Vietnam PM calls for greater efforts to protect women and children

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc joins a campaign to protect women and children.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has called for bolder actions to guarantee the safety of women and children as cases of harassment and abuse have rocked the country in recent years.

The government leader was speaking at a ceremony in Hanoi on March 6 to launch the Year of Safety for Children and Women.

In his speech, PM Phuc underlined the special role of women as the bedrock of family and society, and that of children as the future of each family, the nation and the whole of humankind.

He stated that Vietnam is providing free health insurance to all children under six and nearly 100% of children under 12 months of age are covered under the expanded programme on immunisation, while Vietnamese women play a major role in economic development.

PM Phuc said that, as head of the government, he was deeply concerned by problems threatening the safety of children and women such as road and drowning accidents, domestic violence, sexual harassment and human trafficking.

As such he urged all of the relevant parties to undertake concrete and appropriate actions to protect women and children, especially in disadvantaged, remote and ethnic areas.

He asked the Vietnamese Women Union to consider the wellbeing and safety of women and children as its goal of action, while calling on enterprises, individuals, social organisations and international organisations to work with the union for such goals.

On the occasion of the upcoming International Women’s Day, the Prime Minister extended his best wishes to all Vietnamese women, expecting them to make contributions to the country’s sustainable development.