During two days of September 25th and 26th, 2014, 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 entitled “religions and religious life in Vietnam – Sharing Vietnamese and European experiences in assuring freedom of belief and religion”
Attending the seminar were Assoc Prof. Dr. Phạm Dũng, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Chairman of the GCRA, Ms. Delphine Malard, the first Secretary, Head of the Political, Press and Information Section of the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam and more than 100 delegates from central and local agencies, dignitaries from Buddhism, Hoa Hao Buddhism, Baha’i faith, Caodaism…. Representatives from EU member states, Embassies of the US, Australia, Canada, Norway,… also participated in the seminar. Speakers at the seminar included scholars from Vietnam and EU.
Dr. Bùi Thanh Hà, Vice – Chairman of the GCRA, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Thanh Xuân, Senior Lecturer of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics co- chaired the seminar.
The seminar focused on analysis of Vietnam’s achievement in promoting and ensuring freedom of belief and religion, the state role in the implementation of the legal framework on belief and religion and Vietnam’s commitments in protecting and promoting human rights in the area of religious freedom. The seminar included exchanges on experience of religious diversity and secular models in Europe as well as efforts by the EU member states in protecting and promoting religious freedom and values.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phạm Dũng, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs speaks at the seminar
In the opening speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phạm Dũng, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Chairman of the GCRA stated that “Vietnamese Government always respects and guarantees the right to freedom of belief and religion for citizens, which has been prescribed in the Constitution and legal documents on religions and this right has been effectively guaranteed in practice. In recent years, religious activities in Vietnam have become more lively and enriching. Religious dignitaries, deacons and followers have actively participated in patriotic emulation movements and strived to live for “better secular and religious life”, contributing to the development and defense of the country”
Ms. Delphine Malard, the first Secretary, Head of the Political, Press and Information Section of the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam speaks at the seminar
Speaking about the international seminar, Ms. Delphine Malard, the first Secretary, Head of the Political, Press and Information Section of the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam expressed that the EU also had a diversity of religious and secular models based on principles for ensuring the right to freedom of religion or belief as well as fundamental human rights. The EU and its member states have committed to respect, protect and promote freedom of religion or belief everywhere and for everyone.
Some images at the international seminar:
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