcing individuals to renounce their faith, and in some cases violent physical assault. There have also been reports of authorities destroying religious properties and confiscating land of religious significance under the guise of economic development.
The situation for religious freedom in Vietnam saw another setback in January 2018, when the government enacted the Law on Belief and Religion, which gives the government overly broad powers to restrict the right to freedom of religion or belief. The law also requires religious organizations to register with the state and to regularly report their activities, raising concerns it could be used by the government to further suppress religious groups.
As Truyen, and dozens like him, languish in prison, also concerning is the poor condition of Vietnam’s jails, where there have long been accusations of ill-treatment, forced labor, and deaths in custody.
In Southeast Asia, the dire treatment of prisoners is sadly not unique to Vietnam. Nor is the practice of jailing people for political reasons, or for holding beliefs that the state deems to be against national interests.
Prison systems across the region operate well above capacity, with Indonesia holding almost double the amount of prisoners its network of jails can handle, while the Philippines has almost five times the amount. There are no accurate figures for Vietnam.
There have long been calls for governments in Southeast Asia to decrease their prisoner populations, but the issue has become more pronounced in recent months, with the spread of coronavirus. Public health officials have advised people to remain at least one meter apart from others to stop the virus from spreading, but how do you manage that if you’re crammed into a packed prison cell?
With Southeast Asia’s prisons full to bursting, and a high risk of contagion, what are peaceful human rights advocates still doing behind bars? All prisoners of conscience, including those advocating for religious freedom, across the region must be released immediately and unconditionally.
In the midst of a global pandemic, and on the third anniversary of his arrest, Vietnamese authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Truyen, and everyone who is imprisoned solely for peacefully exercising their human rights. They also need to allow independent religious groups in Vietnam to freely conduct their religious and belief activities without fear of persecution, harassment, and imprisonment.
Kasit Piromya is a former Thai member of parliament and foreign minister, and a board member of ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights.
H.E. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Viet Nam 16 Le Hong Phong Street, Ba Dinh District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
Your Excellency,
Re: Immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Nguyễn Bắc Truyển
We, the undersigned parliamentarians from around the world, have the honour to write to Your Excellency to request that Your Excellency take all the necessary measures to secure the immediate and unconditional release of religious freedom advocate, Mr. Nguyễn Bắc Truyển, and to allow all independent religious organisations in Viet Nam to freely conduct religious activities without fear of persecution, harassment and imprisonment.
It has been three years since Mr. Nguyễn Bắc Truyển was abducted by the Vietnamese police, on 30 July 2017. He was subsequently held in incommunicado detention until his trial on 5 April 2018, when he was sentenced, along with five other human rights activists, to 11 years’ imprisonment and three years of house arrest under Article 79 of the 1999 Penal Code for “carrying out activities aimed at overthrowing the people’s administration.” His appeal was rejected and Mr. Nguyễn Bắc Truyển is now in An Diem Prison, Dai Loc district, in Quang Nam Province.
Mr. Truyển is a Hòa Hảo Buddhist and a long-standing defender of human rights, including the rights of religious minorities. He founded the Vietnamese Political & Religious Prisoners Friendship Association, an organisation dedicated to assisting prisoners of conscience and their families. As a legal expert, he rendered pro-bono legal assistance to families of political prisoners, victims of land grabbing and persecuted religious communities in Southern Viet Nam. In 2011, he received the Hellman/Hammett award from Human Rights Watch in honour of his human rights advocacy. As a result of his work, Mr. Nguyễn Bắc Truyển has faced years of harassment and reprisals.
We are extremely concerned that the charge against him is completely unfounded and his imprisonment is in direct breach of Viet Nam’s obligations under Article 24 of its Constitution and the various international instruments that Viet Nam has ratified, in particular, Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and Article 22 of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration.
