In 2017, Vietnamese authorities intensified crackdowns on the peaceful exercise of the human rights to freedom of expression, assembly and association as well as thought, conscience and religion. Over 2017 and the first quarter of 2018, Amnesty International has compiled information on 97 known prisoners of conscience, of which 88 are male and nine are female. This constitutes a total increase from previous years despite some releases due to completed sentences. Amnesty International calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience, as they have been deprived of liberty solely for peacefully exercising their human rights.