Vietnamese community recognised as ethnic minority group in Slovakia
The Slovak Government on June 7 officially recognized the Vietnamese community as the country’s 14th ethnic minority group and moved to adopt regulations for the community.
This decision was made on the basis of recommendations put forward y the Slovak Government council on human rights, ethnic minorities, gender equality, and experts.
In line with the decision, the Vietnamese community fully meets the criteria "in quantity" and "has lived in Slovakia for nearly 70 years and the 3rd generation has fully integrated into society."
Following the Government’s passing of the resolution, the Vietnamese community will have representatives at the Committee on Ethnic Minorities and Ethnic Groups under the Council of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Human Rights, Ethnic Minorities, and Gender Equality. The community will therefore be supported with financial resources from the Fund for Cultural Support of Ethnic Minorities and will have the right to voice opinions regarding the fund.
The Vietnamese Association in Slovakia sees the Slovak Government’s recognition as a prime opportunity to bring about more benefits to the Vietnamese community.
It is estimated that roughly 7,000 Vietnamese-origin people are currently living and studying in Slovakia. The last time that the Central European country with a population of 5.5 million people had recognised a community as an ethnic minority was 13 years ago when a similar resolution was passed for the Serbian community.
