(VOVWORLD) - More than 4.6 million Buddhist followers in Vietnam on Wednesday celebrated Lord Buddha’s 2,565th birthday (Vesak Day). Despite the pandemic, the celebration, held both in person and online, evidenced the right to freedom of religion in Vietnam. The Vietnamese Party and State have pursued a consistent policy of respecting and protecting the right to freedom of religion and belief.
 Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Vice Standing Chairman of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) delivers a speech on Lord Buddha's birthday celebration (Photo: Minh Duc/VNA) |
Vietnam is a multi-religion nation with 95% of its population having some spiritual beliefs and 26.5 million religious followers. The right to freedom of religion and belief in Vietnam is not just in theory. When there is no pandemic, more than 8,500 religious festivals are held in Vietnam every year. Religious rituals and ceremonies draw hundreds of thousands of religious followers. Religious activities are practiced nationwide.
The State has recognized and licensed the operation of 41 religious organizations adhering to 16 religions and thousands of smaller religious groups have a license to operate. Religious organizations are allowed to set up schools and training courses. Most places of worship are new or recently renovated, and have certificates of land use right for the space they occupy. Religious organizations are allowed to print and publish bibles and books that comply with the law, and they consistently promote international cooperation. The right to freedom of religion and belief of ethnic minority groups is also protected.
 (Photo: Minh Duc/VNA) |
Vietnam has participated in dialogues on democracy, human rights, and religion with the US and the EU, and successfully defended its National Report on the 3rd Universal Periodical Report and its National Report on implementing the International Convention on political civil rights at the UN Human Rights Council. Vietnam has provided information on its achievements in ensuring the right to freedom of religion and belief to visiting foreign parliamentarians and government officials and to foreign embassies in Vietnam, and established working teams to hold talks on religious issues with the US and other western countries.
Vietnam has expanded cooperation and dialogues on religion and belief with other countries, publicized its guidelines, policies, and achievements concerning religion and belief and refuted misinformation about its stance on religion. Given these achievements, the US Department of State has no reason to include Vietnam in its “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) list or Special Watch List (SWL).
Vietnam has been fine-tuning its policies and laws on religion and belief and improving state management of religious affairs to better ensure people’s right to freedom of religion and belief, prevent extreme religious practices, and deal firmly with any abuse of freedom of religion to subvert the government.
Vietnam has increased communications on freedom of religion and belief and encouraged religious organizations to participate in dialogues on human rights and people-to-people diplomacy to make the international community understand correctly Vietnam’s stance on religion.
Vietnam has enhanced external relations concerning religion, participated in international forums on religion, and inform the international community about Vietnam’s stance on religion in order to gain international support and correct distortions.
The Vietnamese Party and State has consistently pursued a policy of respecting and protecting the right to freedom of religion and belief, ensuring equality of religions, and promoting the cultural and moral value of religion and its contribution to national development.