The National Assembly Standing Committee has introduced its national target program of socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the next decade.

This is part of the National Assembly’s measures to promote the rights of Vietnamese ethnic groups.

Vietnam has 54 ethnic groups. The 53 minority groups account for just 14.3% of the 97-million population. The ethnic minority groups live mainly in remote mountain and island areas. 

The Vietnamese Party and State have implemented several policies on ethnic affairs to ensure their equal rights and create conditions to narrow economic development and culture gaps between the minority and majority and make sure that everyone is happy and prosperous and is united in boosting national development. 

Vietnam considers these to be basic principles for ethnic minority groups to take advantage of socialism to build a democratic, happy, and civilized society where human rights are upheld.

Vietnamese laws guarantee ethnic minority people’s rights

The country’s 1992 Constitution stipulates, “In the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, human rights in all aspects, political civic, economic, cultural and social are respected, find their expression in the rights of citizens and are provided for by the Constitution and the law.”

Human rights concerning social groups and classes are also stipulated, particularly the right to development of ethnic minority groups. The 2013 Constitution says all ethnic groups are equal, united, and respected and help one another to develop. 

Under the 2013 Constitution, the State implements comprehensive development policies and creates conditions for ethnic minority groups to bring their internal strength into play to support the national development. 

The State prioritizes the development and protection of health and education of ethnic minority people and people in mountain, island and disadvantaged regions.

Generally, Vietnamese legal stipulations on the rights of ethnic minority people reflect the Vietnamese Party and State policies on ethnic minority affairs. 

In regard to human rights and the rights of ethnic minority groups, the Vietnamese legal system has improved to adapt to global progress. 

Vietnamese law consists of specific stipulations to ensure ethnic minority people’s rights to land, education, health care, credit, jobs, and benefit from socio-economic development.

Solutions to ensure ethnic minority people’s rights

Under the national target program of socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for 2021-2030, the National Assembly aims to fine-tune the legal system to better protect and promote human rights and citizen rights under the 2013 Constitution and international treaties Vietnam has signed. 

The NA is particularly focused on fine-tuning laws to ensure human rights in civic, political, economic, social and cultural aspects and the specific rights of ethnic minority people.

Programs and policies to develop infrastructure, reduce poverty, improve social services, and preserve the culture of Vietnamese ethnic regions are all aimed at ensuring social equality and reducing gaps between regions and groups. 

The nation has promulgated particular policies to promote the rights of ethnic minority people creating dramatic changes in the political, economic, social, and cultural life of ethnic minority groups.