Making real difference to the problems that exist in children's work

There is a need to create real changes in child care issues such as abuse, school violence, injuries, cyber safety...

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha emphasized that while chairing the regular meeting of the National Committee for Children this morning, January 11.

Phó Thủ tướng: Tạo chuyển biến thực sự đối với những vấn đề tồn tại trong công tác trẻ em

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha chairs the regular meeting of the National Committee for Children. (Source: VGP)

Implement many measures to prevent child abuse

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested all levels and sectors to focus on drastic and effective actions on policies and guidelines on children, creating real changes, especially on issues that have existed for many years. This is a central political task for the future of the country.

According to the Report of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, in 2023, the system of legal documents on children will continue to be supplemented and amended, ensuring consistency, uniformity, feasibility, publicity and transparency to better implement children's rights and promptly resolve children's issues.

Agencies, ministries and sectors have resolutely, promptly and synchronously implemented many solutions to prevent and combat child abuse: Training and improving capacity to protect children at the grassroots level; the police force does not let child abuse cases be discovered without being handled; the court has resolved and tried 98.5% of cases related to abuse of people under 18 years old; many cases of children being trafficked or abused have been cared for, assisted and protected...

President of the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Children's Rights Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa said that communication work on children has had many innovations, emphasizing the role of the family and guiding parents on how to behave with their children.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union have coordinated with provinces and cities to carry out many activities to raise awareness and equip children with skills to prevent and combat injuries (drowning, fire prevention, fire fighting, rescue).

The Ministry of Health has gradually implemented a model of nutritional care for the first 1,000 days of a child's life; participated in building and perfecting a database on connecting administrative procedures for birth and death registration and granting health insurance for children under 6 years old.

At the meeting, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that the shortage of vaccines for the Expanded Immunization Program has been resolved. According to the roadmap to increase the number of vaccines in the Expanded Immunization Program for the period 2021-2030 (prevention of diseases caused by Rotavirus, pneumococcus, cervical cancer, seasonal flu), it is expected that in June 2024, rotavirus vaccines will be used for children according to regulations.

The work of protecting and caring for children in ethnic minority, mountainous and disadvantaged areas continues to receive attention with more than 6.4 million children receiving support of over VND 1,646 billion. The Vietnam Association for the Protection of Children's Rights has awarded scholarships and gifts to nearly 15,000 children with a total value of VND 1.15 billion...

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan speaks at the regular meeting of the National Committee for Children on the morning of January 11. (Source: VGP)

Ensuring children develop comprehensively

Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha said that the situation of child abuse continues to increase and become more complicated, and has not achieved the goals of prevention, control, and reduction compared to the set requirements.

According to Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Deputy Minister of Public Security, the number of cases of children and minors violating the law in 2023 increased by 14%, with aggressive and reckless methods and tricks. The main causes leading to violations of the law by children and minors are influenced by acts of violence and abuse in the family, social responsibility, and toxic content on social networking platforms.

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Duy Ngoc proposed reviewing issued documents and policies, actual implementation, clarifying responsibilities and "addresses" for receiving and resolving cases of violence and child abuse.

Concluding the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said that it is necessary to create real changes in existing problems and issues in child care, such as: abuse, school violence, accidents and injuries, safety in cyberspace, psychological counseling, substance use, etc.

Giving opinions on a number of specific issues, the Deputy Prime Minister also assigned ministries and branches to continue to study and improve judicial work for minors; concretize the United Nations' recommendations on improving groups of indicators related to children in sustainable development; assess the impact of online social platforms on children; study the harmful effects of using e-cigarettes or other stimulants on children's physical and mental health; review the current situation and demand for using swimming pools in schools, cultural and sports institutions in the community, etc.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that this year, "we must urgently deploy and organize the implementation of programs and action plans on child care and protection in a comprehensive, systematic, and scientific manner. Along with specific and feasible solutions, organizational apparatus, and implementation resources, in order to resolve existing problems in children's work, ensuring children's rights to comprehensive physical and mental development."

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