Degar-Montagnard Youth Report on Children Rights in Vietnam
In prelude to Vietnam official review as state member to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the 59th pre-sessional working group convened on October 13, 2011 in Geneva, Switzerland where attendees from NGOs and civil society brought forth issues related to children situations in the country.
The Degar-Montagnard Youth Group (DMYG) with joint statement with the Montagnard Foundation, Inc (MFI) and the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) informed the UN Committee on Child Rights of the human right violations and marginalization experienced by the Degar-Montagnard children of Central Highlands in Vietnam.
Vietnam became the first Asia country to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1990. The CRC entails that all children under the age of 18 are bestow with human rights such as nondiscrimination, rights to life, survival, and development, the right to be respected as individuals, and so forth. As a state member, Vietnam agrees to uphold these rights and implement actions to promoting and protecting children rights.
Unfortunately, even to this day, the principles and rights outlined in the CRC do not reach the children of the Degar-Montagnard communities. The Degar-Montagnard children continue to face discrimination, have high rates of illiteracy and school dropouts, and counter religious hindrance and even persecution for their beliefs and affiliation with unregistered house churches. Additionally, the Degar-Montagnard populations have a high rate of poverty compare with the national average, affecting Montagnard children’s development and integration to education.
See enclosure:
Degar-Montagnard Statement to the Working Group Meeting
Degar-Montagnard Youth Group’s Alternative Report
