Viet Nam Human Rights
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Exercise of Human Rights among H’Mong Ethnic Compatriots in the Northwest Region: Realities and Solutions (Part 1)
Exercise of Human Rights among H’Mong Ethnic Compatriots in the Northwest Region: Realities and Solutions (Part 1)
5/9/18
Being part of Vietnamese ethnic groups, the H’Mong ethnic minority in general, the H’Mong people in the Northwest region in particular, especially since the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), have always joined other ethnic groups in actively participating in the wars of resistance, defending the revolutionary base, building new life, and making great contribution to the previous national liberation and current national building and defence. According to statistics, in 6 Northwest provinces, the H’Mong has about 82,980 households with 644,589 members and accounts for 50 per cent of the H’Mong minority nationwide. They inhabit in 6,119 villages spread in 694 communes. 1,793 villages or 72 communes are totally inhabited by the H’Mong people. Due to their shifting cultivation, the H’Mong people usually live in the mountainous, remote, border areas. That is why their villages are seen as the “hedges or trenches” to affirm sovereignty and protect security of the Fatherland.
In the process of leading the revolution, our Party, by means of sound guidelines and policies, has paid constant attention to satisfying compatriots’ legitimate needs and achieving equality between ethnic groups, especially ensuring rights and access to rights of minor ethnic compatriots, including the H’Mong people in the Northwest region, in all aspects of their life as follows.
Politically, recent terms of the National Assembly have shown that members of the National Assembly from ethnic minorities in general and the H’Mong group in particular always account for high rates, ranging from 15.6 per cent to 17.3 per cent, while minority ethnic people only account for 14.3 per cent of the whole population. The 14th National Assembly (Tenure 2016-2021) has 17.3 per cent of members from ethnic minorities. 9 out of 22 members from ethnic minorities belong to H’Mong group, accounting for 41 per cent of minority ethnic members in the Northwest provinces or 24 per cent of members from ethnic minorities nationwide. The proportion of minority ethnic people participating in people’s councils at all levels for the 2016-2021 period is maintained reasonably. Therefore, compatriots’ freedom and democracy have been constantly secured. Minority ethnic people are entitled to give opinion on policies that relate directly to their life and operations of authorities at grass-root levels.
Economically, despite numerous difficulties, the State often spares up to 12.8 per cent of state budget for agriculture and countryside nationwide to invest in minority ethnic and mountainous areas annually. In 2014, the Government spent VND 5,300 billion on implementing policies on settlement, supporting building land, land for cultivation and running water, and lending money to minority ethnic compatriots in extremely difficult situations. In the Northwest region, thanks to resource mobilization and national target programs, material base and infrastructure have witnessed new developments. District vocational training centres have opened many free training courses to provide people with basic knowledge on farming, breeding, handicraft, conversion of livestock and crops, sale of goods, and so on. Some of the most typical examples include techniques for oyster mushroom cultivation in Dong Van town and Pho Cao commune, Ha Giang province; techniques for raising breeding buffalo, bulls and cows in Si Ma Cai district, Lao Cai province; silver lamination in Yen Son district, Tuyen Quang province, and so forth. Many localities have restored their traditional linen industry in support of tourism and people’s income. Consequently, the number of poor households, on average, has reduced 3.91 per cent per year. The H’Mong group has the fastest rate of reduction with 4.5 per cent of households possessing permanent houses, 81.4 per cent living in semi-permanent houses, and 14.1 per cent living in temporary and other houses.
In the fields of culture and society, currently, the network of schools has covered every village. The compilation of primary school textbooks for the H’Mong compatriots and 5 other minority ethnic groups is being carried out, marking a major breakthrough in the exercise of human rights in this field. In 2015, all of the communes in the H’Mong ethnic compatriots’ areas attained the standards of primary education universalization. Over 83 per cent of classrooms were solidified. The rate of pupils starting school at the right age was 65.7 per cent, in which the primary, secondary and high levels attained 86.9, 65.4 and 17.6 respectively. Provision of health care for compatriots has witnessed considerable progress in both health care network and reproductive health services provided for women and children. Today, every commune has medical stations. 80 per cent of villages have nurses and 40.5 per cent of minority ethnic compatriots use their medical insurance. Over 90 per cent of communes where the H’Mong compatriots inhabit have roads connecting villages with the centre. 100 per cent of communes have communal cultural post offices. 30 per cent of villages get electricity and running water. Some villages have houses of culture. Each village has their own art groups to maintain cultural activities and bring into play value of the H’Mong traditional arts. Particularly, apart from celebrating their traditional new year holiday, the H’Mong compatriots in Moc Chau, Son La province also celebrate the Independence Day (on 2ndSeptember) very solemnly to remember the day they were freed from oppression and exploitation and became citizens of an independent country.
However, due to a number of reasons, the H’Mong compatriots’ life in the Northwest region still faces difficulty. Propaganda and education on human rights and basic rights and obligations of citizens are not popular and gain little effect. Therefore, many people have no idea about their rights or feel “free” to violate law. Investment in socioeconomic development has not been sustainable. Part of the H’Mong people in the Northwest region are living under the poverty line. Shifting cultivation and free movement of persons are still very complex. People’s cultural, spiritual life in some places has not been improved, leading to “vacuum” in religion management for the hostile forces to exploit and induce people and exert negative influence on political security and social order and safety in the areas.
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All comments [ 11 ]
Vietnam has 54 ethnic groups, with the Kinh being the majority and the other groups making up 14% of the national population of 90 million people. Vietnam has ensured human rights, including the right to equality among ethnic groups.
The Vietnamese State has worked to ensure that all ethnic groups in Vietnam are equal and this right is stipulated by laws.
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a unified nation of all ethnicities living together in the country of Vietnam.
All the ethnicities are equal and united and respect and assist one another for mutual development; all acts of discrimination against and division of the ethnicities are prohibited.
The State shall implement a policy of comprehensive development and create the conditions for the minority ethnicities to fully utilize their internal strengths and develop together with the country.
The right of ethnic equality has been institutionalized.
In Vietnam, ethnic minority citizens enjoy the right to participate in the political system, state management.
Numerous incentives have been adopted to help ethnic people exercise their rights, improve their living standard, and narrow their development gap.
Citizens of ethnic minorities today enjoy full human rights prescribed by the Vietnamese Constitution and law and better conditions to thrive and contribute to national development.
Ensuring the rights of ethnic minorities and fighting against schemes to take advantage of ethnic issues are unanimous in the common goals, leadership and management, in unified national and ethnic interests and use of forces.
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