The dialogue was part of the fifth National Children’s Forum jointly held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and relevant ministries and foreign organisations.

The children also expressed their opinions about how to reduce child labour and prevent cyber violence and abuse against children.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Hong Lan affirmed that the children’s opinions will be taken into account during the building of legal documents, planning and projects related to children.

Regarding child participation rights, an official from the MoLISA said that parents need to enhance their own knowledge about children’s rights and understand their wish. Children should be given opportunities to contribute their opinions about relevant documents and policies through forums and public media.

Communication works for children must be renovated to suit children’s psychology and the relations between teachers and students at school should be improved, the official added.

Meanwhile, Chief of Social Policy and Governance at UNICEF Vietnam Yoshimi Nishino said that individuals and social organisations should join hands to prevent violence against children, which leaves negative psychological and physical impacts on them.

A good legal framework will create foundation to enforce children’s rights, she said, adding that outdated traditions or practices affecting children must be abolished./.