Decree No. 91/2003/NĐ-CP on the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Governmental Committee for Religious Affairs

DECREE

REGULATING THE FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, POWERS AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

THE GOVERNMENT

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated December 25, 2001;
Pursuant to Decree No. 30/2003/NĐ-CP dated April 1, 2003 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of agencies under the Government;
AT THE PROPOSAL OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNMENT RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS,

DECREE

THE GOVERNMENT RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE IS AN AGENCY UNDER THE GOVERNMENT, PERFORMING CERTAIN TASKS AND POWERS TO MANAGE STATE AFFAIRS IN THE FIELD OF RELIGION ACROSS THE ENTIRE COUNTRY; MANAGING STATE SERVICES IN THE FIELD OF RELIGION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS.

12/2025/TT-BNNMT dated June 19, 2025 issued by the Minister of Agriculture and EnvironmentTasks and Powers

THE GOVERNMENT RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PERFORMING TASKS AND POWERS AS PROVIDED FOR IN DECREE NO. 30/2003/NĐ-CP OF THE GOVERNMENT DATED APRIL 1, 2003 ON THE FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, POWERS AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC TASKS AND POWERS:

1. SUBMITTING PROJECTS OF LAWS, ORDINANCES AND DRAFT LEGAL DOCUMENTS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER REGARDING THE FIELD OF RELIGION;

2. SUBMITTING STRATEGIES, PROGRAMMES, LONG-TERM PLANS, FIVE-YEAR PLANS AND ANNUAL PLANS, AND IMPORTANT PROJECTS IN THE FIELD OF RELIGION TO THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER;

3. SUBMITTING TO THE MINISTER DESIGNATED BY THE PRIME MINISTER TO ISSUE LEGAL DOCUMENTS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE;

4. BEING RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING LEGAL DOCUMENTS, STRATEGIES, PROGRAMMES AND PLANS AFTER APPROVAL;

5. LEADING AND COORDINATING WITH MINISTRIES, SECTORS, CENTRAL ORGANIZATIONS OF POLITICAL-SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER RELATED ORGANIZATIONS:

a) IMPLEMENTING PARTY AND STATE POLICIES ON RELIGION TO ENSURE CITIZENS' RIGHTS TO FREEDOM OF BELIEF AND RELIGION, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO PRACTICE OR NOT TO PRACTICE ANY RELIGION, TO ENGAGE IN NORMAL RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW; ENSURING EQUALITY AMONG RELIGIONS BEFORE THE LAW; COMBATING ANY ACTIONS THAT VIOLATE FREEDOM OF BELIEF AND RELIGION OR ABUSE RELIGION TO VIOLATE THE LAW AND STATE POLICIES;

b) RESOLVING ISSUES CONCERNING RELIGION WITHIN ITS AUTHORITY OR SUBMITTING THEM TO THE PRIME MINISTER FOR RESOLUTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW;

c) REFORMING AND STRENGTHENING INFORMATION, PROPAGANDA AND MOBILIZATION WORK TO IMPLEMENT PARTY AND STATE POLICIES AND LAWS ON RELIGION;

6. GUIDING AND SUPPORTING LOCAL AUTHORITIES AT ALL LEVELS IN RELIGIOUS WORK AND RESOLVING IMPORTANT ISSUES CONCERNING RELIGION;

SERVING AS THE POINT OF CONTACT WITH RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS;

7. REVIEWING DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED TO THE PRIME MINISTER FOR RECOGNITION OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW;

8. UNIFIED MANAGEMENT OF THE PUBLICATION OF SACRED BOOKS, TEACHING TEXTS AND PURELY RELIGIOUS CULTURAL PRODUCTS OF RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS PERMITTED TO OPERATE BY THE STATE;

9. PARTICIPATING IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL-HISTORICAL HERITAGES AND SCENIC SPOTS RELATED TO RELIGION;

10. IMPLEMENTING AWARDS ACCORDING TO AUTHORITY AND PROPOSING TO COMPETENT AUTHORITIES AWARDS AND INCENTIVE POLICIES FOR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS;

11. IMPLEMENTING INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF RELIGION; GUIDING AND ASSISTING RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN IMPLEMENTING FOREIGN RELATIONS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW;

12. INSPECTING, AUDITING, HANDLING COMPLAINTS AND REPORTS, FIGHTING CORRUPTION AND NEGLECT, AND HANDLING VIOLATIONS OF THE LAW IN THE FIELD OF RELIGION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW;

13. ORGANIZING AND IMPLEMENTING RESEARCH PLANS IN THE FIELD OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES; SUMMARIZING PRACTICES AND PROVIDING SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR THE FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF POLICIES TOWARDS RELIGION;

14. GUIDING AND MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OPERATING MECHANISMS OF PUBLIC SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE FIELD OF RELIGION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW; MANAGING AND DIRECTING THE ACTIVITIES OF AFFILIATED NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS;

15. DECIDING AND DIRECTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMMITTEE'S ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM PROGRAMME IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOALS AND CONTENT OF THE NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE REFORM PROGRAMME APPROVED BY THE PRIME MINISTER;

16. MANAGING THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND STAFFING; TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT IN SPECIALIZED AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR OFFICIALS, CIVIL SERVANTS, CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AND PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN RELIGIOUS WORK; DIRECTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF SALARY SYSTEMS AND INCENTIVE, REWARD AND DISCIPLINE POLICIES FOR NATIONAL OFFICIALS UNDER THE COMMITTEE'S MANAGEMENT;

17. Manage financial resources and assets assigned and organize the implementation of the budget allocated in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Article 3. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE COMMITTEE

a) ORGANIZATIONS ASSISTING THE CHAIRMAN IN PERFORMING STATE MANAGEMENT TASKS AND POWERS:

1. THE CATHOLIC DEPARTMENT;

2. THE BUDDHIST DEPARTMENT;

3. THE PROTESTANT DEPARTMENT;

4. THE CAODAI DEPARTMENT;

5. THE OTHER RELIGIONS DEPARTMENT;

6. THE ORGANIZATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT;

7. THE LEGAL AFFAIRS AND INSPECTION DEPARTMENT;

8. THE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION DEPARTMENT;

9. Office.

b) NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AFFILIATED WITH THE COMMITTEE:

1. THE CENTER FOR RELIGIOUS WORK TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT;

2. THE RELIGIOUS PUBLISHING HOUSE;

3. THE RELIGIOUS WORK JOURNAL;

4. THE COMPUTER CENTER.

Article 4. Effectiveness

THIS DECREE SHALL TAKE EFFECT 15 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE GAZETTE AND SHALL REPLACE GOVERNMENT DECREE NO. 37/CP DATED JUNE 4, 1993 ON THE TASKS, POWERS AND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE GOVERNMENT RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, AND DECISION NO. 235/1998/QĐ-TTg DATED DECEMBER 1, 1998 OF THE PRIME MINISTER ON AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING SOME ORGANIZATIONS UNDER THE GOVERNMENT RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

Article 5.Responsibility for Implementation

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GOVERNMENT RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, MINISTERS, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT-LEVEL AGENCIES, HEADS OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND CHAIRMEN OF PROVINCE AND CITY PEOPLE'S COMMITTEES DIRECTLY UNDER THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THIS DECREE./.