Circular No. 07/2011/TT-BNV guiding the awarding of the Commendation Medal "For the Cause of State Management of Religion"

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for awarding the Commemorative Medal "For the Cause of State Management of Religion"

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Pursuant to the Law on Competition and Rewards dated November 26, 2003 and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Competition and Rewards dated June 14, 2005;

Pursuant to Decree No. 42/2010/NĐ-CP dated April 15, 2010 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Law on Competition and Rewards and the Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Provisions of the Law on Competition and Rewards;

Pursuant to Decree No. 48/2008/NĐ-CP dated April 17, 2008 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Home Affairs;

Pursuant to Decision No. 134/2009/QĐ-TTg dated November 3, 2009 of the Prime Minister stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Governmental Committee for Religious Affairs under the Ministry of Home Affairs;

The Ministry of Home Affairs hereby issues guidelines for awarding the Commemorative Medal "For the Cause of State Management of Religion" (hereinafter referred to as the Commemorative Medal) as follows:

PART I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Form and Purpose of Awarding the Commemorative Medal

The Commemorative Medal is a form of reward granted by the Ministry of Home Affairs to recognize the contributions and dedication of individuals who have made significant achievements in building and developing the cause of State Management of Religion.

Article 2. Scope of Regulation

These guidelines stipulate the principles, recipients, criteria, documentation, procedures, authority to propose and decide, and organization of the presentation of the Commemorative Medal.

Article 3. Principles for conferring titles

1. The Commemorative Medal is awarded once to an individual and there is no posthumous award.

2. The Commemorative Medal is considered for award annually on the occasion of the anniversary of the traditional day of the State Management of Religion sector (August 2).

3. The awarding of the Commemorative Medal must be carried out in accordance with regulations, ensuring accuracy, fairness, transparency, democracy, and timeliness.

Chapter II

RECIPIENTS, CRITERIA, AND CONDITIONS FOR THE AWARDING OF COMMENDATION PLAQUES

Article 4. Recipients and Criteria

1. Individuals who have worked or are currently working in the State Management of Religion sector for ten years or more (referred to as the Religion sector), including:

a) Individuals working at units under the Governmental Committee for Religious Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs; in local state management agencies regarding religion (Religion Department - Provincial Department of Home Affairs, Home Affairs Office at district level); individuals responsible for religious work under the People's Committees at commune level.

b) Individuals engaged in religious work at Party and State agencies, Ministries, Departments, and central-level political-social organizations for ten years or more.

c) Individuals outside the sector, including overseas Vietnamese and foreigners who have made outstanding contributions and support to the development and management of the Religion sector in Vietnam.

2. Cases eligible for early consideration beyond the time frame specified in Clause 1 of this Article.

a) Leaders of the Party and State, individuals with meritorious service in leading and directing efforts that positively contribute to the development of the Religion sector. Individuals with innovative ideas or valuable scientific research contributing to the development of the Religion sector, proposed by the Competition and Reward Council of the Religion sector.

b) Individuals with exceptional merit in coordinating work or providing financial or material support for the development of the Religion sector.

c) Individuals who have worked for eight years or more in the Religion sector in remote mountainous, border, and island regions.

d) Individuals who have worked for seven years or more in the Religion sector and have been awarded high national honors, including Hero of Labor, Hero of the Armed Forces, and Orders of Labor at various levels.

đ) Individuals who have worked for eight years or more in the Religion sector and have been awarded Certificates of Merit by the Prime Minister.

e) Other special cases approved by the Competition and Reward Council of the Religion sector for submission to the Minister of Home Affairs for decision to award the Commemorative Medal.

Article 5. Cases Not Eligible for Consideration for Commendation Medal

1. Individuals who have been disciplined with a warning or higher shall not be considered for the Commendation Medal.

2. Individuals currently awaiting disciplinary action shall not be considered for the Commendation Medal.

3. Individuals under disciplinary action may only be considered for the Commendation Medal after the completion of their disciplinary period. The period of discipline shall not be counted towards eligibility for the Commendation Medal.

