The major challenge to Vietnam in the implementation of children’srights is probably making sure that no children are left behind.
Representative of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Vietnam, LottaySylwander made the remark at a discussion on children’s rights hosted bythe Swedish Embassy in Hanoi on Dec.13
This risk canbe seen clearly in children of ethnic minorities and in remote andmountainous areas, poor children and children with disabilities, shesaid.
UNICEF’s analysis of the situation of children inVietnam in 2010 showed that Vietnam had made tremendous progressfor its children in a remarkably short period of time, with anunprecedented reduction in under-five mortality rates and poverty.
However, segments of child and adolescent populations in Vietnamcontinued to live in conditions of deprivation and exclusion, and ethnicminorities were among the poorest in the country, benefiting the leastfrom the country’s economic growth, according to the report.
Vietnam’s concentrated efforts to fulfill the Millennium DevelopmentGoal on clean water supply and sanitation will improve children’s healthand remove an obstacle for the country in the implementation ofchildren’s rights, said the UNICEF representative.
At thediscussion, representatives from the National Assembly’s Culture,Education, Youth and Children Committee, the Ministry of Labour, WarInvalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) and the Vietnam Association forProtection of Children’s Rights said that there many challenges thecountry is facing in implementing children’s rights. They include theawareness of families and society, inequality of developmentopportunities for poor children, risks in living environment and theapplication of the UN Convention on Children Rights to Vietnam’slegal framework and reality.
They also suggested measures, witha focus on promoting communications combined with improving skills forcommunicators, to raise community awareness, improve the legal systemand policies to ensure harmony between the Children’s Rights Conventionand Vietnam’s reality as well as increasing the role of socialorganisations.
According to Head of the Children’s Protectionand Care Department under the MOLISA Nguyen Hai Huu, these solutionsshould be done synchronously, requiring time and widespread communityparticipation.
Save the Children US Country Director Pham SinhHuy said in the context where Vietnam joins the group ofmiddle-income countries, children’s voices should continue to be heard.
Representativesof Vietnamese students from Son Tay senior secondary school, Hanoiexpressed their wish for a reduction of theory-focused school subjectsand for additional of more subjects that helped improve their livingskills.
They also hoped for a safe environment for children to avoid child labour abuse, child trafficking and violence to children.
If they could change the world, the children also expected that children’s rights would be implemented equally./.
Representative of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Vietnam, LottaySylwander made the remark at a discussion on children’s rights hosted bythe Swedish Embassy in Hanoi on Dec.13
This risk canbe seen clearly in children of ethnic minorities and in remote andmountainous areas, poor children and children with disabilities, shesaid.
UNICEF’s analysis of the situation of children inVietnam in 2010 showed that Vietnam had made tremendous progressfor its children in a remarkably short period of time, with anunprecedented reduction in under-five mortality rates and poverty.
However, segments of child and adolescent populations in Vietnamcontinued to live in conditions of deprivation and exclusion, and ethnicminorities were among the poorest in the country, benefiting the leastfrom the country’s economic growth, according to the report.
Vietnam’s concentrated efforts to fulfill the Millennium DevelopmentGoal on clean water supply and sanitation will improve children’s healthand remove an obstacle for the country in the implementation ofchildren’s rights, said the UNICEF representative.
At thediscussion, representatives from the National Assembly’s Culture,Education, Youth and Children Committee, the Ministry of Labour, WarInvalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) and the Vietnam Association forProtection of Children’s Rights said that there many challenges thecountry is facing in implementing children’s rights. They include theawareness of families and society, inequality of developmentopportunities for poor children, risks in living environment and theapplication of the UN Convention on Children Rights to Vietnam’slegal framework and reality.
They also suggested measures, witha focus on promoting communications combined with improving skills forcommunicators, to raise community awareness, improve the legal systemand policies to ensure harmony between the Children’s Rights Conventionand Vietnam’s reality as well as increasing the role of socialorganisations.
According to Head of the Children’s Protectionand Care Department under the MOLISA Nguyen Hai Huu, these solutionsshould be done synchronously, requiring time and widespread communityparticipation.
Save the Children US Country Director Pham SinhHuy said in the context where Vietnam joins the group ofmiddle-income countries, children’s voices should continue to be heard.
Representativesof Vietnamese students from Son Tay senior secondary school, Hanoiexpressed their wish for a reduction of theory-focused school subjectsand for additional of more subjects that helped improve their livingskills.
They also hoped for a safe environment for children to avoid child labour abuse, child trafficking and violence to children.
If they could change the world, the children also expected that children’s rights would be implemented equally./.
