THE GOVERNMENT

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government of December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 30/2003/ND-CP of April 1, 2003 defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structures of the agencies attached to the Government;

At the proposals of the Head of the Government Committee for Religions and the Minister of the Interior,

DECREES:

Article 1.- Position and functions

The Government Committee for Religions is a governmental agency, which performs several tasks and exercises several powers of State management in the field of religion throughout the country; and performs the State management over public services in the field of religion as prescribed by law.

Article 2.- Tasks and powers

The Government Committee for Religions shall have to perform the tasks and exercise the powers defined in the Government's Decree No. 30/2003/ND-CP of April 1, 2003 prescribing the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structures of the agencies attached to the Government, as well as the following specific tasks and powers:

1. To submit to the Government or the Prime Minister bills, draft ordinances and other legal documents on the field of religion;

2. To submit to the Government or the Prime Minister strategies, programs, long-term, five-year and annual plans as well as important projects on the field of religion;

3. To submit to the ministers assigned by the Prime Minister to sign for promulgation legal documents falling under its State management;

4. To take responsibility for organizing the implementation of legal documents, strategies, programs and plans after they are approved;

5. To assume the prime responsibility and coordinate with the ministries, branches and central bodies of socio-political organizations and other concerned organizations in:

a/ Materializing the Party's and the State's religious undertakings and policies on ensuring citizens' freedom of beliefs and religions, the right to follow or not to follow any religion, as well as the right to participate in normal religious activities in strict accordance with law; ensuring the equality of various religions before law; and combating all acts of infringing upon the freedom of beliefs and religions or abusing beliefs and religions to act in contravention of the State's laws and policies;

b/ Settling according to its competence or reporting to the Prime Minister for settlement specific religious matters according to law provisions;

c/ Renewing and enhancing the work of information, propagation and mobilization for the realization of the Party's and the State's religious undertakings, policies and laws.

6. To guide and support local administrations of various levels in religious work and the settlement of important religious matters.

To act as coordinator in connecting with religious organizations;

7. To evaluate and submit dossiers to the Prime Minister for recognition of religious organizations according to law provisions.

8. To perform the uniform management over the publication of volumes of scriptures as well as purely religious works, teaching courses and cultural products of religious organizations permitted to operate by the State;

9. To take part in the management of historical-cultural relics, scenic places and famous sights related to religions;

10. To carry out the work of commendation and rewards according to its competence and propose to competent authorities to commend and/or reward, and to apply preferential treatment policies to, religious organizations and individuals;

11. To enter into international cooperation in the field of religion; to guide and assist religious organizations in conducting their external relations according to law provisions;

12. To examine, inspect and settle complaints and denunciations, combat corruptive and negative acts and handle violations of the legislation on religions according to law provisions;

13. To direct and implement plans on scientific research in the field of religion; to review the practical experience and provide scientific grounds for the formulation and materialization of religious undertakings and policies;

14. To guide and inspect the implementation of the mechanism for operation of pubic-service organizations in the field of religion according to law provisions; to manage and direct the operation of non-business organizations under its management;

15. To decide on and direct the implementation of its administrative reform program according to the objectives and contents of the State's administrative reform program already approved by the Prime Minister;

16. To manage its organizational apparatus and payroll; to provide professional training and fostering courses to officials, employees and people engaged in religious work; to direct the realization of wage regime as well as regimes and policies on preferential treatment, commendation, rewards and disciplines towards the State officials and employees under its management;

17. To manage the assigned finance and assets, and organize the implementation of allocated budget according to law provisions.

Article 3.- Organizational structure of the Committee

a/ Organizations assisting the Committee's Head in performing the State management tasks and powers:

1. The Department for Catholicism;

2. The Department for Buddhism;

3. The Department for Protestantism;

4. The Department for Caodaism;

5. The Department for Other Religions;

6. The Organization and Personnel Department;

7. The Legal-Inspection Department;

8. The International Cooperation Department;

9. The Office.

b/ Non-business organizations of the Committee:

1. The Center for Studying and Fostering of Religious Operations;

2. The Religion Publishing House;

3. The Religious Work Magazine;

4. The Informatics Center.

Article 4.- Implementation effect

This Decree takes effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette and replaces the Government's Decree No. 37/CP of June 4, 1993 on the tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Government Committee for Religions, and the Prime Minister's Decision No. 235/1998/QD-TTg of December 1, 1998 amending and supplementing some organizations of the Government Committee for Religions.

Article 5.- Implementation responsibility

The Head of the Government Committee for Religions, the ministers, the heads of the ministerial-level agencies, the heads of the agencies attached to the Government and the presidents of the provincial/municipal People's Committees shall have to implement this Decree.

On behalf of the Government
Prime Minister
PHAN VAN KHAI