188 "child" delegates attend the 7th National Children's Forum

On the morning of August 6, the 7th National Children's Forum 2023 opened in Hanoi.

Bộ Lao động - Thương binh và Xã hội chụp ảnh lưu niệm với đại biểu tham dự Diễn đàn trẻ em quốc gia lần thứ VII.

Leaders of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs took souvenir photos with delegates attending the 7th National Children's Forum.

Attending the event were 188 children from 43 provinces and cities, Thuy An Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled, Vietnam Association of the Blind, Da Nang Center for Supporting the Development of Inclusive Education, and SOS Children's Villages in provinces and cities.

The forum was organized by the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs in coordination with the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union from August 5-8 with the theme "Children participate in building a safe, friendly, and healthy living environment for children".

At the forum, 188 children representing 25 million children nationwide will discuss 5 groups of issues: Prevention of violence and child abuse; prevention and reduction of injuries, drowning and traffic accidents; protection of children in the online environment; prevention of climate change, epidemics and natural disasters; prevention of child labor against the law and other issues that concern them.

Through this, children shared initiatives and solutions that children across the country have participated in implementing to create a safe and healthy living environment for themselves, together with schools, families, communities, and authorities at all levels; and provided messages and recommendations on topics so that adults can support children.

Speaking at the opening of the forum, Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha emphasized that children's participation is stipulated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the 2013 Constitution, and the 2016 Law on Children. The Government's programs and projects on the country's socio-economic development in recent years as well as the Party and State's policies and guidelines related to children all seek to solicit children's opinions.

The National Children's Forum has been held successfully for 6 times. The 7th forum is held in a different context compared to the previous 6 forums when children have just experienced nearly 3 years of being affected by CovidD-19, affecting their health, learning opportunities, entertainment, etc.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Ha shared that the Party, State, Government, and Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs are very interested in and have issued many policies, decrees, resolutions, and official dispatches related to the above groups of issues to protect a safe and healthy living environment for children; provinces and cities have implemented these policies well. Basically, Vietnamese children have been living in an increasingly safer environment, with better conditions for learning, playing, and entertainment. However, many children are still subject to violence, abuse, and forced to work against the law; playing and entertainment conditions in many localities are still limited... The forum will be a place for children to express their opinions and wishes or for agencies and organizations to get children's opinions on issues related to children.

In addition to participating in group discussions on each group of issues, within the framework of the forum, on the morning of August 7, children attending the Forum will participate in the Ceremony of reporting achievements to Uncle Ho; meet and interact with leaders of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education, the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to share and express their thoughts and aspirations.

On the morning of August 8, at the official session of the Forum, children will meet, exchange and deliver messages and recommendations from the 7th National Children's Forum to leaders of the Party, State, ministries, branches, organizations and relevant agencies.

After the Forum, children's messages and recommendations will be sent to agencies, organizations, policy makers, and people working for children for appropriate reception, consideration, and response.

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