A/HRC/51/47 as well as their relatives (VNM 3/2022). Mandate holders had sent a communication to the Government on 25 October 2021 addressing reported human rights abuses perpetrated against a group of Vietnamese women and girls’ victims of trafficking in Saudi Arabia (VNM 5/2021). The Government replied on 5 March 2022,55 and a group of women and girls were repatriated to Viet Nam. 81. Reportedly, following the publication of the abovementioned communication and a press release issued on 4 November 2021,56 there was an escalation of acts of intimidation against repatriated victims and their families. The case of Ms. H’Thai Ayun is indicative of the aggravated targeting following the intervention by mandate holders. Ms. H’Thai Ayun was a victim of trafficking who very vocally denounced the situation, including on social media, and requested the protection from relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia. In December 2021, given the deterioration of her situation and credible and well-founded fears for her safety if returned to Viet Nam, Ms. H’Thai Ayun was relocated to a third country and her case is being closely followed by several UN agencies (VNM 3/2022). 82. On 22 November 2021, mandate holders addressed allegations of long-term arbitrary detention and sentencing of several human rights defenders, including that of Ms. Pham Doan Trang for sharing reports on the human rights situation in the country with the UN and other international actors (VNM 6/2021).57 Ms. Trang is a blogger, journalist and democracy activist. In September 2021, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention deemed her detention arbitrary (Opinion 40/2021). 83. Ms. Trang was reportedly placed under de facto house arrest in February 2018 and formally arrested on 6 October 2020. She was prosecuted for her articles and reports on the human rights situation in Viet Nam, including an analysis of a 2016 report on the Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Plant environmental disaster that was shared with the UN. Ms. Trang is being held in Hoa Lo Prison. 84. On 29 October and 23 December 2021 58 mandate holders addressed Ms. Trang’s detention and charges, where reports shared with the UN were allegedly used as evidence against her. They noted that the sharing of testimonies and reports is a common way of communicating with the UN, and its criminalization ultimately undermines the UN human rights system as a whole. The Formosa disaster was extensively addressed by UN mandateholders at the time. 59 On 14 December 2021, Ms. Trang was sentenced to nine years imprisonment.60 85. According to information received by OHCHR, on 14 December 2021, Ms. Trang was sentenced by Hanoi People’s Court to 9 years in prison for allegedly conducting antiState propaganda. She has reportedly been denied family visits since her trial in December 2021, and there are serious concerns about her deteriorating physical condition. On 27 January 2022, Ms. Trang’s request for appeal was reportedly accepted, and the appeal trial is expected to take place after May 2022. 55 56 57 58 59 60 https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=36838. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/11/viet-nam-and-saudi-arabia-un-experts-callprotection-trafficked-workers. See also VNM 3/2020 and VNM 5/2020; and Government replies https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35828 https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=35828. https://www.ohchr.org/en/2021/11/viet-nam-release-writer-held-propaganda-charges-un-experts; https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2021/12/viet-nam-un-experts-appalled-conviction-fourhuman-rights-defenders. VNM 5/2016 and Government reply; VNM 1/2017; VNM 4/2017 and Government reply; VNM 2/2018 and Government reply; VNM 8/2018 and Govtnerment reply; and VNM 2/2022 and Government reply. See also https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2018/02/viet-nam-un-rightsexperts-urge-release-activists-jailed-protesting-toxic. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2021/12/press-briefing-notes-viet-nam. 33