E/CN.4/1999/58/Add.2 page 7 notify the authorities of the programme of their religious activities in order to have them approved and receive government assistance to carry them out. It also calls for the strengthening of the political bodies in the provinces and towns dependent on the central power and for the multiplication of senior staff capable of carrying out research and managing religious activities. (b) Directive No. 500 HD/TGCP 22. This text repeats the provisions on places of worship contained in Directive No. 379/TTg. It specifies that the Ministry of Culture and Communications will designate the houses empowered to publish prayer books and religious works. Strengthening Directive No. 379/TTg with respect to the training and ordination of religious personnel, it sets the effective fulfilment of civic duties as the main criterion for the selection of candidates. It also states that “in an educational spirit and by means of persuasion, an attempt will be made to impede violations of the law and the political line by certain members of the clergy”; “those who exploit religion and commit such violations with perverse intention must be severely judged in accordance with the law”; and “those who slander or distort the truth will be severely punished”. (c) Directive of 2 July 1998 23. This directive recognizes religious belief as a spiritual need for part of the population. It stipulates that the religious policy of the Party and State is one of unwavering respect for the people’s freedom of belief. It briefly describes the principles and policy lines of the Party and State regarding religion, which include freedom of religion and belief; the principle of non-discrimination based on religion or belief; the obligation for all religious activities to observe the Constitution and the laws, protect the interests of the Vietnamese socialist party and maintain national independence and sovereignty; and the role of the Party sections, local authorities, Patriotic Front of Viet Nam, associations and social and religious organizations in mobilizing the people and in the correct application of the religious policy of the Party and State. The directive announces the preparation of an order relating to religion, a project on the establishment of a printing house for the prayer books and cultural works of the various religions and the publication of a magazine for use in religious studies, guidance and continuing education in the field of religion. 3. Penal Code 24. The Penal Code, which was adopted on 27 June 1985, entered into force on 1 January 1986; it was amended on 28 December 1989, 12 August 1991 and 22 December 1992 and revised in 1997. 25. Article 1 states: “The purpose of the Penal Code is to protect the socialist system and to exercise control over collective socialism, to guarantee equal rights for all nationalities, to protect the citizens’ lawful rights and