Vietnamese community granted national minority status in Slovakia

The Slovak government officially acknowledged the Vietnamese community as the country’s 14th ethnic minority group and, as a result, approved regulations to address the needs and concerns of this vibrant community. The recognition came about following recommendations from experts and the Slovak government Council on Human Rights, Ethnic Minorities, and Gender Equality. In accordance with the government’s 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. Third-generation people from the community speak fluent Slovak, are successful in their professional fields, and contribute to the prosperity of Slovakia. The last time Slovakia recognized a community as an ethnic minority was 13 years ago when it recognized the Serbian community as an ethnic minority, according to the Vietnam News Agency.