A/HRC/48/28 her calls to the police on the issue have gone unanswered. Ms. Thao has allegedly remained under surveillance during the reporting period. 148. The case of Ms. Truong Thi Ha, a Vietnamese lawyer and human rights defender, was included in the 2020 report of the Secretary-General266 on allegations of arbitrary arrest and potential enforced disappearance in March 2020 following her cooperation with the Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association and other UN mechanisms (VNM 1/2020). In May 2020, the Government 267 responded indicating that Ms. Truong was placed in mandatory COVID-19 quarantine when entering the country, and asked to provide personal identity documents, contact tracing information, a health declaration, and travel record. 149. On 15 May 2020, the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances addressed Ms. Thi Ha Truong’s case under its urgent action procedure, to which the Government responded on 26 May 2020 (A/HRC/WGEID 121/1, paras. 141–143). According to information provided to OHCHR, on 28 September 2020, Ms. Truong received her documents back from the Hanoi Public Security Department. However, her movements continue to be regularly monitored by the police and she is required to report to the police when she leaves her hometown for more than three days. Police reportedly also regularly make calls to her relatives to enquire on her whereabouts. 150. The case of Mr. Pham Chi Dung, chairperson of the Independent Journalist Association of Vietnam (IJAVN) and a human rights defender, was included in the 2020 and 2014 reports of the Secretary-General268 on allegations of travel restrictions that prevented him from participating in an NGO side event in Geneva at the margins of the second cycle of the UPR of Viet Nam (VNM 5/2014). In January 2020, special procedures mandate holders addressed his November 2019 arrest and detention (VNM 5/2019269). On 17 September 2020, mandate holders expressed concerns at allegations that neither Mr. Pham Chi Dung’s family nor his lawyer have been allowed to meet or communicate with him since his arrest, and that authorities had refused to accept the lawyer of his choosing (VNM 3/2020). On 28 December 2020, the Government responded stating that the allegations were not accurate, were mostly drawn from unverified sources and did not reflect the nature of the cases. The Government indicated that the arrest and detention of Mr. Pham Chi Dung and the search of his home followed due process of criminal proceedings set forth in the law and provided information on his rights to defence lawyers and family visits. 270 151. On 5 January 2021, Mr. Pham Chi Dung was sentenced to 15 years in prison and five years on probation. The Spokesperson of the High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concerns at the lengthy pre-trial detention and severe sentence handed down on crimes against national security. The Spokesperson also expressed concerns that individuals who try to cooperate with the UN’s human rights bodies are subjected to intimidation and reprisals, potentially inhibiting others from sharing information about human rights issues with the UN.271 On 14 January 2021, mandate holders publicly addressed Pham Chi Dung’s sentence as part of an increase in prosecutions, arbitrary detention, reprisals, ill-treatment and unfair trials targeting independent journalists, bloggers, pro-democracy activists and human rights defenders in Viet Nam.272 152. The case of Mr. Nguyen Bac Truyen, was included in the 2020, 2019 and 2016 reports of the Secretary-General273 on allegations of arrest, detention, and an 11-year sentence for “activities attempting to overthrow the State” following the 2014 visit of the Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief to the country (VNM 4/2014; 11/2014; 8/2016; 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 A/HRC/45/36, para. 123, Annex I, paras. 144-145. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35311. A/HRC/45/36, Annex II, paras. 142-144; A/HRC/27/38, para. 40. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35202. https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35828. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26644&LangID=E. https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=26661&LangID=E. A/HRC/45/36, Annex II, paras. 145-148; A/HRC/42/30, Annex II, para 110; A/HRC/30/29, para. 42. 81