US releases Vietnam Human Rights Report 2013 (VOV) - The US Department of State has recently released its annual reports on the human rights situation in many countries around the world, including Vietnam.  The Vietnam Report on Human Rights Practices for 2013, released on February 27 (local time), continues with incorrect information about the situation in Vietnam, including the so-called “political prisoners” and restrictions on people’s rights to freedom of speech and press.   However, in an exclusive interview granted to a Washington DC-based VOV correspondent, Uzra Zeya, Acting Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour said the US has acknowledged Vietnam’s human rights progress, especially in religious freedom, citing an increase in the number of licensed places of worship. She also welcomed Vietnam’s decision to sign the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and respect the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. Vietnam and the US have held 17 human rights dialogues since they normalised relations in 1995. They have frankly discussed issues of common concern, aiming to settle outstanding differences.   Zeya said both the US and Vietnam have reached a common consensus on a number of human rights issues. The US appreciates and wants to maintain regular human rights dialogues with Vietnam, to not only facilitate progress in the issue but strengthen bilateral relations. Zeya said both sides need to increase exchange and mutual understanding through various channels to resolve human rights differences. An optimal solution for dealing with such differences, according to Zeya, is through dialogue and interaction between the two governments and peoples. During a recent Vietnam visit, US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Vietnamese leaders and people, and attended a mass at the Notre Dame Cathedral in HCM City.   Vietnam was elected to the UN Human Rights Council in November 2013, receiving the highest votes among nominees. Its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Report was also approved by the Human Rights Council UPR working group in February 2014, demonstrating the international community’s appreciation of Vietnam’s human rights progress.  VOV