[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 185 (Wednesday, December 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

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                          HON. LORETTA SANCHEZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 10, 2008

  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the signing of the Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights and to urge all governments to uphold the 
principles established in the declaration. Although 48 countries 
committed to promoting and protecting the rights of all human beings, 
human rights violations continue to occur around the world, especially 
in Vietnam.
  As a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on Vietnam, I am extremely 
concerned that despite Vietnam's many pledges to respect international 
norms, the Government of Vietnam continues to arrest and imprison 
individuals for peacefully exercising their freedom of speech and the 
right to assemble.
  Today, I and several colleagues sent a letter to the Prime Minister 
of Vietnam advocating for the release of Pham Thanh Ngien and Nguyen 
Hoang Hai, two Vietnamese democracy activists who are currently being 
detained for peacefully exercising their freedom of speech and right to 
assemble. The letter also strongly urges the government to recommit 
itself to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recognize that 
all persons are born with fundamental rights and that it is our 
collective responsibility to uphold those rights.
  We all have a responsibility to not only stand up for freedom but to 
protect those who are denied freedoms and human rights. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in recognizing today as Human Rights Day, and 
stand up for the rights of not only Pham Thanh Ngien and Nguyen Hoang 
Hai, but all those who are denied their rights as a human beings.

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