Parents need to be equipped with skills to prevent child abuse.

What should parents do to protect their children from the risk of abuse?

With the slogan "Join hands to protect children, prevent and combat child abuse", this year's Action Month for Children will focus most on protecting children, because in order to prevent children from being abused, first of all, the community and family must pay the most attention to protecting children from risks.

Education PhD Vu Thu Huong interacts with parents and children at the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Workshop. Photo courtesy of Thuc Anh

In order for the social community and authorities at all levels, political organizations to clearly understand and have appropriate methods, the Provincial People's Committee has just issued Plan No. 247 KH-UBND dated May 13, 2020 "Month of Action for Children" with the purpose of propagating and educating to raise awareness and consciousness, responsibility of levels, sectors, teachers, parents, caregivers and children in implementing the Law on Children, especially for poor children, children in remote areas, children in especially difficult circumstances.

Regarding the implementation of this plan, Ms. Le Thi Nguyet - Head of the Department of Children - Gender Equality (Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs) said: "This summer is more special, students only have summer vacation around mid-July and by mid-August they will enter the new school year. Therefore, the time they have at home is very short and organizing a safe and useful summer day for children, so it is necessary to choose a suitable, practical and effective model, along with having a way to protect children from risks of insecurity during hot days. Such as the risk of drowning, the risk of violence, especially in rural, remote and isolated areas".

Children need to be taught self-protection skills. Photo courtesy of My Ha

As of May 23, 2020, there have been 3 cases of child abuse in Que Phong, Tan Ky and Do Luong districts in the province. The above cases have been handled seriously, promptly and in accordance with the law by the authorities. However, these 3 cases show that child protection has not really received the attention of political, social and grassroots organizations.

A typical example is the case in Que Phong, the subject Luong Van Dau (born in 1993), residing in Dong Moi hamlet, Dong Van commune (Que Phong), invited a child into the deep forest with his daughter. Many people saw it, especially the child's family, but no one stopped or gave any advice to the girl. Even when Dau's biological daughter returned home first, no one suspected that Dau was alone with the child in the deep forest for half a day and the unfortunate incident happened. Or like in Do Luong, the case of an 8th grade girl who voluntarily ran away from home with a man named Nguyen Ngoc Khoat. Although the family vaguely noticed that the relationship was above normal, they did not take timely measures to prevent it. Even when the child said that she was going to buy medicine for her mother with this man, the family did not suspect anything. And as a result, the child ran away with a married man for many days...

"Parents also need to realize that if parents or relatives of children abuse children, it will not only cause bad consequences but also risk facing violations of the law, violations of the Law on Children..." - Ms. Le Thi Nguyet - Head of the Department of Children - Gender Equality (Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs) said.

For a safe summer

The launching ceremony of the Action Month for Children will not be held this year, but there will be a signing ceremony of the commitment "Safe Summer for Children" taking place in Quy Hop district. Accordingly, in the localities where the agreement is signed, political and social organizations here will have to come up with specific plans and actions to create a safe environment for children, teach children self-protection skills, and at the same time have appropriate methods to propagate to families the ways and skills to protect children.

Summer day of children in Mon Son commune, Con Cuong district. Photo: document of Ho Sy Hung

To have specific plans, Quy Hop district has stuck to the general message in Plan 247/KH – UBND including: Love is stronger than scolding; Listen to children with your heart, protect children with actions; Children should learn how to protect themselves from abuse. And especially children or their guardians need to immediately call 111 or 1900565605 for immediate support when they suspect abuse.

The joy of Khmu children with a new game. Photo courtesy of Dinh Tuan

“The most important thing is that localities need to call on political organizations and philanthropists to support smart swimming pools for disadvantaged areas to equip children with swimming skills, or support communication programs for parents, political and social organizations to equip them with knowledge to prevent child abuse,” said Ms. Le Thi Nguyet.