Need to raise awareness and skills to prevent child abuse

On the afternoon of December 17, the Provincial People's Committee held a conference to summarize 10 years of implementing children's work in the period 2011 - 2020; directions and tasks for the period 2021 - 2030.

Delegates attending the conference. Photo: Thanh Nga

Comrades: Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Doan Hong Vu - Member of the Provincial Party Executive Committee - Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs; Bui Van Hung - Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs co-chaired the conference.

The conference was also attended by representatives of relevant departments, agencies and units that are members of the Provincial Children's Work Steering Committee; representatives of Association-level units implementing children's work; Vice Chairmen of People's Committees of 21 districts, cities and towns...

Mr. Doan Hong Vu speaking at the conference. Photo: Thanh Nga

Child protection and care is always a concern.

Overview of the conference. Photo: Thanh Nga

Over the past 10 years of care andchild protectionThere have been many positive changes, many indicators in the areas of health care, nutrition; education and protection and care for children in special circumstances have met and exceeded the set plan. Children at risk of falling into special circumstances or children being harmed have gradually decreased; the rate of children in special circumstances receiving care is increasing; the rate of malnutrition and stunting in children under 5 years old, abandoned children,abused, the number of street children making a living has decreased significantly compared to previous years.

In recent years, the Youth Union in the area has organized many activities to care for and protect children, bringing joy to children during the Mid-Autumn Festival and Children's Day. Photo: Archive

After 10 years of implementation, departments, branches and localities regularly inspect, review and evaluate the situation of child labor in conjunction with effective implementation of social assistance policies. There are many programs and policies to support children and families to improve their lives, contributing to preventing and stopping the exploitation of child labor in the area. In 2016, there were 95 children in the province, and by 2020, there will be no children working illegally.

Party committees, authorities, departments, branches and organizations at district and commune levels have strongly participated in the work of preventing and combating drowning for children, especially propaganda and education work to raise awareness and responsibility of agencies, organizations, individuals and communities, especially families, schools and students. Every year, from the provincial to district and commune levels, a ceremony is held to launch the Month of Action for Children in conjunction with signing a commitment to implement a "Safe Summer for Children"; build and maintain the "Safe House" model in 21 districts, cities and towns; build models of "Safe School"; "Safe Community", "Children in the whole commune know how to swim", "Students in the whole school know how to swim".

Children are cared for and protected. Photo: Archive

There were 136 cases of child abuse.

In recent years, the provincial authorities have stepped up the detection, investigation, and strict handling of cases of child abuse, trafficking, and mistreatment, and acts that affect the personality development of children. From 2016 to 2020, 136 cases of child abuse were detected, investigated, and handled, with 140 children being abused with acts of sexual abuse and child trafficking.

There are many reasons for the occurrence of heartbreaking incidents involving children. Specifically: Some localities are not proactive in managing, detecting, intervening, and assisting children at risk of abuse, exploitation, and children in need of special protection; Child abuse crimes are often highly hidden, with very few witnesses and most are only discovered when the victim reports them. Current legal documents do not have a mechanism to recognize forensic examination results in cases of sexual abuse at the request of the victim's family, so sometimes they are not timely, losing important sources of evidence.

Provincial People's Committee awarded Certificates of Merit to the groups. Photo: Thanh Nga

However, the situation of juvenile law violations is increasing and becoming more complicated, which is a painful reality for society. Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung - Deputy Director of the Provincial Police said: "Currently, the crime situation is at risk of becoming younger and increasing. The reason for these incidents is partly due to the lack of regular supervision by families and schools; children at home alone often go online, or are lured and enticed into criminal acts. With 24 children being criminals violating security and order, we have many concerns."

Comrade Bui Dinh Long concluded at the conference. Photo: Thanh Nga

Concluding the conference, comrade Bui Dinh Long said: In addition to the achieved results, there are still many difficulties, shortcomings and limitations. These are: some local Party committees and authorities have not fully recognized the position and importance of child protection, care and education; the team working on child protection and care at the grassroots level has not been fully arranged, capacity is limited, confusion in advising and organizing the implementation of the Program; coordination between levels and sectors is sometimes not synchronous and tight; some targets are lower than the set plan, especially the targets on culture, entertainment and recreation for children; the number of abused children, children with accidents and injuries, and deaths due to drowning is becoming more and more complicated.

"Therefore, those who carry out child care and protection work need to raise awareness and prevention skills, not just participate in detection and denunciation," said Mr. Bui Dinh Long.

Provincial People's Committee awarded Certificates of Merit to individuals. Photo: Thanh Nga

“I propose that after this Conference, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs absorb the opinions of the delegates and the conclusions of the Conference to complete and submit to the Provincial People's Committee to issue the Action Program for Children for the period 2021-2025 and organize effective implementation; all levels and sectors in the province as well as in districts, cities and towns, based on the resolutions, guidelines and policies of the Party and State related to children; the Action Program for Children of the province for the period 2021-2025 and the current situation of their sectors and localities to develop and implement the Program and Action Plan" - the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested.

Also at the conference, 10 individuals and 10 collectives were awarded Certificates of Merit by the Provincial People's Committee for their outstanding achievements in child care and protection.