(Illustrative photo)

This year’s Action Month for Children conveys several messages: prevent accidents and injuries to children; call 111 – the National Child Protection Portal – to report all acts of child abuse; listen to children with your heart, protect children with your actions; and strictly punish all acts of violence and abuse against children. 

Ensuring children’s right to a safe and healthy life

Dang Hoa Nam, Director of the Children's Department of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs, stressed on the role of local authority in child care and protection: “Action Month for Children underlines the duty of local authorities to take care of children and invest resources in child care and protection at the commune level. Collaborators are needed at the communal, hamlet, and residential levels to prevent child abuse.”

Vietnam targets drastic changes in supporting, handling and, resolving issues related to child protection, and sets a goal of creating a safe environment for children. Strengthening social responsibility and investment are believed to be the way to achieve this goal. In annual and medium-term socio-economic development plans, Vietnam will increase investment in child protection, especially in public services.

Mr. Nam said: “I emphasize that although some localities lack resources and Vietnam has other problems to solve, we have to devote sufficient resources to target programs and models to guarantee that children have a safe, healthy life.”

Dang Hoa Nam, Director of the Children's Department of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs (Photo: chinhphu.vn)

Other child rights are protected

Vietnam was the first country in Asia and the second in the world to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990. Through political commitments and the leadership of the Party and State, the rights of children in Vietnam are consistently protected. Laws and policies on child care and protection are developed with the consistent principle of "the best interests of children".

Article 37 of the 2013 Constitution is the basis for specific regulations on child care and protection. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Children Law of 2016 stipulate the rights, exercise of rights, and handling of issues related to children.

The Vietnamese government has approved many national programs and action plans to protect and resolve problems related to children. After 33 years of implementing the UN Convention, the right to life of Vietnamese children has been fully guaranteed. The under-5 mortality rate per 1,000 live births fell to 20.5% last year. Children of poor families, ethnic children residing in extremely poor communes, and children under 6 years old are entitled to free medical examination and treatment.

Children's right to development is supported, and equality in education has been ensured via policies and social engagement to help girls, ethnic children, and children of poor families attend school.

The a nationwide system of child protection has been built. Care for children with special circumstances has been diversified to suit the needs of each group. Last year 96% of the children with special circumstances were helped and the rate of children with special circumstances fell to 1.3%. Children under 6, children with special circumstances, and ethnic children living in extremely poor areas of Vietnam are entitled to free school tuition and legal aid when necessary. Vietnam has introduced criteria to recognize communes and wards suitable for children and safe homes, schools, and communities that protect and prevent harm to children.

Vietnam invests in activities for children at public places like libraries, museums, clubs, amusement parks, and sports centers. Most outdoor playgrounds are close to residential areas, and are safe and convenient for children. Children are now participating in making the laws and policies that affect them.

Despite these undeniable achievements, ensuring children's rights in Vietnam still faces difficulties. The community will continue to work together to ensure children's rights throughout Action Month for Children in June. Vietnam has continued to fine-tune the legal system, amending the Children Law in accordance with the CRC, and implementing resolutions and action programs for children in the 2021-2030 period.