What are the requirements for accreditation of religious organizations in Vietnam? What is the application for accreditation of religious organizations in Vietnam?
- What are the requirements for accreditation of religious organizations in Vietnam?
- What are the contents of charter of religious organizations in Vietnam?
- What is the application for accreditation of religious organizations in Vietnam?
- Which agency has the authority to accredit religious organizations in Vietnam?
- What are the prohibitions for religion and folk belief?
What are the requirements for accreditation of religious organizations in Vietnam?
Pursuant to Article 21 of the 2016 Law on Religion and Folk Belief in Vietnam, the requirements for accreditation of religious organizations include:
- It has operated stably and continuously for at least 05 years since the certification of its registration of religious activities;
- It has a charter;
- The representative(s) or head of the organization holds Vietnamese citizenship, resides permanently in Vietnam, possess full capacity for civil acts, is not bound by any remedial administrative measures concerning folk belief or religion, is not associated with any conviction records or is not accused of any crimes pursuant to the legislation on criminal procedure;
- Its organizational structure adheres to its charter;
- It has assets independent from other organizations and individuals, and it assumes liabilities with its own assets.
- It engages in legal relations independently.
What are the requirements for accreditation of religious organizations in Vietnam? What is the application for accreditation of religious organizations in Vietnam?
What are the contents of charter of religious organizations in Vietnam?
Pursuant to Article 23 of the 2016 Law on Religion and Folk Belief in Vietnam, the charter of a religious organization is prescribed as follows:
- The name of the organization;
- Principles, objectives and rules of operation;
- Area of operation, headquarter;
- Finance, assets;
- Legal representative, sample of the official seal;
- Functions, missions, authority and organizational structure of the religious organization and religious affiliates;
- Missions and authority of the management of the religious organization and religious affiliates;
- Conditions, criteria, authority, methods of ordination, appointment, election, selection, relocation, dismissal, deposition of dignitaries, sub-dignitaries and monastics;
- Conditions, authority and methods of dissolution of the religious organization; the establishment, split-up, spin-off, merger, consolidation and dissolution of the religious affiliates;
- The organization of conferences and general meetings; formalities for approval of decisions on and amendments to the charter; rules and methods of settlement of internal conflicts;
- The relations between the religious organization with religious affiliates and with other relevant organizations and individuals.
What is the application for accreditation of religious organizations in Vietnam?
Pursuant to Clause 2, Article 22 of the 2016 Law on Religion and Folk Belief in Vietnam, the application for accreditation of religious organizations in Vietnam includes the following components:
+ The form of application, which specifies the name of the applicant organization, the international transaction name (if available); the name of the religion; the full name of the representative(s); the quantity of followers, the area of operation at the time of application; the organizational structure and its base;
+ The written summary of its operational progress since the certificate of its registration of religious activities;
+ The list, resumes, judicial records and summaries of religious activities of the representative and expected leaders of the organization;
+ The written summary of the religious tenets, laws and rites;
+ The charter of the organization;
+ The written declaration of the organization's legitimate assets;
+ The written evidences of the availability of a legitimate location for its facilities.
Which agency has the authority to accredit religious organizations in Vietnam?
Pursuant to Clause 3, Article 22 of the 2016 Law on Religion and Folk Belief in Vietnam, the authority to accredit a religious organization is as follows:
Procedure and authority to accredit religious organizations
.....
3. Authority to accredit a religious organization:
- People’s Committee of a province shall decide on the accreditation of religious organizations that operate solely in such province in 60 days upon receiving a full and valid application. If an application is rejected, reason(s) shall be notified;
- The central government’s body responsible for state management of folk belief and religion shall decide on the accreditation of religious organizations operating in multiple provinces in 60 days upon receiving a full and valid application. If an application is rejected, reason(s) shall be notified.
Thus, the following agencies have the authority to accredit religious organizations:
- People’s Committee of a province
- The central government’s body responsible for state management of folk belief and religion
What are the prohibitions for religion and folk belief?
Pursuant to Article 5 of the 2016 Law on Religion and Folk Belief in Vietnam stipulating the prohibitions for religion and folk belief as follows:
- Discriminate or differentiate on the pretext of religion or folk belief.
- Coerce, entice or obstruct people to or not to practice a religion or folk belief.
- Insult a religion or folk belief.
- Practices of folk beliefs or religious activities:
+ That encroach on national security, national defense, national sovereignty, social order and safety, environment;
+ That violate social ethics or people's body, health, life, assets or dignity;
+ That obstruct the exercise of a citizen’s rights and obligations;
+ That sow divisions among the people or religions; between practicing and non-practicing people; and among the followers of different folk beliefs or religions.
- Abuse the practice of folk beliefs or religious activities for profiteering.
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