Rights and obligations of citizens to implementation of grassroots democracy in Vietnam

Rights and obligations of citizens to implementation of grassroots democracy in Vietnam (Internet image) 

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. Entitlements of citizens to implementation of grassroots democracy in Vietnam

- Have access to disclosure and request provision of adequate, accurate and timely information in accordance with law.

- Propose initiatives, contribute opinions, discuss and decide on matters relating to implementation of democracy at the grassroots level in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Implementation of Grassroots-level Democracy 2022 and other relevant laws.

- Carry out inspection and supervision relating to; file petitions, complaints, grievances and lawsuits against decisions and offences against law on the implementation of grassroots democracy in accordance with law.

- Receive recognition, respect, protection and get assured of legitimate rights and interests in the implementation of democracy at the grassroots level in accordance with the provisions of law.

(Article 5 of the Law on Implementation of Grassroots-level Democracy 2022)

2. Obligations of citizens to implementation of grassroots democracy in Vietnam

- Comply with laws regarding implementation of grassroots democracy.

- Contribute opinions about survey questions raised at the grassroots level in accordance with the provisions of this Law and other relevant laws.

- Abide by decisions of residential community, local authorities, agencies, units and employing entities.

- Promptly file complaints, petitions and grievances to competent authorities when detecting any violation against law on implementation of democracy at the grassroots level.

- Respect and protect social order, safety, and national interests, legitimate rights and interests of natural or legal persons.

(Article 6 of the Law on Implementation of Grassroots-level Democracy 2022)

3. Measures for assurance of implementation of grassroots democracy in Vietnam

Measures for assurance of implementation of grassroots democracy are stipulated in Article 8 of the Law on Implementation of Grassroots-level Democracy 2022 as follows:

- Provide training to enhance professional skills and qualification for persons tasked with enforcing law on implementation of democracy at grassroots level.

- Strengthen the work of information, propaganda, dissemination and education of the law on the implementation of democracy at grassroots level; raise public awareness about ensuring the implementation of democracy at the grassroots level.

- Enhance the responsibilities of institutions and entities, the role as a man of exemplary character of officeholders, Party members, public officials, staff members, public employees and part-timers at communes, villages and residential quarters in the implementation of democracy at grassroots level, and the role in ensuring the implementation of democracy at the grassroots level; consider implementation of democracy at the grassroots level by communes, institutions and entities as an indicator used for assessment of performance.

- Give credit or awards to men of exemplary character or persons achieving much success in duly promoting and implementing the grassroots democracy; detect and strictly sanction institutions, entities or persons violating the law on implementation of democracy at grassroots level.

- Provide support or incentive for the application of information technology, science and technology advances, and the use of technical instrumentalities or equipment, and other necessary conditions for implementation of grassroots democracy in line with the progress in building e-government, digital government and digital society.

4. Prohibited acts during implementation of grassroots democracy in Vietnam

Prohibited acts during implementation of grassroots democracy are specified in Article 9 of the Law on Implementation of Grassroots-level Democracy 2022 including:

- Hinder, annoy or intimidate citizens with the aim of preventing them from exercising their right to implement the grassroots democracy.

- Perform the act of screening, hindrance or repression or negligence in handling petitions, complaints, grievances or denunciations; disclose information about whistleblowers or informants of offences related to the implementation of grassroots democracy.

- Exploit the implementation of grassroots democracy to commit an act of endangering national security, social order and safety, interests of the State, legitimate rights and interests of entities and persons.

- Exploit the implementation of grassroots democracy to commit an act of distortion, slander, provocation of conflicts, incitement to violence, regional or geographic, gender, religion or belief, race or ethnicity discrimination, or infliction of losses or damage to persons, institutions or entities.

- Forge documents, perform fraudulent acts or plots to falsify results of public consultation or comment.

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