VUFO's 4th Presidium Conference, Session VI: Reporting and approving many key issues on people-to-people relations
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Headquarters of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations.

Accordingly, the Article 2 of the Session VI Charter states: "The VUFO operates under the Charter adopted by the National Congress and approved by the Prime Minister; on the principle of voluntariness, democracy, equality, publicity, transparency, not for profit, compliance with the Constitution and the law ".

In addition, the VI Charter is used uniformly for the VUFO's members both Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations' permanent ones and the Friendship Unions in localities. This is also different from the V Charter's as it was used only for the VUFO's permanent organizations.

Regarding the layout, the V Charter has 8 chapters and 25 article while the VI Charter has developed with the Introduction, 09 chapters, 32 articles. Specifically, Chapter I: Principles, purposes and scope of activities (including 3 articles); Chapter II: Functions, duties and powers (including 2 articles); Chapter III: Organizational System (including 7 articles); Chapter IV: The leading agency and the Standing one of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (including 6 articles); Chapter V: The leading one of the member organizations at the central level (including 4 articles); Chapter VI: Leading agency of the Union of Friendship Organizations of provinces and municipalities (including 4 articles); Chapter VII: Finance and assets (including 2 articles); Chapter VIII: Commendation and Discipline (including 2 articles) and Chapter IX: Implementation provisions (including 02 articles).

Thus, compared to the V Charter, the VI Charter has added 2 new chapters, namely: Chapter V: The leading agency of the member organizations at the central level and Chapter VI: the leading agency of the Union of Friendship Organizations of provinces and municipalities.

Some changed contents in details

In addition to the major changes in the layout, the VI Charter compared to the V Charter also has specific changes.

Accordingly, in Article 1 of the VI Charter states: "The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations is a socio-political organization specializing in people-to-people relations in the fields of peace, solidarity and friendship, and people-to-people cooperation, being a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; playing a pivotal role in people-to-people diplomacy and foreign non-governmental advocacy; being an organization implementing political foreign affairs and an integral part of Vietnam's professional foreign forces".

Regarding the principles of organization and operation specified in Article 5, compared to the previous one, the VI Charter affirms that: The VUFO is organized and operated on the principles of voluntary, democratic, equal, and public declaration, transparency, non-profit purposes and compliance with the Constitution, laws and the VUFO Charter. The VUFO and its member organizations in the provinces and municipalities are guaranteed funding, material facilities and means of operation; the VUFO's member organizations operating nationwide are provided with financial support associated with the tasks assigned by competent agencies in accordance with law.

In terms of functions and duties, compared to the content stated in the V Charter, which is "Participating in campaigning, fighting public opinion on issues of democracy, human rights ...", in Charter VI, the VUFO's functions and duties has added and clarified: "Participating in campaigning and fighting public opinion to protect nation and national interests, especially on issues of democracy, human rights and national sovereignty ... ".

In particular, the VI Charter has added new contents proposed as in Article 6, Chapter III, providing for the organizational system: The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations includes Standing agencies and member organizations at the central land local levels.

Article 13 on Principles of operation also states: The leading agencies of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations are elected and operate on the principle of democratic centralization, collective leadership, individuals in charge, and decision making according to the majority.

Regarding the National Congress' deputies provided for in Article 14, Charter VI clearly states: The National Congress' deputies are convened every 5 years and may convene an extraordinary meeting upon the request of at least 2/3 (two-thirds) of the total membership of the Presidium or of at least 1/2 (one-third) of the total number of member organizations.

As for the regulations of the Presidium, V Charter only states that the Presidium including President, Vice President cum Secretary General, other Vice Presidents ... while in VI Charter this content has to be concretized: The Presidium includes President, Vice President - General Secretary, Vice Presidents of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; Presidents of member organizations; Heads of departments and units in the VUFO's standing agencies, representatives of a number of agencies, people-to-people organizations and some typical individuals. The number, structure and procedures of the Presidium are determined by the National Congress.

The operating principle of the Presidium Standing Committee is specified in Article 16 also clearly states: The Standing Committee of the Presidium must meet regularly every 06 (six) months, an extraordinary meeting at the request of the VUFO President or of more than 1/2 (one-half) of the total members of the Presidium's Standing Committee.

Regarding the Regulation for the Inspection Committee, VI Charter also adds in great details: The Inspection Committee is elected by the National Congress' deputies. The Inspection Committee is composed of the Head and Members. The Head of the Inspection Committee is one of the members of the Standing Committee of the Presidium.

The Inspection Committee has the following duties and powers: a) To elect the Head of the Inspection Committee; b) Examining if any signs of violation of the observance of the VUFO Charter, the implementation of resolutions of the National Congress' deputies, meetings of the Presidium and the Standing Committee of the Presidium; c) Inspecting the management and use of finance and assets of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; d) To guide and direct the activities of the Inspection Committee of the member organizations; e) To handle complaints and denunciations according to their competence; e) To recommend to the Standing Committee of the Presidium on disciplinary measures against violating organizations and individuals.

The Inspection Committee shall meet regularly once a year, and ad hoc meetings at the request of the VUFO President or at the request of the Head of the Inspection Committee.

Regarding financial resources and assets as stipulated in Article 27, VI Charter stipulates: Financial sources and assets of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and its member organizations include:

Issued by the State budget; Sponsorship from domestic and foreign individuals and organizations in accordance with the law; Other legal revenues.

Article 29 on the rewarding activities of the VUFO also seen additional supplements compared to the V Charter: Organizations and individuals playing a lot of contributions to the implementation of the principles, purposes and activities of the VUFO, the central and the local member organizations are commended or requested to be commended by the State ...

The Executive Committee of member organizations at the central and local levels shall stipulate the form, authority, and process of commendation of member organizations in accordance with the law and the VUFO Charter, the charter of the central member organizations and the regulations on the organization and operation of the Union of Local Friendship Organizations.

Clause 3 of Article 30 on Discipline is also a new addition compared to the previous regulations. Specifically: The Executive Committee of member organizations at the central level and the Union of Local Friendship Organizations regulate the form, authority, and discipline of member organizations in accordance with the law, as appropriate with the VUFO Charter, the charter of the member organizations at the central level and the regulations on the organization and operation of the Union of Local Friendship Organizations.

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