DR. DOAN VIET HOAT

• Dr. Doan Viet Hoat is a Vietnamese journalist, educator, and democratic activist who was repeatedly imprisoned for his criticisms of Vietnam's communist leadership. In 1993, he won the International Press Freedom Award of the Committee to Protect Journalists. The following year, the PEN American Center gave Doan the PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award, which honors "writers who have fought courageously in the face of adversity for the right to freedom of expression". 

• In 1995, Doan was awarded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award. The World Association of Newspapers awarded him its Golden Pen of Freedom in 1998 for "outstanding contributions to the cause of press freedom". In 2000, the International Press Institute named him one of its 50 World Press Freedom Heroes of the 20th century.

• He currently holds the post of scholar-in-residence at The Catholic University of America.