Further, we are troubled by the fact that Mr. Truyển’s sentence and imprisonment illustrate outstanding issues relating to the right to freedom of religion or belief in Viet Nam. While we recognise some progresses made by Your Excellency’s government, including by allowing registered religious organisations to hold large festivals in public and what appears to be a decrease in the number of attacks by government-affiliated groups against Catholic communities, we are, however, extremely concerned by continued reports of persecution of individuals and religious and ethnic groups solely for the peaceful exercise of their right to freedom of religion or belief
In particular, we are deeply concerned by instances of intimidation, harassment, physical violence, destruction of property, and imprisonment against, Hmong and Montagnard Christians, Catholics, the Unified Buddhist Church of Vietnam, Hòa Hảo Buddhists, Cao Dai adherents, Khmer Krom Buddhists, An Dan Dai Dao, Duong Van Minh, and Falun Gongs solely for peacefully exercising their religious beliefs. In addition, the 2016 law on Belief and Religion, which requires religious groups to register with the government, allows for their harassment.
As the current Chair of ASEAN, we urge Your Excellency to show exemplary leadership in the region by guaranteeing the fundamental freedoms of its people and ensuring that its laws and policies are coherent with its international human rights obligations and the spirit of a people-centered, people-oriented ASEAN.
In view of the above, we urge Your Excellency to:
● Immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Nguyễn Bắc Truyển, and everyone who is currently imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights including their rights to freedom of religion or belief;
● Ensure that all religious organisations and groups, particularly those that are unregistered and unrecognised, are able to peacefully exercise their right to freedom of religion or belief and conduct religious activities freely, and that they are not threatened, tortured or ill-treated, detained or imprisoned for the peaceful practice of their faith; and
● Ensure all domestic legislation addressing religious affairs, including the Law on Belief and Religion, is brought into conformity with international human rights law, including the ICCPR.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration.
Yours sincerely,
List of Signatories
Please note that any parliamentarian who has signed this letter has done so in their personal capacity and not in any way representing their political party, government, organization, etc.
Full Name
Country
Current/Former
Parliamentarian
Lena
Maryana Mukti
Indonesia
Former
Parliamentarian
Kasit
Piromya
Thailand
Former
Parliamentarian
Joel
Voordewind
The
Netherlands
Current
Parliamentarian
Cheryllyn
Dudley
South
Africa
Former
Parliamentarian
Maria Chin
Abdullah
Malaysia
Current
Parliamentarian
Dogan Bermek
Turkey
Former
Parliamentarian
Anna
Latuconsina
Indonesia
Current
Parliamentarian
Jamshed
Thomas
Pakistan
Current
Parliamentarian
Mohammedali
Taha
Iraq
Former
Parliamentarian
Kasthuri
Patto
Malaysia
Current
Parliamentarian
Bushra
Butt
Pakistan
Current
Parliamentarian
David
Anderson
Canada
Former
Parliamentarian
Aykan
Erdemir
Turkey
Former
Parliamentarian
Walden
Flores Bello
Philippines
Former
Parliamentarian
Vladimir
Gjorchev
North
Macedonia
Current
Parliamentarian
Thanh
Hai Ngo
Canada
Current
Parliamentarian
Arnold
Viersen
Canada
Current
Parliamentarian
Solomon
Maren Bulus
Nigeria
Current
Parliamentarian
Angel
Alvarado
Venezuela
Current
Parliamentarian
Honoré Ngam
Cameroon
Current
Parliamentarian
Hon.
