NA discusses draft Law on Amnesty (amended)

Under the authorization of the Prime Minister, Senior Lieutenant General To Lam, Member of the Politburo, Minister of Public Security on May 21 presented the draft amendment to the Law on Amnesty to deputies of the National Assembly (NA).

Minister To Lam presents the draft amendment to the Law on Amnesty to deputies of the National Assembly
Minister To Lam presents the draft amendment to the Law on Amnesty to deputies of the National Assembly

According to the draft amendment, amnesty is defined as an official pardon granted by the State to convicts with fixed-term imprisonment or life imprisonment reduced to fixed-term imprisonment; this helps encourage offenders to repent of their wrongdoings, and study and work hard in order to get the State’s clemency and early reintegrate into society.

During the past 10 years implementing the Law on Amnesty, the State President of Vietnam has issued 07 amnesty decisions on the occasion of major national celebrations. From 2009 to 2016, the State President granted amnesty to 85,897 prisoners and 1,123 convicts with  delayed or suspended imprisonment sentences.

According to reports from various police units, most of more than 87,000 special amnesty grantees returned to their original residential places and received supports from the local police in applying for their new residence and personal documents. Nearly 50,000 special amnesty grantees have now had jobs with stable incomes. In particular, the rate of crime-recommitting people is relatively low (1.16%).

Minister To Lam emphasized that the State President's decision on special amnesty has a great impact on society, creating a motive for convicts to try to serve their sentences, study and work harder during their imprisonment; at the same time, it receives the support and consensus from convicts’ relatives as well as from people from all walks of life.

In the current situation, the amendment and supplementation of the 2007 Law on Amnesty is necessary in order to concretize the State President's authority on special amnesty stipulated in the Constitution of 2013; to ensure the uniformity of the whole legal system; and resolve the difficulties and shortcomings in the implementation of the 2007 Law on Special Amnesty during the past 10 years.

By Duy Tien

Other News

National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

The NA's Committee for Cultural and Social Affairs has moved fast to reshuffle its organisation after the 14th National Party Congress and the election of deputies to the 16th NA, updating its work agenda to match new directives set out in the resolutions of the 14th National Party Congress and the first Congress of the NA Party Organisation for the 2025–2030 term.

Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

Vietnam and Croatia should strive to double bilateral trade turnover from the current level of 161 million USD; study the establishment of a Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation to create a long-term, stable, and effective framework for collaboration, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

President Ho Chi Minh's enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Jesús Faria expressed deep admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s indomitable struggle for national independence. He described President Ho Chi Minh as an immortal symbol of 20th-century national liberation movements, whose legacy continues to inspire leftist parties, progressive movements, and peoples across Latin America, including Venezuela.

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang shared Vietnam’s approach to building an independent and self-reliant economy linked to deep international integration, while proposing several key areas for enhanced cooperation between BRICS and partner countries at the Expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting that opened on May 14 in India.

Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

Vietnam asks parties to respect its sovereignty over Truong Sa

PSNews - The spokesperson stated that the dispatch of personnel by relevant parties to features belonging to Truong Sa without Vietnam’s permission constitutes a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty under international law. She stressed that such actions run counter to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) as well as ongoing efforts by countries to negotiate a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

Hanoi to host ASEAN Future Forum 2026 in mid-June

PSNews - Vietnam’s proposals placed the highest priority on ensuring a peaceful and stable environment conducive for continued sustainable development and improving the well-being and happiness of the ASEAN people. They were praised by member states and incorporated into the core contents of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on the response to the Middle East crisis.

Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

Vietnam promotes cooperation with United Nations on crime prevention

Vietnam highly values the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in strengthening national capacity in crime prevention and criminal justice, drug control, and addressing emerging challenges, particularly cybercrime, said Ambassador Vu Le Thai Hoang.

Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

Party, State leader calls for consolidation of central steering committees on legal, judicial reform

Consolidating the central steering committees for institutional and legal reform and for judicial reform is necessary in order to streamline organisational structures without reducing responsibilities, while ensuring clear accountability, measurable outputs and concrete results. Following the restructuring, the body will be renamed the central steering committee for institutional improvement and law enforcement, with the Party General Secretary and State President serving as its head.

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

Vietnam strives for substantive outcome at NPT review conference

At the meeting this week, Ambassador Viet briefed the UNGA President on developments during the first two weeks of the conference. He stressed that the current international geopolitical landscape poses numerous complex challenges, while reaffirming Vietnam’s determination, together with other member states, to promote substantive and balanced outcomes at the conference.

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

Top leader of Vietnam receives Vientiane official in Hanoi

The host leader stressed that cooperation between localities, particularly between the capitals of Hanoi and Vientiane, plays an especially important role as a pioneering force in effectively implementing the foreign polices of the two Parties and States, while also serving as a bridge between politics and development, as well as between strategy and concrete action.