Directive No. 03/2003/CT-BKHCN on Strengthening Propaganda and Dissemination of Laws on Science and Technology

DIRECTIVE
Regarding the strengthening of propaganda and dissemination
of laws on science and technology

__________

Propaganda and dissemination of laws generally and laws on science and technology specifically hold a very important position and role in enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of state management work, particularly in the current renewal process of the country.

On January 7, 1998, the Prime Minister issued Directive No. 02/1998/CT-TTg on strengthening the work of disseminating and educating laws and Decision No. 03/1998/QĐ-TTg promulgating the implementation plan for disseminating and educating laws; the Ministry of Justice issued Circulars guiding the implementation of these documents.

Implementing the aforementioned Directive and Decision of the Prime Minister, in recent years, ministries, sectors, and localities have made many efforts in organizing the dissemination and education of laws and have achieved good results, partly meeting the requirements to strengthen state management and social management by law. The Ministry of Science and Technology has also implemented some activities to promote and disseminate laws on fields under its state management such as science and technology, technology transfer, industrial property, standards, measurement, quality, safety, and radiation control (hereinafter referred to as laws on science and technology).

However, the activities of promoting and disseminating laws on science and technology carried out by the Ministry of Science and Technology in recent years have not been at the level required to strengthen state management by law in these fields, have not been conducted regularly, continuously, comprehensively, widely, and systematically; they lack a mechanism and plan for close and coordinated cooperation among units under the Ministry, between the Ministry and Provincial Departments of Science, Technology, and Environment, scientific and technological organizations, and mass media agencies, aiming to leverage the combined strength of the entire sector and society to enhance the promotion and dissemination of laws on science and technology. Due to these limitations, the information needs regarding laws on science and technology of science and technology management officials, organizations and individuals engaged in science and technology activities, and the people have not been fully met in recent times.

To intensify the work of promoting and disseminating laws on science and technology, thereby enhancing understanding and respect for the law, ensuring the effective enforcement of laws on science and technology, contributing to promoting scientific and technological activities in accordance with the spirit of the Resolution of the 6th Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (9th term) on science and technology, and also to implement the Program on Dissemination and Education of Laws from 2003 to 2007 approved by the Prime Minister through Decision No. 13/2003/QĐ-TTg dated January 17, 2003, the Minister of Science and Technology issues this Directive:

1. Each official and civil servant working in central and local state management agencies on science and technology, as well as organizations and individuals engaged in science and technology activities must clearly recognize that studying and researching to understand laws on science and technology, strictly implementing laws on science and technology, is their responsibility; they should set an example in implementing and complying with the law and have the responsibility to promote and disseminate laws on science and technology among the people.

2. Heads of agencies under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Directors of Provincial Departments of Science, Technology, and Environment, heads of science and technology management agencies under ministries and sectors, and leaders of scientific and technological organizations are responsible for directing and regularly inspecting the implementation of the work of promoting and disseminating laws on science and technology within the scope of their unit's activities.

In the short term, agencies under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Provincial Departments of Science, Technology, and Environment, science and technology management agencies under ministries and sectors must do the following:

a. Assign a unit leader to oversee and organize the implementation of the work of promoting and disseminating laws on science and Technology.

b. Promote and disseminate laws on science and technology to each type of target group, especially incorporating newly issued legal documents into the annual program and plan of the unit.

c. Base on the Action Program to Intensify the Work of Promoting and Disseminating Laws on Science and Technology for the period 2003-2007 of the Ministry of Science and Technology to develop annual plans, select appropriate and proactive forms and methods to intensify the promotion and dissemination of laws on science and technology of their unit.

d. Allocate reasonable financial resources in the annual plan to implement promotional and dissemination activities of laws on science and technology.

