Listen with your heart, protect children with your actions.
Nghe An province currently has over 935,000 children under 16 years old, accounting for nearly 27% of the province's total population. Behind this number lies the responsibility of families and society as a whole in caring for children's health, education, and creating a safe living environment for them. In the context of children facing numerous risks such as violence, abuse, injuries, and negative impacts from the online environment, the protection, care, and implementation of children's rights have become even more urgent.
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Thanh Quynh(Execution) - Technique:Hong ToaiSeptember 29, 2025
PV: Many people still think that children today receive quite adequate care and attention. However, in reality, Nghe An province still has 13,077 children with special circumstances. How do you view this number?
Mr. Le Van Thuy:First, let's clarify the concept of "children in special circumstances." It is defined in Clause 10, Article 4 of the 2016 Children's Law as referring to children who are unable to fully exercise their basic rights, such as the right to protection, care, nurturing, and education. This group of children may include orphans, abandoned children, children with disabilities; or children who suffer violence, abuse, trafficking, or exploitation of labor; some may have violated the law or be addicted to drugs. Each group has its own disadvantages and difficulties, but the common point is that they all desperately need a loving embrace and a strong protection mechanism to avoid being left behind.
Looking at the situation in Nghe An province, it is clear that many children are still living in difficult and deprived circumstances. Out of a total of over 935,000 children under 16 years old in the province, 13,077 are in special circumstances, and 131,844 are at risk of falling into special circumstances, accounting for approximately 14% of the total number of children. In particular, 51,873 children are still living in impoverished households, lacking both material resources and the conditions for comprehensive development.
These figures show that, despite attention paid to child care and protection in the area, the lives of children in Nghe An still face many difficulties and potential risks.
PV:Given this situation, how is the work of caring for, protecting, and implementing children's rights being carried out in the province? Is there anything that still concerns you about this work?
Mr. Le Van Thuy:In fact, for the Law on Children and related documents to be put into practice, it's not just a matter of issuing documents or disseminating information. We must implement it synchronously, starting from the directives of the Government, central ministries and agencies, then down to the Provincial Party Committee, Provincial People's Council, Provincial People's Committee, and departments, agencies, and localities. All of this is directed towards three key areas: protecting children's rights and promoting their participation; preventing and combating accidents and injuries; and caring for and nurturing children in special circumstances.
Specifically, in practice, for the prevention of violence and abuse against children, various sectors must implement numerous measures, from disseminating information and publicizing hotlines such as 111 (National Hotline), 1800.599.963 (Provincial Social Work Center), 02383.658.999 (Provincial Child Protection Fund Counseling Center), to guiding the process of support and intervention when children are at risk of violence, abuse, or trafficking.
At the departmental level, each unit has different responsibilities. The Department of Health focuses on forensic examination, receiving and treating, counseling, and providing healthcare for abused children, while also training healthcare staff to create a truly safe environment for children. The Department of Education and Training closely coordinates with schools, families, and society to both prevent school violence and combat crime and other social ills among students. The Provincial Police focus on detecting, preventing, and severely punishing acts of violence and abuse against children. The Courts and the Procuratorate are also actively involved, ensuring timely and lawful trials and prosecutions.
As a result, we see positive signs: by December 2024, the number of child abuse cases in Nghe An had decreased in both the number of cases and the number of victims compared to previous years. All cases were handled strictly, contributing to deterrence and general prevention.
However, from my perspective as a direct observer, I've noticed gaps that need attention and improvement. For example, while child injury prevention activities are implemented, their effectiveness varies from local to local; and coordination among agencies, communities, and families is sometimes ineffective.
I also have many concerns about the staff and collaborators working on child welfare. From the provincial level to the grassroots, Nghe An currently has approximately 3,797 collaborators in 3,797 villages, hamlets, and neighborhoods. They are a crucial link in detecting and providing timely support to children at risk of violence, abuse, or in vulnerable situations.
However, certain challenges remain. In some localities, officials responsible for children's affairs have to juggle many other responsibilities, resulting in insufficient time dedicated to children. While the number of collaborators is large, most are semi-professional, and their limited support makes it difficult for them to commit to the work long-term.
Therefore, child protection, in essence, is not just about laws, directives, or numbers. It requires more than just genuine concern; it demands timely responses and a system that is truly sensitive to children, so that any signal of danger is detected, addressed, and not overlooked.
