Workshop "Implementation of the Law on Belief and Religion in Vietnam today"

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim - Vice Principal of the School delivered the opening speech

Since January 2018, the Law on Belief and Religion has been implemented in Vietnam, through the implementation of Decree 162/2017/ND-CP detailing a number of articles and measures to implement the Law on Belief and Religion. This Decree has been discussed and developed among many scientific and management agencies, with legal contents related to 07 articles of the above law. In fact, this Decree has begun to enter the social and religious life of our country.

In that context, the Strong Research Group on Religion and Rule of Law of the Faculty of Political Science, University of Social Sciences and Humanities proposed to organize a workshop to study the experiences in implementing laws, religions and beliefs in Southeast Asian countries and Vietnam, thereby contributing to promoting the positive aspects of the new law, while pointing out the problems that arise when implementing the Law on Belief and Religion in Vietnam.

Speaking at the opening of the Workshop, the representative of the Board of Directors - Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim (Vice Principal of the School) highly appreciated the initiative and role of the Strong Research Group on Religion and Rule of Law led by Prof. Dr. Do Quang Hung, which has actively contributed to the process of perfecting the State's religious policy; at the same time, conducting research and evaluating the implementation of the Law on Religious Beliefs in practice.

After a period of implementation, the Law on Belief and Religion has had a positive impact on religious life. To date, the Vietnamese State has recognized and granted registration for 43 organizations, belonging to 16 religions with more than 26 million followers, nearly 56,000 dignitaries, more than 145,000 officials and more than 29,000 places of worship. State agencies have allowed the organization of training courses, theology, doctrine and canon law for more than 18,000 people.

The Law on Beliefs and Religions has come into effect, contributing to promoting religious activities in accordance with the provisions of the law; the good moral values ​​of religions are promoted in social life. Religions actively participate in social movements, building new rural areas, protecting the environment, responding to climate change, etc. International activities of religious organizations are promoted, contributing to gathering overseas Vietnamese with beliefs and religions to build the country. People with or without religion can enjoy the positive aspects of the Law on Beliefs and Religions within the framework of the law.

The workshop has two approaches: One is the method and experience in implementing legal documents related to religious life in countries around the world, especially in Southeast Asia; Two is to analyze and evaluate the content and implementation capacity as well as the practical effectiveness of these Decrees in the current religious and belief life in Vietnam, the first practical results as well as the issues raised by the Law on Religious Belief.

The workshop focused on the main contents: Analyzing the significance of cooperation in research on religion; Clarifying the theoretical and practical values ​​of religious research activities; Highlighting current issues in religious research and prospects for cooperation in religious research and related issues such as religious rule of law, law on religious beliefs; Exchanging and sharing experiences and knowledge between research and state management agencies on religion, continuing to better serve the cause of innovating the Party and State's religious guidelines and policies.