Decision No. 09/2003/QĐ-BNV on approving the amended Charter of the Vietnam Association of the Blind

 

DECISION OF THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS

Regarding the approval of the Charter (amended) of

Vietnam Association of the Blind

THE MINISTER OF THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

- Based on Law No. 102/SL-L004 dated May 20, 1957 on the right to establish associations;

- WHEREAS of- Based on Decree No. 181CP dated November 9, 1994 of the Government on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Civil Service Committee (now the Ministry of Home Affairs);

- Based on Decision No. 158/QĐ-TTg dated March 2, 1999 of the Prime Minister authorizing the Minister of the Civil Service Committee (now the Minister of Home Affairs) to approve the establishment of associations;

- Considering the proposal of the Chairman of the Vietnam Association of the Blind and the Director of the Department for Non-Governmental Organizations;

DECISION:

Article 1. Approves the amended Charter of the Vietnam Association of the Blind which was adopted at the Sixth National Congress on December 21, 2002.

Article 2. The Chairman of the Vietnam Association of the Blind and the Director of the Department for Non-Governmental Organizations shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.

 

 

CHARTER

VIETNAM ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND

(Amended)

In our country, there are more than half a million blind people due to accidents, diseases, and wars defending the nation. Losing their precious sense of sight, the blind face many difficulties in life.

With determination, perseverance, and confidence in their own abilities, the blind have a strong desire to study and work to live equally with other members of society and contribute to building the nation.

Under the care and support of the Party and State, the Vietnam Association of the Blind was established on April 17, 1969.

Implementing the teaching "Disabled but not useless" of the Beloved President Ho Chi Minh, after over 30 years of operation, through persistent and tenacious efforts, achieving many accomplishments, the Vietnam Association of the Blind has increasingly demonstrated itself as an organization representing the will, aspirations, feelings, and interests of a large number of blind people nationwide. At the same time, it has affirmed its role and position both domestically and internationally.

PART I
Aims and Objectives

Article 1:

The Association is a special social organization operating under the leadership of the Party, supported by the State, and assisted by society and the people. It maintains close relations with various mass organizations and social organizations. The Association is a member of the Fatherland Front of Vietnam and a national member of the World Blind Union and the Asia-Pacific region.

The Association possesses full legal personality, has its own emblem, and takes its founding date as its traditional day. The Association has its headquarters, seal, and bank account.

The headquarters of the Vietnam Association of the Blind is located in Hanoi, the capital city.

Article 2:

The Association was established to contribute to the implementation of political and social tasks of the Party and State alongside the entire population.

The Association mobilizes the blind to care for and help each other in social, cultural, and vocational aspects, creating an environment for the blind to strive to improve themselves and contribute to achieving the goal "Rich people, strong country, equitable, democratic, civilized society".

PART II

Tasks of the Association

Article 3: The Association has the following tasks:

1 - Educating the blind: continuously enhancing their love for the country, socialism, trust in the reform process, compliance with the Party's guidelines and policies, state laws; fulfilling civic duties, complying with the Association's Charter and resolutions.

2 - Promoting the Charter and activities of the Association. Developing the organization and increasing membership.

3 - Mobilizing the blind to promote mutual assistance, unity, affection, and care for each other in spirit and material terms, striving together to integrate into family and societal life.

Protecting legitimate rights of members and the blind, paying attention to women and children who are blind.

4 - Organizing and creating conditions for rehabilitation, literacy, vocational training, managing welfare facilities, production, business, and service establishments established by the Association; contributing to job creation, gradually stabilizing living conditions, improving cultural, vocational, and educational levels for members.

5 - Proposing and recommending to the State the issuance of necessary policies and systems for the blind and the Association, actively influencing to ensure that these policies quickly take effect. Cooperating with relevant state agencies to assist the Association in planning and implementing programs to improve the lives of the blind, promoting"Socialization of Association Activities".

6. Expanding and strengthening solidarity and friendship with organizations of the blind and visually impaired, humanitarian, and charitable organizations worldwide.

7. Working with other social organizations to actively struggle for peace, combat social evils, prevent accidents, and ensure workplace safety to prevent blindness.

CHAPTER III

Members

Article 4.

Vietnamese citizens aged 15 and above, with visual acuity of 0.5/10 (after correction with glasses, can only count fingers when placed 3 meters away from the eyes), regardless of the cause of blindness, ethnicity, belief, religion, gender, who agree with the Association's Charter and voluntarily apply to join the Association are recognized as members.

