During two days of October 8-9, 2015, at Candle Hotel (Hanoi), the Government Committee for Religious Affairs (GCRA) in cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam held an international seminar on religion.
The seminar entitled “Law and policy to assure the freedom of belief and religion – sharing Vietnamese and European experiences” was co-chaired by Dr. Bùi Thanh Hà, Vice Chairman of the GCRA and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Thanh Xuân, Senior Lecturer of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.
Attending the seminar included Mr. Juan Zaratiegui, Political Advisor of the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam and more than 100 delegates from central and local agencies, dignitaries from Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hoa Hao Buddhism, Baha’i faith, Caodaism, Islam…. The seminar’s speakers included scholars from Vietnam and EU.
Vice Chairman Bùi Thanh Hà speaks at the seminar
In the opening speech, Dr. Bùi Thanh Hà informed that Vietnam currently has 38 religious organizations from 14 religions with nearly 25 million religious followers in the country (about 27% overall population). Regarding to religious law and policies in Vietnam, he cited the Constitution 2013 which stated “everyone has the right to freedom of belief and religion, and has the right to follow any religion or to follow no religion. All religions are equal before the law”. These fundamental principles were also embodied in the system of legal documents related to belief, religion as well as the draft law on belief and religion, he said.
Political Advisor of the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam Juan Zaratiegui speaks at the event
Speaking at the event, Mr. Juan Zaratiegui shared about the diversity of religious and secular models in the EU and the EU is determined to defend the fundamental right of religious freedom as an integral part of its policy. He also stated that the drafting of a new law in Vietnam is a great opportunity to strengthen the legal framework for protecting freedom of belief and religion and the EU is willing to support Vietnam in this process.
The seminar provided analysis of achievements in promoting and ensuring freedom of belief and religion in Vietnam and Vietnam’s international commitments in protecting and promoting human rights in the field of belief and religion. The seminar also shared experiences of the diverse religious and secular models in Europe as well as EU’s efforts in ensuring religious freedom and values in the EU Member States with focus on the equality and tolerance between various religions in Europe.
The international seminar enhanced the mutual understanding between Vietnam – EU in the field of religion and contributed to promoting the Vietnam-EU relations through the Vietnam – EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
Some images at the international seminar:
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