The Pyithu Hluttaw has approved a draft bill submitted by its National Races Affairs and Peace Making Committee that provides for the creation of a Ministry of Ethnic Affairs.
The draft Protection for Minority Rights bill, aimed at protecting the rights of indigenous minorities, was approved on July 22.
"This draft emphasises the social rights of the ethnic minority people and the creation of a ministry will mean we will be able to progress the affairs of ethnic people at Union level," U Sai Bo Aung (Shan Nationalities Democratic Party, Muse Township, Shan State), told the Pyithu Hluttaw.
An MP from Kachin State said that once the law was enacted it would enable the list of ethnic minority groups to be corrected.
Daw Dwe Bu (Unity and Democracy Party of Kachin State, Injangyang Township) also said it would help minority groups such as the Kachin to achieve equality with the majority Bamar.
"This will help us to establish peace," she said.
A proposal tabled in the Amyotha Hluttaw in March 2013 to establish a Ministry for Ethnic Affairs was defeated by 88 votes to 76.