Recognition of membership is decided by the County Association Executive Board.

Article 5: Members have the following duties:

1 - Complying with the Party's guidelines and policies, state laws, the Association's Charter, and resolutions.

2 - Promoting the Charter and activities of the Association; mobilizing the blind to join the Association.

3 - Actively participating in Association activities; attending meetings of grassroots organizations of the Association. Always attaching importance to self-criticism and criticism, maintaining and consolidating unity within the Association, helping each other to complete assigned tasks well; paying membership fees as prescribed.

4 - Continuously training for rehabilitation, studying, working, and striving to integrate into community life.

5 - Protecting the property of the State and the Association.

Article 6: Members have the following rights:

1 - Discussing and voting on matters during Association meetings.

2 - Candidating, nominating, negotiating, or electing individuals to leadership positions at all levels of the Association (candidates for the Executive Board must be at least 21 years old).

3 - Providing feedback, questioning leaders, cadres, and members during Association meetings.

4 - Submitting opinions and complaints to leaders according to state and Association regulations.

5 - Receiving support from the Association for rehabilitation, education, employment, protection of legal rights, and assistance when facing significant difficulties in life.

6 - Participating in Association meetings at least once every six months.

PART IV
Organization of the Association

Article 7:

1. The Association operates and functions based on the principle of centralized democracy, deciding by majority, working under a collective leadership system with individual responsibility.

2. The organization operates at the central level, provincial level cities directly under the central government (hereinafter referred to collectively as provinces), districts, counties, towns, provincial-level cities directly under provinces (hereinafter referred to collectively as counties):

- The central level is the Vietnam Association of the Blind.

- The provincial association of the blind, provincial-level city directly under the central government.

- The county association of the blind, district, town, provincial city (basic-level associations).

Communes, wards, towns, and units with a large number of blind people have branch associations under each level of association. The establishment of the association must comply with the regulations of the State.

Article 8: Congress.

1. The Congress of Delegates or the General Meeting of Members is the highest leading body of the Association (held once every five years). The Congress of the Vietnam Association of the Blind or the local association is convened by the equivalent Executive Board.

2. Duties of the Congress:

a. Evaluating and reporting on the summary of the term of the Executive Board.

b. Discussing and deciding on the direction and tasks for the next term.

c. Electing a new Executive Board through the method of "Democratic Consultation".

d. Awarding collectives and individuals who have achieved results during the term.

3. Delegates of the Congress consist of two components:

a. Official delegates include:

- Ex-officio delegates: including members of the current Executive Board of the level convening the Congress.

- Elected delegates: are cadres and members elected by the member association.

b. Invited delegates: including leaders from the Party, administration, departments, sectors, mass organizations... (Only official delegates have voting rights at the Congress).

4. In special cases, if the term of the Congress needs to be extended, it must be agreed upon by relevant state authorities. The extension period shall not exceed one year for the central association, and the decision to extend the term of the Congress shall be made by the Central Executive Board and must be approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

5. The Executive Board may convene an extraordinary Congress when there is a legitimate request from two-thirds of the Executive Board members or more than half of the members and it is agreed upon by state management agencies.

Article 9: The Executive Board:

1 - The Executive Board is the leadership body between two Congresses of the Association. The Executive Board is responsible for organizing the implementation of Congress resolutions and leading all activities of the Association between two Congresses. The number of Executive Board members of the Association is decided by the Congress.

a. The Central Executive Board and Provincial Executive Board elect positions: President, Vice Presidents, and Standing Committee members.

b. The Basic-level Executive Board elects the President and Vice Presidents.

c. The Central Executive Board and Provincial Executive Board consist of three components: full-time, representatives, and outstanding members.

d. The number of Basic-level Executive Board members ranges from three to seven.

2 - Associations have the right to supplement additional members to the Executive Board according to the development of the Association. The supplementation of Central Executive Board members belonging to the representative component is decided by the Central Standing Board, while other components require consensus from the Executive Board.

3 - In cases where Executive Board members are too old, weak, or no longer belong to the organizational structure, they can be removed from the Executive Board.

4 - The Central Executive Board meets at least once a year, convened by the Standing Board.

5 - The Provincial Executive Board meets regularly at least once every three months, convened by the Standing Board.

6 - The Basic-level Executive Board meets once a month, convened by the Standing Board.

