Hanoi (VNA) – A seminar washeld in Hanoi on November 21 to announce data from a 2015 national survey onthe socio-economic performance of 53 Vietnamese ethnic minority groups. 

Speaking at the event, Irish Ambassador toVietnam Cait Moran said Vietnam has made socio-economic and gender equalityprogress over the past two decades, but challenges remain.

Dinh Thi Tu, head of the Committee forEthnic Minority Affairs’ Department of Ethnic Minorities, said the rate of poorethnic minority households was 23.1 percent in 2015, four times above the nationalaverage. In particular, 14 ethnic minority groups had at least 41 percent poorhouseholds while three others posted more than 70 percent, including La Hu(83.9 percent), Mang (79.5 percent) and Chut (75.3 percent).

Nearly 24,000 women were illiterate in thenorthern mountainous province of Ha Giang as of April 30, 2015. In 2014 alone,10 out of 53 ethnic minority groups saw high rates of early marriage, amountingto 45 percent. In six ethnic minority groups, the rate was over 50 percent,namely Brau, Ro Mam, La ha, Xinh Mun, O du and Mong.

On personnel work, among the total number ofofficials and civil cadres working in the central, provincial, district andcommunal level, ethnic minority people only accounted for 7.51 percent as ofApril 30, 2015, reported the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Head of the UN Women Office Elisa Fernandezsaid Vietnamese government agencies, including the Committee for EthnicMinority Affairs, should strengthen resources and take creative measures to identifythe socio-economic situation in ethnic minority groups.-VNA