Binh Thuan Province, located along Vietnam's central coast, is home to a diverse population of 34 ethnic groups, with 106,685 ethnic minority residents making up over 8% of the province's population. 

Religious diversity is also prominent, with eight recognized organizations representing 427,789 followers, or 34.75% of the population, practicing major religions such as Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Bani Islam, and Brahmanism.

In 2023, Binh Thuan recorded a strong economic performance with its GRDP growing by 8.1% compared to 2022, ranking 14th out of 63 provinces and cities. The per capita GRDP reached VND 86.66 million, a 12.53% increase year-on-year.

Despite this progress, many residents, especially in ethnic minority and remote mountainous areas, continue to face economic hardships.

Additionally, external influences have exploited religious activities, encouraging misinformation and distorting the Party’s and State’s policies, posing challenges to maintaining social harmony and security.

Human rights protection and advocacy remain ongoing priorities requiring the participation of the entire political system, with the Human Rights Steering Committee, local governments, and key agencies playing critical roles in ensuring success.

To strengthen grassroots human rights efforts, the Standing Office on Human Rights, in collaboration with the Binh Thuan Provincial Human Rights Steering Committee, organized the 2024 grassroots-level human rights training conference on July 5 in Phan Thiet City. Over 430 delegates from provincial and local agencies, including law enforcement and prison management, participated.

The training provided updated information on human rights issues, emphasizing the Party and State’s policies on freedom of religion and belief.

It reinforced awareness among grassroots officials about their roles and responsibilities in promoting and protecting human rights and mobilizing comprehensive efforts from all sectors to implement effective policies.

Nguyen Minh, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee, highlighted the province's achievements in implementing human rights initiatives in a coordinated and effective manner.

Economic and social development policies, especially in social welfare, poverty reduction, and addressing complaints, have been enhanced to protect the legitimate rights and interests of citizens.

He urged local agencies and governments to:

Strengthen coordination in addressing sensitive issues to prevent escalation into major problems or "hotspots."

Maintain focus on achievements while continuing to improve human rights efforts.

Enhance citizen trust through transparent and effective implementation of policies ensuring legitimate rights and freedoms.

This commitment ensures that Binh Thuan remains a model for effective and coordinated human rights protection at the local level.

PV