October 19, 1998

Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Representatives Tom Davis (R-VA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) announced the formation of the "Adopt-a-Voice of Conscience in Vietnam Campaign" in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The "Adopt-a-Voice of Conscience in Vietnam Campaign" will provide an opportunity for each Member of Congress to become an advocate for religious liberty and political freedom by adopting a prisoner of conscience and advocating to heads of state on behalf of that individual.

The Campaign will provide general information on effective methods of advocacy, and will work with human rights organizations and religious freedom organizations to facilitate the sponsorship campaign.

The Campaign is sponsored by the Congressional Dialogue on Vietnam, an organization which facilitates dialogue between Members of Congress; provides information to interested parties and engages in discussions between Congress, the Administration and the Vietnamese American community. Davis, Lofgren and Sanchez founded the Congressional Dialogue on Vietnam for Members to express their views and to work with the administration on forming foreign policy towards Vietnam.

Congressman Davis, Congresswoman Lofgren and Congresswoman Sanchez each represent districts where some of the largest populations of American-Vietnamese citizens can be found. Working together, the three officials have spearheaded the efforts in pressuring the Vietnamese government to release the 5,219 political prisoners as part of a general amnesty. They have been true leaders in the campaign to bring attention to human rights violations in Vietnam and to generate pressure for the release of all prisoners of conscience from prison, house arrests or other forms of detention.

To view the biographies of the Vietnamese Voices of Conscience, please go to the Voices of Conscience web page.