The National Assembly of Vietnam adopts the Law on Civil Defense

The National Assembly of Vietnam adopts the Law on Civil Defense on the morning of June 20. (Photo: quochoi.vn)

The Law on Civil Defense adopted consists of 7 chapters with 55 articles, stipulating the principles and activities of civil defense; the rights, obligations, and responsibilities of agencies, organizations, and individuals in civil defense activities; state management and resources to ensure the implementation of civil defense.

The law stipulates the principles of civil defense activities, including complying with the Constitution, Vietnamese laws, and international treaties to which Vietnam is a member; being placed under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the unified management of the State; promoting the role and participation of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, political-social organizations, associations, and the people; being organized uniformly from the central to local levels; with clear delegation, decentralization, and coordination among agencies, organizations, and forces in civil defense activities according to the provisions of this Law and other relevant legal provisions.

Civil defense in Vietnam must be prepared early and from afar, with prevention as the main focus; implementing the 4 on-site motto combined with central, other local, and international community support; proactively assessing the risk of incidents and disasters, determining the level of civil defense, and applying appropriate civil defense measures to promptly respond and overcome the consequences of war, incidents, disasters, natural calamities, epidemics, protecting the people, agencies, organizations, and national economy, minimizing loss of life and property, stabilizing people's lives.

Civil defense must be combined with ensuring national defense, security, and socio-economic development, protecting the lives, health, and property of the people, protecting the environment, and ecosystems, and adapting to climate change.

The application of measures and mobilization of resources in civil defense must be prompt, reasonable, feasible, effective, avoid waste, and appropriate to the subjects and level of civil defense. Civil defense activities must ensure humanitarianism, fairness, transparency, gender equality, and prioritize vulnerable groups.

Regarding State policies on civil defense, the law stipulates: Prioritizing investment in building specialized civil defense works according to planning and plans; procuring civil defense equipment. Enhancing the capacity of civil defense forces, building professional and modern specialized forces; strengthening dual-use equipment for armed forces. Mobilizing resources from agencies, organizations, and individuals to carry out civil defense activities. Developing, researching, transferring, and applying high technology and advanced modern technology in civil defense activities. Training and fostering human resources, prioritizing the attraction of high-quality human resources to ensure civil defense activities...

The Law on Civil Defense clearly stipulates prohibited acts in civil defense: Resisting, obstructing, intentionally delaying, or not complying with civil defense directives or commands of authorized agencies or individuals; refusing to participate in search and rescue operations when conditions permit; damaging, destroying, or misappropriating civil defense equipment or works; causing incidents or disasters that harm human life, health, or damage the property of the State, people, agencies, organizations, environment, and national economy; spreading false information about incidents or disasters; intentionally creating obstacles that hinder civil defense activities; misusing specialized civil defense equipment; improperly exploiting or using the functionality of specialized civil defense works; taking advantage of civil defense activities or incidents to infringe on State interests, and the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals...

Regarding civil defense forces, the Law on Civil Defense stipulates that civil defense forces in Vietnam include core and widespread forces. The core forces include: Militia and self-defense forces, civilian guards; specialized and part-time forces of the People's Army and People's Public Security, and forces of ministries and central authorities, localities. The widespread forces involve the entire population.

The Law on Civil Defense takes effect from July 1, 2024.

Hai Lien

According to the web portal of the Government of Vietnam

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