Present at the seminar were Prof. Nguyễn Văn Kim, Vice-Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Prof. Đỗ Quang Hưng, Head of Intensive Research Group for Religion and the Rule of Law, Prof. Brett Scharffs, Director of the International Center for Religion and Law Studies, Prof. Cole Durham, Honorary Director of the International Center for Religion and Law Studies, Assoc. Prof. Nguyễn Thanh Xuân, Seniour Lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy, and several scholars and researchers from institutes and faculties in the field of belief and religion in Vietnam.  

The seminar also saw the presence of Dr. Bùi Thanh Hà, Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, representatives of the religious committee of Hanoi and the Vietnam – US Association, and dignitaries of religious organizations

The one-day events covered analyses and discussion of main principles for effective implementation of laws in general, and the Law on Belief and Religion in particular; practical issues in the implementation of the new belief and religion law since it took effect early last year and; aspects that could favorably contribute to the law implementation.

Regarding the role of the media in the implementation of the Law on Belief and Religion 2016, a presentation paper pointed out that, although considered as an important administrative reform, the new law on belief and religion has hardly been mentioned in the mass media.

At the seminar, Dr. Bùi Thanh Hà, Vice Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs informed that the state sector on the management of belief and religion has been undertaking essential steps for effectively implementing the new law on belief and religion, such as propagation and communication of the law, the drafting and submission of a legal document guiding the implementation of the law to the Government for issuance (the Government Decree 162 on detailing a number of articles and providing measures for the implementation of the law on belief and religion), etc.

Dr. Bùi Thanh Hà and Prof. Brett Scharffs as moderators at a seminar discussion session

For practical issues in the law implementation, Vice Chairman Bùi Thanh Hà shared that due to many new contents contained in the new law on belief and religion, more time is needed for bringing these new legal contents into practice uniformly throughout the country.

The Law on Belief and Religion was enacted by the Vietnam National Assembly in November 2016, and took effect in January 2018. One year later, on December 20, 2017, the Government of Vietnam issued the Government Decree No. 162 detailing a number of articles and providing measures for the implementation of the law on belief and religion.

Assoc. Prof. Nguyễn Thanh Xuân, Seniour Lecturer at the Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy speaks at the seminar.

PTT