Ethnic minority children in Moc Chau district, the northern mountainous province of Sơn La. (Source: VNA)

The Vietnamese government has pursued the consistent policy of "Equality, solidarity, mutual assistance and inclusive growth". All ethnic communities, regardless of majority or minority, developed or underdeveloped, are equal when it comes to rights and duties in every aspect of social life, and are protected by the Constitution and law.

To create conditions for ethnic minorities to develop their internal resources

The Party, State, authorities, and unions have made all efforts to make sure that ethnic minorities get equal educational rights, cultural rights, civil rights, and political rights, all of which are supported by the government to develop in all aspects.

The 2013 Constitution says: The government implements policies to help ethnic minorities develop in all aspects, create opportunities for them to develop their internal resources, to contribute to the nation’s development; prioritize healthcare, and educational development.

The rights and duties of ethnic young people are acknowledged, respected, protected, and guaranteed to be implemented according to the Constitution and law; they shall not be discriminated against by their ethnicity, gender, social composition, beliefs, religion, cultural level, occupation in the implementation of their rights and duties.

The prioritized fields include the development of traffic and facilities, poverty reduction, protection of the environment, and development of manpower, culture, and community by using internal resources.

The recent policy implemented by the government for ethnic minorities promulgated in 2016 is “Decisions on policies specialized to support socio-economic development in ethnic minority-inhabited, mountainous areas, period 2017-2020.”

Ede ethnic people in their traditional costumes in a ceremony held to pray for elephant’s health in Dak Lak province. (Source: VNA)

Besides, a number of national target programmes on poverty reduction were implemented, in which ethnic minorities were the main beneficiaries.

It can be confirmed that Vietnam is very active in its work to reduce poverty steadily in ethnic minority areas. The achievements of the "National Target Program on building new-styled rural areas and the National Target Program to reduce poverty and build a sustainable social security” period 2016-2020 have contributed to the better growth of rural areas, the socio-economy has been improved greatly, and the economy in rural areas has seen positive changes.

Raising awareness of ethnic policies

Propaganda of ethnic policies also plays an important role in raising awareness for officers, party members and ethnic minorities about the science, humanistic point of view, decisions, policies, and laws of Vietnam’s Party and government; supporting and encouraging officers and ethnic minorities to well execute ethnic policies.

The promotion of the government’s policies regarding ethnic minorities helps to move a step closer to poverty elimination, socio-economic development, improve national security and defense in rural areas, ensure political and social stability, and effectively improve policies in ethnic minority areas.

It is clear that Vietnamese laws have created a legal basis for protecting and guaranteeing the rights of ethnic minorities. Through that, the Vietnamese government has prioritized the implementation of rights for ethnic minorities, and thus created a stronger bond of unity across the country.