Creating equal development opportunities for poor children and children from ethnic minorities.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, many poor children, children from ethnic minority groups, and children in disadvantaged areas still lack food, clothing, and have few opportunities to fully enjoy their rights..

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has just approved the Plan for the implementation of the Action Month for Children in 2013 from June 1st to June 30th with the theme "Creating equal development opportunities for poor children and children from ethnic minorities".

According to the plan, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, in coordination with the People's Committee of Bac Ninh province, will organize the launching ceremony of the 2013 Action Month for Children with the theme "Creating equal development opportunities for poor children and children from ethnic minorities," scheduled for June 1, 2013.

During the Action Month, meetings will be held to commend poor children, children from mountainous areas, ethnic minority children, and children with special circumstances who have demonstrated outstanding resilience and determination; and to commend exemplary groups and individuals who have dedicated themselves to the care, education, and protection of children.

Organize events or campaigns to call on organizations and individuals to support the Children's Protection Fund at all levels with resources to build welfare facilities, especially schools, classrooms, boarding houses, recreational facilities and equipment, and playgrounds for children in the community and schools; organize for sponsors to donate gifts and scholarships to poor children, children in mountainous areas, ethnic minority children, and children with special circumstances; support surgery and orthopedic treatment for disabled children; and inaugurate and implement projects for children.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, many cultural, sports, recreational, and safe summer activities will be organized. Specifically, these activities will include educating children on self-protection skills, preventing social evils; risks of abuse, violence, and labor exploitation; accident prevention and injury prevention (especially traffic accidents and drowning), safe traffic participation, swimming lessons, and first aid for accident victims.

Create more playgrounds and diverse, practical forms of cultural, recreational, and sports activities in communities, schools, cultural centers, libraries, parks, and on mass media channels during the Month of Action for Children and the summer holidays. Create opportunities for poor children, children in mountainous areas, ethnic minority children, and children with special circumstances to visit tourist attractions, travel, and participate in cultural and sports events.

At the same time, organize cultural, artistic, and sports activities between poor children, children from mountainous areas, ethnic minority children, and children with special circumstances with other children to enhance their self-confidence and support their integration into the community.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, in recent years, the State has issued many policies to assist poor children, children with special circumstances, ethnic minority children, and children in remote areas... These policies have broad and comprehensive coverage, thanks to which the lives and rights of children are better ensured.

However, inequalities and shortcomings still exist for children from low-income families and ethnic minorities in accessing quality public services such as healthcare and education; many poor children and children in ethnic minority and disadvantaged areas still lack food, clothing, and have limited opportunities to fully enjoy their rights.

(According to the Communist Party of Vietnam) – LH