Immediately after upgrading the comprehensive strategic partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development between Vietnam and the United States, senior leaders of the two countries pledged to promote dialogue and cooperation in many areas. fields, including the promotion and protection of human rights.
The manifestation of cooperation and enhanced dialogue is that an interdisciplinary delegation and religious dignitaries led by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang visited and worked in the United States (from October 10 to 10). October 23) to discuss religious policies and achievements in ensuring freedom of belief and religion in Vietnam, contributing to clarifying differences between the two sides on human rights and religion.
 |
| The interdisciplinary delegation and religious dignitaries led by Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang worked with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Melissa Brown. (Source: Ministry of Home Affairs) |
Information clarifying the implementation of the Law on Belief and Religion
The Vietnamese delegation includes representatives of the Government Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Government Committee for Religious Affairs; Religious dignitaries representing 6 religions with many followers in Vietnam: Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Cao Dai, Hoa Hao Buddhism, Islam, had a working session with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Melissa Brown , Regional Director for Southeast Asia, East Asia and Pacific Bureau Robert Koepcke, US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain, Vice Chairman of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom Frederick A .Davie and Congressman Brad Sherman (Democratic Party, representing the State of California); Share information about the religious situation with individuals and leaders of US religious organizations, such as: US National Evangelical Church, Baptist Evangelical Organization, Leaders of the Institute for Global Engagement - IGE , President of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association – BGEA; Professor Cole Durham (BYU University); World Evangelical Alliance at the United Nations; roundtable work with representatives of several religious organizations in the New York area; met with Archbishop Gabriele Caccia - Representative of the Holy See to the United Nations...
In the spirit of frankness and openness, the Working Group clarified the policy and situation of religious freedom in Vietnam, especially the implementation of the Law on Belief and Religion so that US partners could understand. and support Vietnam in the fields of belief and religion, not letting false information affect the implementation of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between the two countries.
The information shared by the Vietnamese Delegation has clarified the issues of concern to the US side, affirming the consistent policy of the Vietnamese State to respect and ensure the right to freedom of belief and religion, the right to follow or not. follow everyone's religion, all religions are equal before the law, promote cultural values, good ethics and religious resources for the country's development... Right to freedom of belief and religion everyone's rights were affirmed in the 2013 Constitution. The Law on Beliefs and Religions was developed in accordance with the International Convention to which Vietnam is a member, in accordance with the actual situation of beliefs and religions in Vietnam, creating a solid legal framework to ensure good than the people's right to freedom of belief and religion.
Regarding the implementation of the Law on Belief and Religion. Vietnam has organized propaganda, dissemination, and education of freedom of belief and religion synchronously from the central to the grassroots. Since the implementation of the Law on Belief and Religion, the Ministry of Home Affairs (directly the Government Committee for Religious Affairs) has organized 165 professional training classes for more than 28.000 civil servants working on religious affairs, 216 conferences for dignitaries, officials, and monks with more than 30.000 attendees. In the provinces and cities, more than 15.000 conferences to disseminate laws related to beliefs and religions have been organized with a total of 1,1 billion attendees.
 |
| The Department of Home Affairs of Binh Duong province organized a conference to disseminate policies and laws on beliefs and religions for monks and nuns of course VI at Binh Duong Buddhist Intermediate School, December 20, 12. (Source: Binh Duong Newspaper) |
Inspection and examination of the implementation of laws on belief and religion are carried out regularly and promptly to prevent and handle violations of freedom of belief and religion. Administrative procedures in the field of belief and religion are facilitated. Currently, 43 central-level settlement procedures have been carried out in the network environment (level 4 online public service). The Government Committee for Religious Affairs has granted 13 accounts for religious organizations to participate in online public services. Every year, hundreds of dossiers of religious organizations and individuals are processed through online public services. At the local level, implement a one-stop mechanism to publicly post administrative procedures, with a deadline for response. The dialogue mechanism between the government and religious organizations is always maintained to exchange and reach consensus on resolving outstanding issues and problems between the State and the Church; State leaders and agencies pay attention to, visit and encourage religious organizations on the occasion of important holidays and major festivals of religions.
Freedom of belief and religion is guaranteed in practice. Since the implementation of the Law on Belief and Religion, the State has recognized 2 religious organizations (Vietnam Pentecostal Evangelical Church, Ta Lon Pious and Pious Buddhist Association), 3 organizations have been granted registration certificates. religious activities (Vietnam Full Gospel Church, Vietnam Missionary Union Evangelical Church, Vietnam Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Hundreds of group sites were granted registration for centralized religious activities, and many affiliated religious organizations were established. From 2021 up to now, 5 Central Highlands provinces and Northern mountainous provinces have approved the establishment of 18 more affiliated Protestant religious organizations; The Northern mountainous region approved an additional 151 places for concentrated religious activities. More than 60 group locations of foreigners legally residing in Vietnam have been granted registration for centralized religious activities by local authorities.
