A conference on comprehensive development policy for children was held in Hanoi on November 23.
The conference, held jointly by the National Assembly (NA) Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Adolescents and Children, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam.
Speaking at the conference, Politburo member and Standing Vice Chairwoman of the NA Tong Thi Phong affirmed that Vietnam has taken specific action programmes to prevent children from being exploited, sexually abused and trafficked and to help them stay away from drugs and crime.
Vietnam has multiple legal provisions and provides special care to protect rights of vulnerable children such as orphans, abandoned children, homeless children, children with disabilities and those with HIV, she added.
She also emphasised the need to clearly identify the shortcomings and the causes of the shortcomings in enforcing the rights of children and seek solutions to tackle these issues.
Chief Representative of the UNICEF in Vietnam Rana Flowers said Vietnam was the first country in Asia and the second in the world to ratify the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Over three decades after the convention was ratified, Vietnam has made many achievements in promoting and protecting the rights of children, she noted.
Delegates at the conference also discussed comprehensive development polices for children aged 0 – 8 as well as solutions to improving legal systems and policies relating juveniles.
The conference took place as Asia-Pacific countries preparing for the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Early Childhood Development in Hanoi from December 4 - 6.
Source: Nhan Dan