3. The Legal Affairs Department shall be responsible for:

a. Serving as the focal point to coordinate with agencies under the Ministry of Science and Technology to guide Provincial Departments of Science, Technology, and Environment, science and technology management agencies under ministries and sectors, and scientific and technological organizations at all levels in developing annual plans for promoting and disseminating laws on science and technology for each target group and integrating this work into routine operations.

b. Developing annual and long-term programs for promoting and disseminating laws on science and technology of the Ministry to be submitted to the Minister of Science and Technology for approval.

c. Compiling materials, drafting outlines, and providing guidance on the content of disseminating legal normative documents on science and technology for each type of target group, and strengthening training for the workforce involved in promoting laws on science and technology.

4. The press agencies of the Ministry and the Department of Science, Technology and Environment shall allocate appropriate pages for disseminating and educating the law through special sections and columns on legal matters with suitable forms. Strengthening the team of reporters, editors, and contributors writing about the law to provide for central and local newspapers and radio stations to promptly and adequately meet the public's need to understand laws related to science and technology.

5. The Ministry’s Office shall take the lead in coordinating with the Legal Affairs Department to develop annual plans and measures to enhance the dissemination and popularization of laws on science and technology through mass media outside the Ministry with suitable forms.

6. The Department of Organization and Scientific Personnel shall coordinate with the School of Management Science, Technology and Environment Training and relevant units to build and submit to the Ministry’s leadership for approval a plan for training and developing state management officials on laws related to science and technology; taking the lead in exchanging with relevant ministries and sectors to incorporate the content of laws on science and technology into examinations for promotion, grade advancement, and job transfer for scientific and technological officials in accordance with each type of personnel.

7. The School of Management Science, Technology and Environment Training shall take the lead in coordinating with the Legal Affairs Department and relevant units to implement the approved plan by the Ministry’s leadership on training and education on laws related to science and technology for officials at all levels managing science and technology, and for research staff in science and technology. Emphasizing regular specialized training on laws for officials working in state management of science and technology at both central and local levels.

8. The Standardization, Measurement and Quality Control General Administration shall take the lead in coordinating with the Legal Affairs Department to develop content, select and implement forms and measures for disseminating and popularizing laws among officials and civil servants in the fields of standardization, measurement, and quality control, particularly focusing on organizing training classes to disseminate and train knowledge on standardization, measurement, and quality control for enterprises and other related entities.

9. The Intellectual Property Office shall be responsible for leading and coordinating with the Legal Affairs Department to develop content, select and implement forms and measures for disseminating and popularizing laws among officials and civil servants in the field of intellectual property, including enterprises and all strata of the people; especially emphasizing early coordination with related agencies and organizations to organize training sessions on intellectual property law knowledge at the School of Management Science, Technology and Environment Training, Hanoi Law University, and Ho Chi Minh City Law University.

10. The Office of Technology and Environmental Project Evaluation shall take the lead in coordinating with the Legal Affairs Department to develop content, select and implement forms and measures for disseminating and popularizing laws among officials and civil servants in the field of technology transfer, particularly focusing on organizing training sessions to disseminate and guide the implementation of laws and management practices in technology transfer for local science and technology management agencies, enterprises, and other related entities.

11. The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Board shall take the lead in coordinating with the Legal Affairs Department to develop content, select and implement forms and measures for disseminating and popularizing laws among officials and civil servants in the field of radiation safety and control, particularly focusing on organizing training sessions to disseminate and train knowledge on radiation safety and control for entities related to radiation safety and control activities.

12. The Departments of Science, Technology and Environment and science and technology management agencies under central ministries and sectors shall develop annual plans, clearly defining the content, forms, measures for implementation, and funding for activities to disseminate and popularize laws on science and technology, submitting them for approval by their supervising authorities and sending them to the Ministry of Science and Technology before November 15th each year to compile a unified plan for the entire sector for the following year regarding the dissemination and popularization of laws on science and technology.

13. The Legal Affairs Department shall be responsible for guiding, monitoring, and inspecting the implementation of this Directive and regularly reporting results to the Minister. Commendation for outstanding achievements in the work of disseminating and popularizing laws on science and technology shall be conducted annually according to current State regulations.