Directive No. 482-TTg on the Summary of Eight Years of Implementing the Law on Marriage and Family

 DIRECTIVE

ON THE COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF EIGHT YEARS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LAW

The Marriage and Family Law of 1986, born at the beginning of the period of renovation, inherited the democratic and progressive principles of the new marriage and family system, first institutionalized in the Marriage and Family Law of 1959, as well as the fine traditions of Vietnamese families, has made a very positive contribution to building and consolidating Vietnamese families, promoting the fine traditions of the nation, eliminating backward customs of feudal marriage and family systems, and combating the negative influences of bourgeois marriage and family systems.

However, in many places, violations of the provisions of the Marriage and Family Law still occur, including serious cases, with early marriages, unregistered marriages, and violations of the principle of monogamy still existing; the situation of wife-beating, child abuse, and failure to fulfill maintenance obligations for children and elderly parents has not been sufficiently condemned and punished.

Starting from the position that the family is the cell of society, the loving cradle nurturing a person's entire life, the important environment educating living habits and shaping personality, building new people and new lifestyles, and bringing people actively into the cause of building and defending the country; responding to the United Nations' International Year of the Family 1994, and to urgently promote research on amending and supplementing policies and laws on marriage and family with the goal of building Vietnamese families that are "prosperous, progressive, equal, and happy," to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and decision in 1995, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1- Organize the comprehensive review of eight years of implementation of the 1986 Marriage and Family Law throughout the country. The review must be completed in the first quarter of 1995, with the main contents as follows:

- Focus on evaluating the implementation of the Law's provisions, analyzing the reasons for the incomplete and strict implementation of the Marriage and Family Law's provisions, and the reasons for ongoing violations of the Marriage and Family Law in localities;

- Identify new issues arising that require policy and legal amendments and supplements. Pay attention to analyzing local characteristics and ethnic customs to propose specific recommendations;

- Continue to popularize and educate the public about the Marriage and Family Law.

2- Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities shall direct the organization of the comprehensive review of eight years of implementation of the Marriage and Family Law in their respective localities.

The review will be conducted from now until the end of January 1995; localities must submit their comprehensive review reports to the Government Office and the Ministry of Justice.

3- The Minister of Justice shall be responsible for:

- Preparing and implementing the plan for the comprehensive review of eight years of implementation of the Marriage and Family Law;

- Coordinating with the Vietnam Women's Union Central Committee and relevant sectors and mass organizations to promote research on amending and supplementing the Marriage and Family Law;

- Directing the Provincial Department of Justice to coordinate with the Women's Union, People's Court, People's Procuracy, and other relevant agencies and organizations at the local level to assist the People's Committee in conducting the practical review of the implementation of the Marriage and Family Law.

By the beginning of March 1995, the Ministry of Justice shall report to the Prime Minister on the results of the above tasks.

4- The Minister of Culture and Information shall direct the dissemination and promotion of the response to the International Year of the Family, the dissemination of the Marriage and Family Law through mass media, and the timely reflection of the situation and results of the comprehensive review of eight years of implementation of the Law.

5- The Minister of Finance shall be responsible for providing necessary funds for the comprehensive review of eight years of implementation of the Marriage and Family Law at the central and local levels according to the emergency plan.

To effectively conduct this comprehensive review of eight years of implementation of the Marriage and Family Law, the Prime Minister requests the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuracy, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, and its members to cooperate with government agencies to guide this comprehensive review well./.