PV:Recently, a heartfelt letter from a young child in Hanoi recounting long-term abuse by her stepmother, which she didn't dare speak out about, deeply saddened the public. Clearly, many cases of child abuse are only discovered when it's too late. Sir, what early signs should we look for to provide timely support and protection for children in such situations?
Mr. Le Van Thuy:In reality, abused children often show unusual signs if adults pay close attention. Physically, they may have bruises, scratches, burns, or broken bones with illogical explanations. Or they may wear long clothes to hide injuries. Psychologically and behaviorally, they may be easily frightened, startled, withdrawn, have insomnia, nightmares, or conversely, exhibit unusual aggression and defiance. Academically, they often experience declining grades, lose interest in school, skip classes, and avoid teachers and classmates. Some may also show signs of self-blame, low self-esteem, or even self-harm.
These signs may appear individually or simultaneously. It is important that family members, teachers, and neighbors are observant enough to recognize them and not ignore them, because the earlier they are detected, the more effective the support, intervention, and protection for the child will be.
In Nghe An province, there have been cases that have sounded the alarm. For example, in April 2025, in Truong Vinh ward (formerly Vinh City), a man was fined 10 million VND for using a broom to beat his own child, causing injury. Before that, in the former Quynh Tan commune (now Quynh Van commune), public opinion was shocked when a 13-year-old girl was subjected to mental abuse and sexual assault by her stepfather for many years, only to be discovered when she bravely spoke out.
These incidents show that if children pay attention, observe carefully, and notice unusual changes in their behavior in a timely manner, and boldly inform the authorities and relevant agencies promptly, many children would not have had to silently endure suffering for a long time.
According to statistics, in 2025, more than 2.2 million people nationwide will be divorced or separated. Nghe An province is among the top provinces with nearly 46,000 people. Divorce leads to many negative consequences, with children often being the most vulnerable. This includes not only emotional distress but also neglect, lack of care and attention, or even abuse from family members. Therefore, for family members, the most important thing is listening and being close to children so they can express their emotions and not be left in silence. For teachers, it's crucial to become "trusted friends" that students can confide in and turn to when facing difficulties. For neighbors and community groups, it's their responsibility to be vigilant, observing any unusual behavior to detect problems early. And for the government and community organizations, it's essential to be a strong support system where children can receive timely protection and support.
Only through concerted efforts from families, schools, and society can we create a safe and healthy environment for children. This is not only a legal responsibility but also a moral duty, ensuring that every child grows up in a loving environment, develops fully, and that heartbreaking stories do not recur.
PV: In the coming period, what key solutions will the health sector and related agencies focus on to further improve the effectiveness of childcare, protection, and the realization of children's rights in the province?
Mr. Le Van Thuy:It can be said that, over the years, the work of caring for, protecting, and implementing children's rights in Nghe An has achieved many positive results. However, with a very large number of children, many families still facing difficult living conditions, and complex social factors, the risk of children falling into vulnerable situations, being subjected to violence, abuse, or injury remains. This requires all levels, sectors, and society as a whole to continue working together, persistently and synchronously implementing solutions.
First and foremost, it is necessary to strengthen resources, both human and financial, for child welfare work; focusing on training and capacity building to enhance the skills of child welfare officers and collaborators from the provincial to the grassroots level. This is considered a fundamental solution to ensure that child protection and care are implemented more promptly, professionally, and effectively.
Simultaneously, efforts to raise public awareness about children's rights through propaganda and education will continue to be intensified, targeting individual families and communities. Because the care, love, and responsibility of parents, teachers, and the people around them are the most sustainable "shield" to help children develop in a safe and healthy environment.
One of the pressing issues today is protecting children in the online environment. Departments, agencies, and localities will focus on directing and guiding efforts to support children's healthy, creative, and safe interaction in the digital space. This includes strengthening information security, compiling and publishing various communication materials such as Q&A on children's rights, a handbook on combating fake news and misinformation online, and a code of conduct for online activities. The provincial police will enhance the reception, verification, and handling of acts that harm or endanger children in the online environment. The Department of Health will guide agencies, families, communities, and children themselves to fully exercise their right to access information, while also ensuring the protection of their image and personal privacy in accordance with the law.
We believe that, with the joint efforts of the entire political system and society, especially by promoting the role of each family, the work of caring for, protecting, and implementing children's rights in Nghe An will become increasingly in-depth, contributing to ensuring that children in the area live safely, healthily, and develop comprehensively.
PV: Thank you for the conversation!
