In his report, Minister of Justice Uong Chu Luu said that legal aid is of great importance in the context of international integration. He said civil and criminal relationships and civil and criminal procedures involving foreign factors are becoming more complicated, which require necessary legal adjustments based on legal cooperation and assistance between the Vietnamese State and related countries.  

However, he said documents and regulations on legal aid-related activities are inconsistent and incomplete as they are mostly included in the Civil Procedures Code and Criminal Procedures Code. In addition, there are many issues Vietnam cannot solve as it has not signed legal aid agreements with foreign countries. Therefore, he underlined the need to issue the Law on Legal Aid to protect the interests of the Vietnamese State, organisations and individuals in the international integration process.

According to a report delivered by Minister and Chairwoman of the NA Committee for Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Hoai Thu, family violence has set alarm bells ringing in recent times about what happened in different places and areas across the country, causing negative impact on family and social relations. More seriously, Ms Thu said family violence violates fundamental human rights, tramples upon the honour, dignity and life quality of people, mostly women.

She said the issuance of the Law on Prevention and Control of Family Violence will help raise public awareness and responsibility as well as behaviours in combating family violence, contributing to protecting family happiness.

Deputies also discussed draft laws on prevention and control of contagious diseases, personal income tax, Vietnam’s territorial waters and product quality.