Seminar urges revision to laws on disaster prevention, control
A seminar in Hanoi on March 8 highlighted the need to overhaul legal documents relating to natural disaster prevention and control with children’s rights taken into consideration.
A rescuer carries a little girl to safe place during a flood in Cam Lo district, central province of Quang Tri. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – A seminar in Hanoi onMarch 8 highlighted the need to overhaul legal documents relating to naturaldisaster prevention and control with children’s rights taken intoconsideration.
It was organised by the Central SteeringCommittee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, UNICEF, and the USAgency for International Development.
Vu Xuan Thanh – Deputy General Director of theVietnam Disaster Management Authority under the Ministry of Agriculture andRural Development and Deputy Chief of Office of the Central Steering Committeefor Natural Disaster Prevention and Control – said that in recent years, theParty, State and Government have promoted concerted structural andnon-structural solutions to minimise the impact of natural disasters. Relevantmechanisms, policies and laws have also been perfected.
However, laws and legal documents on disasterprevention and control must continue to be reviewed and amended in order tofacilitate appropriate actions in response to the reality of increasingly unpredictableand extreme impact of climate change, he noted.
Mizuho Okimoto-Kaewtathip, Chief of SocialPolicy and Governance at UNICEF Vietnam, said law revision should pay moreattention to disaster risk mitigation, preparations, responsibility improvementat all sectors and levels, and improvement of data to serve effective planning,management and response.
The role of schools in promoting communities’awareness and resilience to natural disasters is especially important.Therefore, laws should be amended in a way that promotes children’s role as themain factor of changes to create disaster-safe communities, she said.
Climate change impact is unavoidable, but with amore comprehensive legal framework, Vietnam can prove its efforts towardssustainable development so that no one and no child is left behind, she added.
Dr. Ian F. Wilderspin, a disaster risk andclimate change specialist, said although the number of legal documents isrising fast, they are still unable to cover all fields and not detailed enoughto regulate all disaster prevention and control activities.
He proposed that Vietnam review all laws andlegal documents related to disaster risk management and specify issues thatneed to be prioritised for amendment. Additionally, disaster risk managementguidelines should switch their focus from disaster response to disaster riskmitigation and climate change adaptation. –VNA
Vietnam is witnessing natural disasters hitting all of its regions throughout the year, with strong intensity, wide coverage and increasing extremity and abnormality.
The United Nations will continue standing side-by-side with Vietnam and providing assistance for its disaster prevention and control efforts, Akiko Fujii, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Deputy Country Director in Vietnam, has said.
The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang allocated nearly 504 billion VND (21.72 million USD) for disaster prevention in 2018 to ensure production and people’s livelihoods for stable local socio-economic development.
The Nguyen Du Lao-Vietnamese bilingual school has positioned itself as a prestigious education establishment, nurturing generations of Vietnamese and Lao students while preserving Vietnamese culture and language as well as strengthening the special bonds between the two countries
For households of people with meritorious service and relatives of fallen soldiers, the province supported the construction and renovation of 2,374 houses, achieving 100% of the set target, 342 newly built and 2,032 renovated.
Held under the theme “Pride and Aspiration”, this year's “Glory to Vietnam” programme aimed to inspire the Vietnamese people's ambition to reach new heights during the era of integration and development.
According to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC), this year’s campaign provided long-term aid for 3,785 individuals and organisations. Support included houses, clean water systems, school meal facilities, books, and livelihood assistance, with a total value of more than 118 billion VND.
The programmes have brought about positive changes to rural infrastructure, comprehensively improved the material and spiritual lives of farmers, and contributed to Vietnam's economic restructuring, said PM Pham Minh Chinh.
The festival highlighted the contributions and robust development of Vietnam's revolutionary press over the past century while promoting press products and showcasing the creativity of Vietnamese journalists.
The programme on sustainable poverty reduction has achieved its annual targets for reducing the poverty rate as assigned by the National Assembly and the Government. It has fulfilled five specific objectives and five five-year goals, and met nine out of 12 indicators related to addressing basic social service shortages.
UNICEF stands ready to support the Government in implementing this important law and in continuing to invest in teachers as the cornerstone of a resilient, inclusive, and high-quality education system for all children.
PM Pham Minh Chinh highlighted how Vietnam's revolutionary press has continuously evolved and strengthened over the past century, affirming its role as a sharp and vital political, cultural, and ideological weapon serving the Fatherland and the people in the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party.
Vietnamese Consul General in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai highlighted the growing demand for Vietnamese workers in Kyushu, especially in Fukuoka, Oita, and Saga prefectures. Currently, the region employs about 35,000 Vietnamese manual workers and over 5,000 IT engineers.
In Vietnam’s case, she said, President Ho Chi Minh demonstrated his strategic vision by founding the revolutionary press a century ago. The late leader understood the press's role not only as a means to reflect the country’s realities but also as a powerful tool to strengthen national unity and inspire the resistance wars and national construction process.
In recent interviews granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters in Mexico, prominent figures reflected on the press’s legacy and its global influence.
VietnamPlus e-newspaper of the VNA clinched an A prize in the “Outstanding Press Product” category for its immersive 3D multimedia project, “Epic of Reunification,” a groundbreaking blend of storytelling and technology. The VNA won another A prize for its eye-catching exhibition booth.
Today, the press for foreign service has evolved into a distinct, irreplaceable force, bridging Vietnam with the world and portraying a nation that is stable, peace-loving, and fully integrated into the international community.
At a review conference held on June 21, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh praised the province’s scientific, coordinated, and flexible approach. He noted that the early completion reflects the strong commitment of local authorities, the business community, philanthropists, and residents in improving housing conditions for disadvantaged groups.
The VNA delegation, led by General Director Vu Viet Trang, actively participated in the event, engaging in both professional and diplomatic activities.
In the context where AI dominates and produces vast volumes of content, the only sustainable path forward for journalism is to focus on high-quality content and core values. Journalism must redefine its mission - not to report the fastest, but to provide the most profound and trustworthy value.
Granma and the VNA have great potential for cooperation, especially in sharing content regularly, so that VNA products are published on Granma platforms and vice versa, thereby helping Cuban and Vietnamese people access true information and gain a deep understanding of each other's country and people.
During his stay in China’s Guangzhou city from 1924 to 1927 to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Party to lead Vietnam’s revolution, President Ho Chi Minh founded “Thanh nien” newspaper and released its first issue on June 21, 1925.
A rescuer carries a little girl to safe place during a flood in Cam Lo district, central province of Quang Tri. (Photo: VNA) 