Judy A. Sgro
Canada
Current
Parliamentarian
Hon
Amadou Camara
The
Gambia
Current
Parliamentarian
Lucy
Akello
Uganda
Current
Parliamentarian
Steven
Kamsiyamo
Malawi
Current
Parliamentarian
Volker
Kauder
Germany
Current
Parliamentarian
Nqabayomzi
Kwankwa
South
Africa
Current
Parliamentarian
Russ
Hiebert
Canada
Former
Parliamentarian
Cathay
Wagantall
Canada
Current
Parliamentarian
Kelly
Block
Canada
Current
Parliamentarian
Hon
Mbololwa Subulwa
Zambia
Current
Parliamentarian
Abel
Pires da Silva
Timor-Leste
Current
Parliamentarian
Hon
Lamin j Sanneh
The
Gambia
Current
Parliamentarian
Fernanda
San Martin
Bolivia
Current
Parliamentarian
Khadija
Elatri
Morocco
Current
Parliamentarian
Kristoffer
Robin Haug
Norway
Current
Parliamentarian
Heribert
Hirte
Germany
Current
Parliamentarian
Sensio
Banda
Zambia
Current
Parliamentarian
Kyaw
Min San
Myanmar
Current
Parliamentarian
Hon
Amadou Camara
The Gambia
Current
Parliamentarian
Phil
McColeman
Canada
Current
Parliamentarian
Teodoro
B. Baguilat Jr
Philippines
Former
Parliamentarian
Natrah
Ismail
Malaysia
Current
Parliamentarian
Noor
Amin Ahmad
Malaysia
Current
Parliamentarian
Mu
Sochua
Cambodia
Former
Parliamentarian
Elvina
Sousa
Timor
Leste
Current
Parliamentarian
Charles
Santiago
Malaysia
Current
Parliamentarian
Ramakrishnan
Suppiah
Malaysia
Current
Parliamentarian
Meity
Magdalena
Indonesia
Former
Parliamentarian
KH
Maman Imanulhaq
Indonesia
Current
Parliamentarian
Khalid
Abdul Samad
Malaysia
Current
Parliamentarian
Fadil
Zendeli
North
Macedonia
Current
Parliamentarian
Bobby
Adhityo Rizaldi
Indonesia
Current
Parliamentarian
Dritan
Abazovic
Montenegro
Current
Parliamentarian
Joelle
Fiss
Switzerland
Current
Parliamentarian
Zubeda
Sakuru
Tanzania
Former
Parliamentarian
David
Sweet
Canada
Current
Parliamentarian
Amadeus
William Yani
Indonesia
Former Parliamentarian
Hon. John
McKay PC
Canada
Current
Parliamentarian
The following (former) parliamentarians are not part of the IPPFoRB and APHR network but have signed in their own capacity:
On the
occasion of the International Day of Parliamentarism, the International Panel
of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief (IPPFoRB), ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) and the (AfriPAHR) call on parliamentarians worldwide
to work to protect freedom of religion or belief and combat hate speech.
The International Day of Parliamentarism was established by the UN General Assembly in 2018 to celebrate parliaments as important institutions designed to strengthen democracy, advance human rights and bolster good functioning of society.
As the
world grappled with a global health crisis, it also faced what the
UN Secretary-General called a “tsunami of
hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering.” Indeed, the
COVID-19 pandemic has also led to an increase in discrimination, stigmatization
and harassment of religious and belief-based communities. In numerous
countries, the pandemic has exacerbated authoritarian trends, flared existing
religious intolerance and government restrictions unfairly targeted some
religious and belief groups. Apart from their right to freedom of religion or
belief, the pandemic has also impacted other human rights of several religious
and belief-based groups such as their right to assembly, right to movement,
right to health, right to food etc.
Parliamentarians
have an important role in addressing human rights concerns in their
constituency and country. Developing strong laws and emergency measures with
due regard to fundamental freedoms, passing of aid packages and enhancing
public confidence and social cohesion are some of the tasks undertaken by
parliamentarians to bolster democracy and strengthen resilience in the
community.
Parliamentarians
therefore are in a unique position to promote fundamental freedoms including
the right to freedom of religion and belief, to protect against discrimination,
and to combat hate speech. They can do so by ensuring that all governmental
restrictions imposed on religious and belief practices of all communities are
provided for by law, are proportionate and necessary, and non-discriminatory.
Parliamentarians should also be firmly
committed towards combatting discrimination and stigmatization of religious and
belief-based groups by way of law, education and national advocacy campaigns.
They can do so by actively interacting with local communities and individuals
in their constituencies to advance inclusive dialogue and promote solidarity
amongst all.
Lawmakers also have a responsibility to combat
hate speech and xenophobia and preserving social cohesion by using their public
status and political capital to issue positive counter narratives to hate
speech and instead promote accurate and reliable information.
Parliamentarians should actively collaborate
with diverse stakeholders both in their country and abroad to ensure they can
effectively respond not only to the global health crisis but to the ongoing global
human rights crisis.