Article 10: The Standing Board:

The Standing Board is the leadership body between two meetings of the Executive Board. The Standing Board has the responsibility to propose policies, directions, and solutions to promote the implementation of Executive Board and Standing Board resolutions. The number of Standing Board members is composed of at least three people, but not more than one-third of the total number of Executive Board members. In special cases, exceeding one-third requires approval by the Central Standing Board.

1. The Central Standing Board meets at least once every three months. The Central Standing Board appoints a Standing Office consisting of some Standing Board members working regularly at the office. The duties and powers of the Standing Office are defined by the Standing Board.

2. The Provincial Standing Board appoints a Standing Office, consisting of three Standing Board members working regularly at the office (in places without conditions, two Standing Board members can be appointed to handle the Standing Office). The powers and responsibilities of the Standing Office are defined by the Standing Board. The Standing Board meets at least once a month.

3. Basic-level associations do not form a Standing Board. The President and Vice Presidents, as Standing Board members, manage the Association's activities between two Executive Board meetings. Where conditions permit, an additional Standing Board member can be appointed.

Article 11: Inspection work:

1. The Central Executive Board and Provincial Executive Board elect one Standing Board member to oversee inspection work. At the basic-level association, the Executive Board elects one Executive Board member to oversee inspection work.

2. Inspection members of the associations operate under the leadership of the Executive Board.

3. Content of inspection work:

- Inspecting compliance with the Association's Charter, Congress resolutions, and Executive Board resolutions.

- Inspecting the financial situation of the association and economic and social enterprises managed by the association.

- Reviewing and resolving complaints and reports from collectives and individuals. Anonymous and forged complaints will not be reviewed. If necessary, an inspection team can be formed; the composition, duties, and powers of the inspection team are defined by the Standing Board of that association. Basic-level associations do not form inspection teams.

Article 12. Offices at various levels of the Association:

1 - Regarding Organization: At the Central Association, specialized departments assist the leadership in implementing activities.

At the Provincial Association, specialized departments can be established based on specific conditions.

2 - Regarding Personnel: The Associations have both sighted and blind staff for professional work. Staff engaged in professional work at the associations must possess qualities, qualifications, capabilities, and training sufficient to assist the leadership in implementing programs.

CHAPTER V

Financial resources and assets of the Association

Article 13:

The financial resources of the Association include state budget allocations, membership fees, and other sources of income.

Membership fees of the Association are determined by the Central Standing Board.

The financial resources of the Association are allocated to the following:

1 - Salaries, allowances, and administrative expenses.

2 - Activities of the Association.

3 - Subsidies for members facing many difficulties.

Each Association manages its financial resources according to state regulations.

Article 14:

The assets of the Association include:

1 - State investment and support.

2 - Self-provisioning by various levels of the Association.

3 - Assistance from international organizations and the community.

The assets of the Association shall be managed and utilized in accordance with the provisions of the State.

Chapter VI
Rewards and disciplinary actions

Article 15:

Groups and individuals inside and outside the Association who have outstanding achievements in the activities of the Association or have made significant contributions to assist the Association shall be rewarded according to the Reward Regulations of the Central Executive Board. In cases of exceptional merit, the Association may propose rewards from the Government, the State, and local authorities.

Article 16:

The Executive Committee, the Standing Committee, and individuals who violate the Party's policies, the State's laws and regulations, fail to comply with the Charter and other provisions, thereby damaging the reputation of the Association and the status of members, shall be subject to disciplinary measures depending on the nature and severity of the violation as follows:

1 - For individuals: reprimand, warning, removal, expulsion from membership.

2 - For the Executive Committee and the Standing Committee: reprimand, warning, dissolution.

In cases where internal discord within the Executive Committee and the Standing Committee persists, causing stagnation in the Association's activities or serious violations, upon the request of the majority of members (two-thirds of the total number of members), and with permission from state management agencies, the Association shall convene a general assembly or an extraordinary representative conference.

Chapter VII

Compliance with the Charter of the Association

Article 17:

The Charter of the Association consists of seven (7) chapters and seventeen (17) articles.

- The Association, its affiliated units, and all members must comply with the Charter.

- The Central Standing Committee of the Association is responsible for guiding the implementation of the Charter.

- Amendments and supplements to the Charter of the Association shall be examined and decided by the National Congress of Representatives of the Association.

- The Charter was adopted at the Sixth National Congress of the Vietnam Blind Association on December 21, 2002.

- The Charter shall take effect from the date it is approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs./.