VGP - “Today's children: Tomorrow's world”. Children, representing happiness of every family and future of a country, are subsequent generations to uphold national construction and defense. Pursuance of child care, education and protection are for long-term national interests.
To create the best possible living environment for children, more attention has been paid to child care and protection in Vietnam with improving legal framework and policies. Vietnam has started to work on prevention and intervention to minimize risks and assistance for vulnerable children.
However, further efforts should be made to achieve the set targets. Millions of children in Vietnam still need special protection. Many of them are abused, exploited and trafficked for sexual purposes. There remain street children, children with disabilities, orphans, children that offend laws, abandoned and poor children, and children affected by HIV/AIDS.
Few of them are brought up in state care centers while many others have to work hard to earn a living. Some are trapped in forced labor and live on the streets, facing high risks of HIV contraction, drug use, crime and prostitution. There remain obstacles for the majority of these children to access social welfare services and they belong to the high risk group.
To address the issue, the Prime Minister has approved the “National Program on Child Protection in 2011-2015 period”, demonstrating the government’s resolve to crate a safe environment for all children. The program aims to minimize risks against children and reduce cases of child abuse. Disadvantaged and abused children will be provided with timely assistance and equal opportunities for growth.
The program sets out detailed targets: To reduce the number of disadvantaged children to 5.5% of the total children; 80% of disadvantaged children will be assisted to reintegrate into the community and enjoy opportunities for growth; 70% of vulnerable children will be intervened; 50% of provinces and cities should establish or operate child care services.
The program is carried out nationwide with priority given to areas where there are a large number of disadvantaged and vulnerable children, areas inhabited by ethnic people and poor areas.
Funding for the program comes from the central government’s budget, local budget, international aid, capital mobilized from the society and community and other resources.
The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Finance are responsible for coordinating central government’s budget to implement the program in accordance with the Law on State Budget.
By Ngọc Vân