The National Assembly Committee for Culture, Education, Youth,Adolescents and Children held a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on July17 to gather opinions from experts and religious dignitaries on a draftLaw on Belief and Religion.
A report reviewing 10years of implementing the Ordinance on Belief and Religion delivered atthe event pointed to many shortcomings in the current regulations amidthe development of religious and belief activities, as well as the needfor legal system renovation.
The majority ofparticipants agreed that it is necessary to issue a Law on Belief andReligion to replace the ordinance which reflects the responsibility ofthe State in observing the rights to belief and religious freedom asstated in the 2013 Constitution.
According to MostVenerable Thich Thien Thong, Deputy Secretary of the Vietnam BuddhistSangha, the institutionalisation of belief and religious policies willmake the policies more effective, providing an efficient legal tool forreligious practice in line with the law.
Meanwhile,Ly Du So, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the RepresentativeBoard of the Ho Chi Minh City Muslim Community, asserted that the draftlaw is a big step forwards from the current ordinance, as it is moreopen and suitable to international regulations and creates favourableconditions for religious organisations to operate in conformity withrelevant laws.
Assessing the draft law, Professor DrTran Ngoc Duong, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Office,said the document reflects a new mindset on the rights to beliefs andreligious freedom while expanding beneficiaries and encouraging andsupporting religious activities for the interest of the community andthe nation.
As scheduled, the draft law will be debated for the first time at the 10 th session of the 13 th National Assembly.-VNA
A report reviewing 10years of implementing the Ordinance on Belief and Religion delivered atthe event pointed to many shortcomings in the current regulations amidthe development of religious and belief activities, as well as the needfor legal system renovation.
The majority ofparticipants agreed that it is necessary to issue a Law on Belief andReligion to replace the ordinance which reflects the responsibility ofthe State in observing the rights to belief and religious freedom asstated in the 2013 Constitution.
According to MostVenerable Thich Thien Thong, Deputy Secretary of the Vietnam BuddhistSangha, the institutionalisation of belief and religious policies willmake the policies more effective, providing an efficient legal tool forreligious practice in line with the law.
Meanwhile,Ly Du So, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the RepresentativeBoard of the Ho Chi Minh City Muslim Community, asserted that the draftlaw is a big step forwards from the current ordinance, as it is moreopen and suitable to international regulations and creates favourableconditions for religious organisations to operate in conformity withrelevant laws.
Assessing the draft law, Professor DrTran Ngoc Duong, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Office,said the document reflects a new mindset on the rights to beliefs andreligious freedom while expanding beneficiaries and encouraging andsupporting religious activities for the interest of the community andthe nation.
As scheduled, the draft law will be debated for the first time at the 10 th session of the 13 th National Assembly.-VNA
