Vietnam respects freedom of religion and belief: FM spokesperson
12/6/20
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At the 16th United Nations Day of Vesak |
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang reiterated on June 11 Vietnam’s consistent policy of respecting and guaranteeing the right of citizens to follow or not follow any religion or belief.
This is clearly stated in Vietnam’s Constitution and legal system as well as guaranteed in practice, Hang said while answering a question raised at the ministry’s regular press conference from the Vietnam News Agency regarding the country’s reaction to the US Department of State’s 2019 international religious freedom report.
Vietnam has made continuous efforts to perfect its legal system and policies on religion and belief, including approval of the Law on Belief and Religion and decrees guiding its implementation, she emphasised.
Vietnam now has 43 organisations of 16 recognised and certified religions, with 55,000 dignitaries, 26 million followers, or 27 percent of the national population, 29,000 places of worship, and more than 8,000 annual religious festivals, Hang said.
She added that many major international religious events have been held in the country, such as the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, the UN Day of Vesak in May 2019, and Capitulum Generale 2019.
Such efforts have been lauded by the international community, she emphasised.
“We acknowledge the US Department of State speaking of Vietnam’s achievements and progress in guaranteeing and promoting religion and belief in the country,” the spokesperson went on.
However, there remain inaccurate and unverified information in the report about the situation in Vietnam, she added.
Vietnam continues to maintain and stands ready to enhance cooperation and have discussions with the US on issues of shared concern in a spirit of frankness, openness, and mutual respect, through bilateral dialogue frameworks, including annual human rights dialogue, thus contributing to promoting the comprehensive partnership between the two countries, Hang stated./.
All comments [ 20 ]
The consistent policy of the State of Việt Nam is respecting and guaranteeing the right to freedom of religion and belief, and freedom of non-religion and belief of citizens.
Over the years, Việt Nam had spared no effort to improve its legal system and policies in the field, especially approving the Law on Belief and Religion, as well as decrees guiding the implementation of the law.
The practice of belief and religion was ensured with the annual organisation of thousands of religious festivals and activities.
Religious organisations also actively participated in international exchange and co-operation activities
Vietnam has always pursued a policy of safeguarding citizens’ rights to religion and belief freedom, as stipulated in the country’s Constitution and legal framework
Religions and spiritual beliefs were diversifying Vietnamese culture
Dignitaries and believers played an active role in the processes of nation-building and national security
No nation was perfect in terms of religious freedom, touching upon the necessity to consider the role of religion and beliefs in driving development.
This has been demonstrated clearly in Vietnam’s Constitution and legal system and has been observed in real life
In recent times, Vietnam has always worked to improve its policies on religion and belief
Many major international religious activities have been successfully organised in Vietnam
Vietnam continues affirming that it pursues consistent policies on the freedom of religion and belief and of those who simply profess and practice their faith.
Vietnam has completed the legal framework, including policies on religion and belief, especially the Law on Religion.
Vietnamese police harassed Catholic, Hoa Hao, and Cao Dai religious leaders for participating in religious freedom conferences overseas and for meeting with foreign diplomatic personnel.
Ethnic minority communities faced especially egregious persecution for the peaceful practice of their religious beliefs, including physical assault, detention, or banishment.
Citizens’ practices of religion and belief have been ensured, reflected through thousands of religious festivals and activities every year.
Vietnam consistently respect for the people’s freedom of belief and religion and the favourable conditions created for religions to be practiced in line with legal regulations.
Foreign friends gained an insight into the improvements in the religious life in Vietnam and learned more about the country’s land and people
Legislatively on the territory of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam freedom of religion has been proclaimed. This means that any citizen or foreigner residing here has the right to profess a religion that does not conflict with the laws of the state.
Traditional beliefs are very strong here and are aimed at strengthening moral values and family ties. And the main later religions have somehow learned to peacefully coexist with these customs.
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