Authority to direct civil defense in Vietnam

Authority to direct civil defense in Vietnam (Image from the Internet)

1. Authority to direct civil defense in Vietnam

According to Article 32 of the Law on Civil Defense 2023, the authority for directing civil defense in Vietnam is prescribed as follows:

- The Government of Vietnam directs civil defense nationwide.

- The Ministry of National Defense assists the Government of Vietnam in directing civil defense.

- Various central Ministries, agencies equivalent to Ministries, and agencies under the Government of Vietnam direct, guide, and organize the implementation of civil defense in their respective management domains as prescribed by law.

- People's Committees at all levels direct and organize the implementation of civil defense at localities according to legal regulations.

2. Regulation on commanding civil defense forces in Vietnam

The command of civil defense forces in Vietnam is regulated in Article 33 of the Law on Civil Defense 2023 as follows:

- The command of the civil defense forces from central Ministries, agencies equivalent to Ministries, and localities is determined by Ministers, Heads of central ministries, Chiefs of equivalent ministries, and Presidents of People's Committees at all levels.

- The President of the Commune People's Committee commands the forces and means in the area to promptly respond when incidents or disasters occur within their jurisdiction.

- Command within civil defense levels is as follows:

+ The President of the District People's Committee commands forces and means in the area to implement level 1 civil defense measures as prescribed in Article 22 of the Law on Civil Defense 2023 and other measures according to related laws;

+ The President of the Provincial People's Committee commands forces and means in the area to implement level 2 civil defense measures as prescribed in Article 23 of the Law on Civil Defense 2023 and other related measures per the law;

+ The Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam commands forces and means from central Ministries, agencies equivalent to Ministries, and localities to implement level 3 civil defense measures as prescribed in Article 24 of the Law on Civil Defense 2023 and other related legal measures;

+ In cases exceeding the response capability of local forces and means, the President of the lower People's Committee must report to the President of the higher People's Committee; the President of the Provincial People's Committee must report to the National Steering Committee for Civil Defense and the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam.

- Heads of specialized agencies at local levels, under the direction of the Provincial, District People's Committee, command forces within their authority to implement civil defense in respective management areas according to legal regulations.

- The Minister of Defense presides, cooperates with Ministers, Heads of central ministries, Chiefs of equivalent Ministries, and Presidents of Provincial People's Committees related to commanding units under authority to implement civil defense in military-managed areas and on Vietnam's seas not under provincial management.

- Military, police unit commanders direct and command forces under their authority to participate and coordinate in implementing civil defense activities according to legal regulations.

3. Regulations on National Steering Agency and Command Body for civil defense in Vietnam

The national steering agency and civil defense command body are defined in Article 34 of the Law on Civil Defense 2023 as follows:

- The National Steering Committee for Civil Defense is a multi-sectoral coordinating organization providing advisory functions to the Government of Vietnam and the Prime Minister of the Government of Vietnam in organizing, directing, and managing civil defense nationwide. It reorganizes the National Steering Committee for Civil Defense, the National Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Control, and the National Committee for Incident, Disaster Response and Search and Rescue into the National Steering Committee for Civil Defense.

- The Ministry of National Defense serves as the standing agency of the National Steering Committee for Civil Defense. Members of the National Steering Committee for Civil Defense are responsible for leading advice to the Committee in organizing, directing, and managing civil defense in their respective areas of law-managed fields.

- A civil defense command is established in central Ministries, agencies equivalent to Ministries, with the function of advising Ministers, Heads of central ministries, and Chiefs of equivalent Ministries in organizing, directing, and managing civil defense in their management areas.

- Local civil defense commands are established at commune, district, and provincial levels with advisory functions for the President of the respective People's Committees in organizing, directing, and managing civil defense within their jurisdiction. Local military agencies serve as the standing bodies for the respective civil defense command level. Members of the local civil defense command are responsible for leading advice to the command in organizing, directing, and managing civil defense in assigned fields.

- The Government of Vietnam specifies the establishment, functions, duties, powers, and organizational structure of the National Steering Committee for Civil Defense, civil defense command of central Ministries, agencies equivalent to Ministries, and local civil defense commands.

>> CLICK HERE TO READ THIS ARTICLE IN VIETNAMESE