Third workshop on the draft Law on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction

From 16 to 18 September 2024, in Hanoi, the Chemical Corps – Standing Office of Vietnam's National Focal Point for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (Standing Office 81) – in cooperation with the EXBS Program and EU P2P, organised the “Third Workshop on the draft Law on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction”. This was the eighth workshop in a series of activities organised by Standing Office 81 with its partners to study and improve Vietnam's legal framework for countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Figure 1: Participants pose for a group photo

The workshop was attended by 40 delegates representing ministries and sectors, including the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Justice and the State Bank of Vietnam, together with experts from the EXBS Program and EU P2P and Vietnamese legal experts.

Figure 2: Senior Colonel Vu Van Dang, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Chemical Corps, delivers the opening remarks at the workshop

The workshop aimed to review and assess in detail the provisions of the draft Law on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and the draft Policy Impact Assessment Report in the proposal for the development of the Law on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. In addition, representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the State Bank of Vietnam gave presentations on Vietnam's law-making process and on international standards for countering proliferation financing.

The Government's Decree No. 81/2019/ND-CP of 11 November 2019 on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is an important legal basis affirming Vietnam's consistent position, determination, responsibility and efforts in effectively implementing United Nations Security Council resolutions and the international treaties and multilateral agreements on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction to which Vietnam is a party. To implement the Decree in a coordinated, comprehensive and effective manner, the Prime Minister issued the National Plan on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (attached to Decision No. 432/QD-TTg of 27 March 2020). Since then, ministries, sectors and localities have proactively implemented it in a serious and effective manner and achieved many positive results.

Figure 3: The workshop in session

The workshop, held over three days with 12 discussion sessions, was organised to continue implementing the National Plan on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. With their in-depth expertise and strong sense of responsibility, the delegates are expected to discuss and develop a draft Law on Countering the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction that meets the set requirements, and to study and assess in detail the impacts of the policies proposed in the draft Law on the legal system, the economy and society, and administrative procedures. The results of the workshop provide an important basis for the Chemical Corps – Standing Office 81 to make proposals and advise the competent authorities on improving Vietnam's legal framework on countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Nguyen Van Vuong – Centre 81