Vietnam and the UN Development Programme convened an international workshop to strengthen data collection for the country's sixth national report under the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Vietnam's Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), held an international workshop on July 13 to discuss data collection for the preparation of Vietnam's sixth national report under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).
The workshop was co-chaired by Y Thong, Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, and Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam.
Participants included representatives from the Norwegian and Canadian embassies in Vietnam, government ministries and agencies, international organizations, and domestic and international experts and researchers.
Building a reliable data system
Deputy Minister Y Thong and UNDP Resident Representative Ramla Khalidi co-chair the international workshop. Photo: Le Anh Dung
Opening the workshop, Deputy Minister Y Thong reaffirmed Vietnam's consistent commitment to ensuring equality among all ethnic groups, strengthening national unity and creating conditions for every community to develop.
Since acceding to CERD in 1982, Vietnam has continued to improve its legal framework while implementing a wide range of socio-economic development policies, particularly in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.
According to Y Thong, establishing a reliable and up-to-date data system is particularly important in preparing Vietnam's sixth national report under CERD. Such data not only provide an objective assessment of policy implementation but also serve as the foundation for designing appropriate measures in the next phase.
"One of the most important requirements is to build a reliable and regularly updated data system," he said. "Data are not merely statistics. They objectively reflect achievements, identify remaining challenges and provide an essential basis for developing more effective policies in the future."
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 21, 1965, and entered into force in 1969.
Vietnam joined the convention in 1982 and submits periodic reports under Article 9 of the treaty. Following the CERD Committee's concluding observations on Vietnam's national report in 2023, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1567/QD-TTg, providing the framework for implementing the committee's recommendations and preparing the country's sixth national report.
Better data for more inclusive development
Deputy Minister Y Thong delivers the opening remarks. Photo: Le Anh Dung
Addressing the workshop, UNDP Resident Representative Ramla Khalidi praised Vietnam's efforts to fulfill its international commitments on human rights and ethnic equality.
She stressed that data are the foundation of evidence-based policymaking, enabling governments to develop policies that accurately reflect the realities faced by different population groups.
"Data are often invisible and rarely make newspaper headlines," Khalidi said. "Yet they are the hidden infrastructure behind good policymaking. Reliable, timely and disaggregated data help development programs reach every household in remote areas, rather than simply reflecting provincial averages."
She noted that although Vietnam has made significant progress in socio-economic development and poverty reduction, achieving the goal of 'leaving no one behind' will require continued investment in high-quality data systems capable of accurately capturing the circumstances of vulnerable groups, particularly ethnic minorities.
UNDP Resident Representative Ramla Khalidi speaks at the workshop. Photo: Le Anh Dung
Drawing on international experience, Khalidi said investment in data systems is among the most effective ways to promote inclusive development, strengthen governance and improve public policymaking.
She also reaffirmed UNDP's commitment to supporting the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs throughout the preparation of Vietnam's sixth CERD national report.
International experience in CERD reporting
During the workshop, participants heard presentations from the ministry's Department of International Cooperation on the CERD convention, Vietnam's implementation process, recommendations issued by the CERD Committee regarding data collection, reviews of existing monitoring systems and the implementation of Decision No. 1567/QD-TTg, issued by the Prime Minister on December 12, 2024.
Domestic and international experts also shared practical experience in collecting, analyzing and using data for national reporting while proposing measures to improve data systems relating to ethnic affairs and equality in line with CERD reporting requirements.
Domestic and international experts share experience on data collection and analysis for Vietnam's CERD national report. Photo: Le Anh Dung
Sharing Norway's experience, Hilde Solbakken, Norway's Ambassador to Vietnam, said the reporting process should begin early, involve close coordination among ministries and agencies, and fully consider previous recommendations from the CERD Committee as well as input from civil society organizations.
According to Solbakken, openly acknowledging challenges in data collection, legal reform and addressing discrimination issues would enhance both the credibility and persuasiveness of the report.
Closing the workshop, Deputy Minister Y Thong said the presentations, discussions and international experience shared during the event would provide valuable practical guidance for collecting, analyzing and managing data related to CERD implementation.
"The outcomes of today's workshop will not only serve as an important resource for preparing and improving Vietnam's national report for submission to the CERD Committee, but will also contribute to enhancing statistical systems, data management and policymaking, with the goal of better protecting the equal rights of ethnic minority communities and promoting inclusive and sustainable development in Vietnam," he said.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
