Y Thong, Deputy Minister and Vice Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs speaks at the ongoing 111th session of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo: webtv.un.org)

According to the Deputy Minister, since 2013 Vietnam has worked to complete a legal system that ensures the legitimate rights and interests of ethnic minorities. He said in the past decade the National Assembly has passed 125 laws that stipulate the rights and obligations of ethnic people.

He said Vietnam has made significant progress in promoting the rights of its ethnic minorities, including freedom of movement inside and outside Vietnam, state and social management rights, freedom of speech and press, and freedom of religion and belief.

Vietnam has actively participated in forums and conferences and joined international conventions on human rights and anti-racism.