Economic life of The Cham Ethnic Group in central Viet Nam Human Rights Council Forum on Minority Issues "Minorities and effective participation in economic life" Geneva, December 14 - 15, 2010 . RECOMMENDATION:7 Madam Chair, Ladies and gentlemen, The International Office of Champa is an NGO whose aim is to defend the interests for the Cham minority and to preserve their identity. Viet Nam has 54 ethnic groups including the Cham ethnic minority who are the descendant of the ancient, kingdom of Champa in central Viet Nam. Today, their population remains about 130,000 people. The Cham minority are full fledge citizen of Viet Nam. They have the right to participate in economic development. Viet Nam is classified as the first country in the world, that implemented a policy to eradicate the poverty which no one denies. However, the Cham minority remains below the poverty line. In order to solve this economic issue, The International Office of Champa exercises its mission to propose the following recommendations: 1. . Before 1975, the Cham minority possess a territory reserved to economic activities of this ethnic. The abolition of this status had significant impacts on the social economic development of the Cham minority.

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