Sunday, February 12, 2017

USCIRF Issues New Report On Vietnam

Last week the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom released a report titled Religious Freedom in Vietnam: Assessing the Country of Particular Concern Designation 10 Years After its Removal. The Introduction summarizes the report's theme:
Of all the countries the U.S. government has designated as CPCs, Vietnam is unique in that it is the only one removed from the CPC list due to diplomatic activity. This raises several questions: Why was Vietnam first designated as a CPC? What was different about this designation that led to Vietnam’s swift removal from the list? If the strategy was a success in de-listing Vietnam, why has it not been replicated in other countries? This paper examines the history and efficacy of Vietnam’s CPC designation, ultimately arguing it should be re-designated.