Chapter III

PROCEDURE FOR CONSIDERATION AND BESTOWAL OF THE COMMENDATION MEDAL, APPLICATION DOCUMENTS, AND ORGANIZATION OF BESTOWAL

Article 6. Procedure for Consideration

The Department of Mobilization and Reward Work of the Ministries, Central Agencies, and Central Mass Organizations; the Departments under the Government’s Religious Affairs Committee; Provincial Departments of Home Affairs (Religious Affairs Departments; Religious Affairs Divisions) shall accept applications from individuals and units, compare them against the criteria, compile lists for the Mobilization and Reward Councils, and submit them for review by the leadership of their respective agencies. These lists will then be sent to the Government’s Religious Affairs Committee for consolidation and verification before being submitted to the Minister of Home Affairs for consideration and bestowal of the Commendation Medal.

Article 7. Application Documents

Application documents for the Commendation Medal include:

- A document from the Ministry, agency, mass organization at the central level; provincial or centrally-administered city regarding the request for consideration for the Commendation Medal (model 1);

- A summary list of individuals proposed for consideration for the Commendation Medal (model 2);

- A brief summary of individual achievements, confirmed by the head of the unit (model 3);

- Minutes of the Mobilization and Reward Council meeting (kept at the proposing agency);

Two sets of application documents must be submitted to the Government’s Religious Affairs Committee before April 1st each year.

Article 8. Acceptance, Verification of Application Documents, and Decision on Bestowal

1. The Government’s Religious Affairs Committee accepts and verifies application documents, submits them for review and decision-making by the Minister of Home Affairs for bestowal of the Commendation Medal. Applications must be submitted to the Minister before June 1st each year.

2. The Government’s Religious Affairs Committee is responsible for:

- Notifying relevant Ministries, agencies, localities about individuals decided by the Minister of Home Affairs to receive the Commendation Medal.

- Preparing conditions according to regulations and guiding the organization of the bestowal ceremony for the Commendation Medal.

Article 9. Organization of Bestowal

1. The bestowal ceremony is organized during the anniversary of the traditional day of the State Administration of Religion.

2. The proposing agency or unit organizes the bestowal ceremony for individuals according to current regulations.

3. The Government’s Religious Affairs Committee organizes the bestowal ceremony for individuals working at the Government’s Religious Affairs Committee and other special cases.

Chapter IV

OTHER PROVISIONS

Article 10. Rights and Responsibilities of Individuals Receiving the Commendation Medal

1. Individuals receiving the Commendation Medal shall receive a Certificate and monetary award according to the Decision and regulations (as per models 04 and 05 attached to this Circular).

2. Individuals receiving the Commendation Medal are responsible for maintaining and continuing to promote the traditions of the State Administration of Religion.

Article 11. Handling violations, addressing complaints and reports

1. Organizations and individuals related to the bestowal of the Commendation Medal bear responsibility under the law for the accuracy of the application documents.

2. Organizations and individuals have the right to appeal or report complaints about the bestowal of the Commendation Medal according to the Law on Appeals and Complaints and the Law on Mobilization and Reward. The authority to resolve appeals and complaints is carried out according to the provisions of the law.

Article 12. Implementation Organization

1. This Circular takes effect 45 days from the date of issuance and revokes Decision No. 221/QĐ-TB dated July 8, 2005, issued by the Head of the Government’s Religious Affairs Committee on the issuance of the Regulation on the Bestowal of the Commendation Medal "For the Cause of State Administration of Religion." In cases where application documents for the Commendation Medal were submitted before the effective date of this Circular, they shall continue to be processed according to Decision No. 221/QĐ-TB dated July 8, 2005, issued by the Head of the Government’s Religious Affairs Committee on the issuance of the Regulation on the Bestowal of the Commendation Medal "For the Cause of State Administration of Religion."

2. The Director of the Office of the Ministry, the Head of the Government’s Religious Affairs Committee, the Director of the Cadre and Civil Servant Organization Department, the Heads of agencies and units under and directly subordinate to the Ministry of Home Affairs; the Mobilization and Reward Departments (Bureaus, Divisions) of Ministries, agencies equivalent to Ministries, agencies under the Government, political-social organizations, and mass organizations at the central level, Directors of Provincial Departments of Home Affairs of centrally-administered cities, and related organizations and individuals are responsible for implementing this Circular.

3. During implementation, if any inappropriate points are discovered, agencies and organizations should promptly reflect them to the Government’s Religious Affairs Committee for consolidation and reporting to the Minister of Home Affairs for review, amendment, and supplementation as appropriate./.