Decision No. 257/2002/QÐ-BTP on the establishment of the Vietnam Legal Aid Fund

Pursuant to …;

DECISION NO. 257/2002/QD-BTP OF JULY 10, 2002 ISSUED BY THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE VIETNAM LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND

THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE

- BASED ON THE GOVERNMENT DECREE NO. 38/CP OF JUNE 4, 1993 ON THE FUNCTIONS, TASKS, POWERS AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE;

- BASED ON THE PRIME MINISTER'S DECISION NO. 734/TTG OF SEPTEMBER 6, 1997 ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE ORGANIZATION FOR POOR PEOPLE AND POLICY OBJECTIVES;

- BASED ON THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S LETTER NO. 5856/VPCP-PC OF NOVEMBER 30, 2001 ANNOUNCING THE PRIME MINISTER'S OPINION ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND;

- BASED ON THE OPINIONS OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE (LETTER NO. 3142/BTC-CSTC OF APRIL 2, 2002) AND THE GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATION AND STAFF BOARD (LETTER NO. 89/BTCCBCP-TCCB OF MARCH 22, 2002) ON THE ISSUANCE OF DOCUMENTS REGARDING THE VIETNAM LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND;

- CONSIDERING THE PROPOSALS OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE COUNCIL AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE ORGANIZATION AND TRAINING DEPARTMENT.

Pursuant to …;

Article 1. THE VIETNAM LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND (HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS THE FUND) IS ESTABLISHED UNDER THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE COUNCIL, MINISTRY OF JUSTICE.

THE FUND HAS LEGAL PERSONALITY, WITH ITS HEADQUARTERS IN HANOI, ITS OWN SEAL, AND ACCOUNTS OPEN AT THE STATE TREASURY AND BANKS.

THE ENGLISH NAME OF THE FUND IS VIETNAM LEGAL AID FUND AND ITS ABBREVIATION IS VILAF.

Article 2. THE FUND HAS THE FUNCTION OF RAISING AND RECEIVING FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUPPORT NATIONAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES.

Article 3. THE FUND HAS THE FOLLOWING TASKS AND POWERS:

1. RECEIVING FINANCIAL RESOURCES FROM THE STATE BUDGET;

2. ENGAGING, EXPLOITING, AND ADVOCATING DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUND IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS;

3. PROVIDING FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAWS;

4. DISSEMINATING INFORMATION, EXCHANGING EXPERIENCES, AND WIDELY PUBLICIZING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FUND;

5. UTILIZING NETWORKS OF VOLUNTEER COLLABORATORS AT THE CENTRAL AND LOCAL LEVELS TO GENERATE FUNDS FOR THE FUND AND IMPLEMENT ITS ACTIVITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS;

6. MANAGING THE FUND'S FINANCIAL RESOURCES IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATIONS;

7. RECOMMENDING RECOGNITION AND AWARDS FOR ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MADE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE FUND'S DEVELOPMENT.

Article 4. THE FUND'S ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE INCLUDES THE FUND DIRECTOR, VICE-DIRECTORS, A FULL-TIME ACCOUNTANT, AND A PART-TIME ASSISTANT DEPARTMENT. IN CASES OF NECESSITY, THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE SHALL ESTABLISH SPECIALIZED COMMITTEES OF THE FUND UPON THE PROPOSAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE COUNCIL AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE ORGANIZATION AND TRAINING DEPARTMENT.

THE DIRECTOR OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE COUNCIL IS RESPONSIBLE TO THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FUND'S ORGANIZATION AND OPERATIONS.

Article 5. THIS DECISION SHALL TAKE EFFECT FROM JULY 26, 2002. THE DIRECTOR OF THE LEGAL ASSISTANCE COUNCIL AND THE HEADS OF THE MINISTRY'S UNITS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS DECISION.

Article 6. NGUYEN DINH LOC

The Director of the Legal Aid Agency and the Heads of units under the Ministry shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.