Ha Noi & Ninh Binh, March 17-18, 2022 - Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) - Viet Nam Program in collaboration with University of Law – Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi (VNU-UL), Ho Chi Minh City University of Law (HCM-ULAW), University of Law - Hue University (HUL), Ha Noi Procuratorate University (HPU) organized the student research workshop on “Legislation on preventing and handling violations against regulations of wildlife protection”. The workshop was conducted within the scope of the final round of the student research contest on “Laws on wildlife protection” that kicked off for students of the four universities in January, 2023.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Que Anh - Rector of VNU-UL, Ms. Hoang Bich Thuy, Country Director of WCS Viet Nam and nearly 80 lecturers, student research groups of the four universities, and many students of VNU-UL attended the workshop.
Group photo of the participants, Ha Noi, March 17-18, 2023
In her opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Que Anh said: “...This is the first time that a large-scale student research contest on wildlife protection topic is ever held with the participation of students and lecturers of the four leading legal training institutions in Viet Nam. It not only promotes interests in conducting research among students, but also influences youth’s awareness and actions on wildlife protection, those who will shape the future legislation and law enforcement on wildlife protection... Furthermore, the contest provides an opportunity for lecturers to exchange academic research skills and ideas while mentoring their students”.
Ms. Hoang Bich Thuy, Country Director of WCS Viet Nam added: “This contest has sustained the results of the mock trials and debating competitions on wildlife protection that WCS Viet Nam in collaboration with the four universities organized in 2022. The contest encourages students to research, speak up their opinions and propose innovative initiatives on policies and laws to combat the illegal wildlife trade. We understand that this fight is not only a challenge for the wildlife management authorities and law enforcement agencies, conservation organizations, but also the responsibility of the whole society. So, we will continuously study the feasibility of solutions and initiatives proposed by law students to realize them in practice”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Que Anh - Rector of VNU-UL in her opening remarks, Ha Noi, March 17-18, 2023
Started in early January 2023, the student research contest on “Laws on wildlife protection” attracted the participation of many students of the four universities. After the preliminary round that closed on January 29, 2023, 20 outstanding research abstracts were selected from 77 abstracts developed by 136 students who worked individually or in groups. From February 04 to March 05, 2023, mentoring by their lecturers, each student research group developed their full research papers on various topics exploring loopholes and gaps of the current legal framework on wildlife protection, and difficulties in legal application.
Students' presentations in front of the Jury Board, Ha Noi, March 17-18, 2023
Final round of the contest was organized as a 2-day student research workshop. On the first day, 20 teams from four universities defended their research findings in front of the Jury Board including lecturers who are experienced in conducting legal research from four universities, and representatives of WCS Viet Nam. Six teams with the highest scores were selected to compete in the next day for ranking awards.
The first prize was awarded to a research team from VNU-UL who worked on the topic "Improving the laws and conditions ensuring the effective law enforcement on wildlife disease management in Viet Nam."
The second prize was awarded to 02 research groups from HCM-ULAW with topics on “Preventing illegally commercial wildlife farming in Viet Nam” and “Preventive measures of violations against legislation on wildlife protection.”
The third prize was for three research groups of HUL, HPU, VNU-UL who worked on evidence and handling the exhibit of live wild species in wildlife-related cases, and wildlife cybercrime.
Group photos of participants were awarded at the workshop, Ha Noi, March 17-18, 2023
The activity was conducted in the framework of the project “Combating Wildlife Trafficking in Viet Nam” funded by the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), United States Department of State.