VietNamNet Bridge – Despite controversy, the Ministry of Public Security still grants new form ID cards which note the names of parents on the ID cards--in Hanoi from September 2012.

According to the Ministry’s officials, specialized equipment and staff training for the granting of new ID cards have been nearly finalized at three inner districts of Hanoi – Tay Ho, Tu Liem and Hoang Mai.

The preparation for new ID card granting will be continued in nine districts of Hanoi. After the experimental application in 12 districts of Hanoi, the Ministry will review and implement the program in other provinces and cities in Vietnam.

Earlier, experts of the Ministry of Justice expressed their disagreement over the new form of ID cards, saying that it is inappropriate to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Dr. Le Hong Son, Head of the Ministry of Justice’s Department for Inspection of Legal Documents, said the Ministry of Public Security’s Circular dated May 16, 2012, which stipulates to note parent names on ID cards issued from July 1, 2012, would make trouble for citizens.

Son said the circular is inappropriate to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, particularly those who were born by artificial insemination method.

Article 16 of this convention says: “No child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her privacy, family, or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his or her honor and reputation.”

Article 38 of the Civil Law 2005 says that the mother has the right to keep silent about the child’s father.

It is the violation of private life if citizens are requested to have their parent names on their ID cards.

In addition, for citizens whose parents are officials or moguls, they can use their ID cards to “threaten” in-service officers in specific circumstances, Son analyzed.

The Department for Inspection of Legal Documents proposed the Minister of Justice to ask the government to reconsider this issue.

The Ministry of Public Security on August 21 announced to temporarily stop issuing new ID cards, with parent names, but to have more time to consolidate equipment and printing technology.

Infonet