A seminar seeking measures to prevent the sexual
abuse of children and provide relevant legal
information took place in Hanoi on April 23.
Jointly organised by the Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD)
under the Southeast Asian Research Association of Vietnam (SEARAV), and
the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Child Rights (VACR), the seminar
was part of activities within the framework of a project funded by the Justice
Initiatives Facilitation Fund (JIFF) to support access to justice for victims
of child sexual abuse in Hanoi.
Addressing the seminar, VACR Vice Chairwoman Ninh Thi Hong highlighted the
significance of the gathering, saying it aimed to raise public awareness about
child sexual abuse prevention and provide knowledge on laws and the necessary
legal support in the event a child is being sexually abused.
Participants emphasised the need to apply strict punishments on child sexual
abusers.
They also proposed specific measures and action programmes to prevent the
sexual abuse of children and support victims of sexual abuse and their
families.
Figures from the Criminal Police Department under the Ministry of Public
Security revealed that 2,643 cases of sexual violence against children were
reported in 2017-2018. But this was almost certainly only the tip of the
iceberg, as many cases go undetected or the victims and their families fail to
report such cases to authorities.
The Child Law 2016 has created an important legal corridor for the protection,
care, and education of children, significantly contributing to the
implementation of children’s fundamental rights.
The law devotes a separate chapter on child protection and regulates child
protection requirements as well as the establishment of child protection
service facilities.
The Government has also promulgated a number of documents guiding the implementation
of child care and protection./.
All comments [ 15 ]
Many activities are planned across Vietnam to create a change in society’s awareness, actions and responsibility for child protection, care and education.
Reviewing the enforcement of policies and laws on child abuse prevention and control, a sign that child abuse prevention and control is truly a “hot” issue and a shared concern of the entire society.
Sexual abuse was the most common and left the most serious consequences, accounting for 75.4 percent. In addition, there are currently a large number of cases related to child labour, child abandonment and child marriage.
The number of children abused by their relatives and acquaintances is still on the rise. Children are compromised not only by strangers, but by relatives and acquaintances at schools and homes which are supposed to be the safest places for them.
The preventive level should be a priority in child protection, but most cases are detected late.
We are lacking a network for early detection and early prevention. Those in charge of social work in localities and in the community are very important. They know each specific situation, in any family where the father is an alcoholic, the parents are preparing to divorce, there is a child about to drop out of school, or their children are left at home with their stepfather, they will be counselors to prevent regrettable cases from happening.
The Party, State, community, parents, and teachers have always focused on the care of children.
Joint efforts made in child protection and the prevention of child abuse, saying such work should not be placed only on a few ministries and agencies but instead shared by socio-political organisations, families, schools, and the community.
Better communications work would equip children with the necessary knowledge and skills to protect themselves, stressing the responsibility of leaders of agencies and units in child abuse cases.
All ministries, agencies and the people’s committees at all levels to strictly enforce legal regulations on children, regularly reviewing and fine-tuning related policies and regulations and raising public awareness of child protection policies and laws.
Heads of agencies and local authorities must be responsible for child deaths due to injuries, the serious violation of children’s rights, and violence and sex abuse targeting children within fields and areas under their jurisdiction, or for not promptly dealing with children’s right violation case.
I think we should review and amend laws and policies on social assistance to children living in an especially disadvantaged situation, collect children’s feedback during the process of building relevant policies and programmes.
It must also regularly inspect the enforcement of child rights as well as policies and laws on the prevention of child abuse.
We wish to receive more love, respect and understanding from our parents and teachers. Please give us more time and listen to us, trust us and respect our thoughts and feelings on our journey to maturity.
Flogging does not make children grow up, love is stronger than scolding. Don't let any children be left behind.
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