Since the implementation of the Law on Belief and Religion, the whole country has had more than 6.500 people ordained or appointed as dignitaries; 16.783 people were appointed, elected, or nominated for positions.
The religious and belief needs of ethnic minorities are cared for and resolved by authorities at all levels: The Cham ethnic community following Islam and Brahmanism established a Community Representative Board to support students. religious activities; The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha built the Khmer Theravada Buddhist Academy to meet the needs of training Khmer Theravada Buddhist monks...
Land issues related to religion are resolved by local authorities. Up to now, the number of religious establishments granted land use rights certificates nationwide accounts for more than 70%; Most religious worship facilities have been renovated and renovated, many new worship facilities have been built (in 2021, 225 new worship facilities will be built; in 2022, 203 religious worship facilities will be built). newly built, 283 facilities repaired and renovated).
 |
| Mr. Nguyen Tien Trong, Deputy Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs awarded the Decision to recognize a religious organization to the Vietnam Full Gospel Church, December 27, 12. (Source: VNA) |
Remarkable results
Along with providing specific information on issues of concern to the US side, the Vietnamese Delegation also proposed that the US side need to record objective information about religious freedom in Vietnam through official channels (institutions). Vietnamese representative offices abroad; Ministry of Home Affairs and legal religious organizations in Vietnam); Do not use false information provided by extremists and opponents to evaluate religious freedom in Vietnam as in recent times.
The US side noted the change in Vietnam's proactive dialogue method in the context that the two countries have upgraded their comprehensive strategic partnership after US President Joe Biden's visits to Vietnam and his recent visit to Vietnam. The United States of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh recently; recognized Vietnam's achievements and achievements in ensuring freedom of belief and religion; agreed to cooperate in evaluating information on the situation of belief and religion in Vietnam before including it in the annual International Religious Freedom Report.
Through contact, many Americans who sympathized with Vietnam excitedly welcomed and supported the delegation and expressed their joy about upgrading relations between Vietnam and the United States; demonstrate confidence and willingness to share about achievements in ensuring religious freedom in Vietnam; wishes to help Vietnam bring information about the situation of religious freedom in Vietnam to the US political community and the international community.
The upgrade of Vietnam and the United States' relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership has created favorable conditions for the Working Group's activities; create a proactive stance in contact and working with the US side. The results of the business trip of the interdisciplinary delegation and religious dignitaries have contributed to strengthening mutual understanding, overcoming differences in approaching the issue of religious freedom, and promoting the strategic partnership relationship. comprehensive relationship between Vietnam and the United States.
 |
| The Vietnamese interdisciplinary delegation met with the US national Protestant organization and the Baptist Protestant Organization. (Source: Ministry of Home Affairs) |
To continue to strengthen trust and narrow the gap on the issue of religious freedom between the two countries, the Working Group drew out a number of issues that the authorities need to implement synchronously in the coming time.
One is, review, supplement and improve the law on belief and religion to ensure synchronization and consistency between domestic law and international treaties that Vietnam participates in to create a favorable legal corridor for belief and religious activities; amend and supplement a number of regulations in specialized laws related to belief and religion (according to the law-making program of the National Assembly of Vietnam) to ensure synchronization and consistency in policy implementation , laws on beliefs and religions.
Secondly, continue to strengthen propaganda and education of knowledge, laws and implementation of freedom of belief and religion to improve the capacity of law enforcement agencies, raise awareness of dignitaries, officials, monks, believers and the masses to better ensure everyone's right to freedom of belief and religion.
Third, Pay attention to guiding and creating conditions for religious organizations to operate according to the charter, regulations and laws of the State; proactively address the needs of legitimate religious activities of believers; promptly grasp the situation, thoughts, and aspirations of religious organizations and religious masses; promptly resolve arising cases, avoiding unscrupulous subjects from taking advantage of falsely accusing the Vietnamese State of violating human rights and religion.
Four is, strengthen foreign religious propaganda work, proactively participate in international and regional religious forums, proactively inform about the situation of beliefs and religions in Vietnam so that the international community can understand and support Vietnam in the international arena; Strengthen propaganda and identify plots and tricks of ill-intentioned forces that take advantage of democracy, human rights, and religious freedom to interfere in Vietnam's internal affairs; create conditions for religious organizations and individuals to participate in people-to-people diplomacy activities, organize international religious events in Vietnam, and contribute to the State's foreign affairs work.
Year is, regularly provides information to the United States, foreign diplomatic missions, international organizations and Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad on the religious situation and ensuring religious freedom in Vietnam,; Enlist the support of American religious organizations and individuals who speak out to the American political community about achievements in ensuring religious freedom in Vietnam.
