101. Sending Drug Addicts to Compulsory Addiction Facilities: Challenge of Protecting the Human Rights of Drug Addicts in Vietnam.
- Author
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Minh Vu Cao
- Subjects
HUMAN rights organizations ,HUMAN rights workers ,DRUG addiction ,SUBSTANCE abuse ,PEOPLE with drug addiction ,HUMAN rights violations - Abstract
Several Southeast Asian nations, including Vietnam, enforce mandatory detoxification in detention facilities for individuals with substance abuse issues. Since 2010, growing concerns regarding human rights abuses associated with compulsory drug detention centres have been expressed by various United Nations agencies, human rights experts, and other stakeholders, prompting calls for their closure since 2012. Despite these concerns, the Vietnamese government persists in employing this strategy under the guise of the "war on drugs," and its discontinuation appears improbable in the near future due to numerous political and social hurdles. This study employs established legal research methods to assert that compulsory detoxification constitutes a breach of human rights. It aims to elucidate to the global academic community the reasons behind Vietnam's persistent use of this measure. By utilizing both Vietnamese and international legal frameworks alongside statistical reports on the outcomes of compulsory detoxification, the research argues that these practices can be viewed as violations of human rights. The article highlights the challenges impeding the prompt elimination of compulsory detoxification in Vietnam based on practical experiences, including insights from random surveys gauging public opinions. The findings indicate a prevalent concern among the majority of individuals who are unwilling to coexist with drug addicts in their communities. This study presents compelling arguments urging the Vietnamese government and policymakers to acknowledge compulsory detoxification as a violation of human rights. Simultaneously, it provides insights for the global community of human rights experts, helping them understand the complexities that hinder Vietnam from abolishing this measure despite objections from human rights organizations. The outlined initiatives in the article also serve as a guide for Vietnamese policymakers and international human rights organizations to comprehend and address the challenges faced by Vietnam in protecting the human rights of individuals struggling with drug addiction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2023
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