Hanoi (VNA) –🍒 The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) is scheduled to launch the 2023 action month for children in the fourth week of May or on International Children’s Day (June 1).

The ministry has sent an official document to People’s Committees of cities and provinces on the launch of the action month for children, to last from June 1-30 with the theme of “Joining hands to reduce harms to children.” This year’s event carries the messages of joining hands to build a safe, friendly and healthy environment for all children; preventing child injuries; equipping children with swimming and other skills; calling National Child Protection Hotline 111 to report child abuse cases; and families and schools working together to ensure child safety in the cyberspace, among others. The ministry asked localities to roll out solutions and models on building a safe, friendly and healthy environment for children to prevent child abuse, injuries, drowning and traffic accidents, and protect them in the cyberspace, Localities should pay attention to deploying entertainment activities for children during the summer holidays and organising all-level forums where children can raise their opinions, thus better ensuring their rights, according to the document. The ministry also suggested localities to mobilise businesses, organistions and individuals to support child victims of abuse and violence, present gifts and scholarships and provide free medical check-ups and treatment to disadvantaged children and those belonging to ethnic minority groups, support the operations of child protection models, and build schools and entertainment facilities for kids. The ministry urged stepping up the communications work to popularise child protection services, and encourage the public to denounce child abuse cases, saying localities should use products and documents published on the website of the National Children Protection Hotline at http:/tongdai111.vn, and the fanpage of the programme for children on the VTV1 channel. Localities will report the outcomes of the programme to the MoLISA via the MoLISA’s Department of Child Affairs before July 10. The objective of the action month is to build a safe, friendly and healthy environment for children to fully exercise their rights, ensure their all-round development, raise the awareness and responsibility of competent agencies, organisations and individuals in handling child issues, and preventing child abuse. According to the MoLISA’s report, in 2021, the Ministry of Public Security detected 1,914 child abuse cases nationwide, an annual decrease of 31 cases. However, a number of severe cases that outraged the public took place. Meanwhile, child protection, particularly against domestic violence, had yet to receive adequate attention. A report by the helpline said children abused by their relatives accounted for the lion’s share of the total cases last year, at 72.84%, which represented an annual increase of 5.3%. Last year’s event took the theme of “Joining hands to care for, educate and protect children,” aiming to engage socio-political organisations, social organisations, families and communities in the care, education and protection of children. /.