What do girls need to do to live in safety and equality?

Meaningful acts of sharing

To commemorate International Day of the Girl Child this year, a drawing competition on the theme of girls was organized by the Provincial Population Steering Committee in coordination with Nguyen Canh Chan High School, Dang Thai Mai High School, and Thanh Chuong 3 High School in Thanh Chuong district. Through this competition, students presented impressive presentations expressing their dreams, aspirations, opinions, and desires on issues related to girls' rights. In particular, the presentation from Thanh Chuong 3 High School, despite addressing the theme "Girls are the weaker sex," provided numerous examples to affirm that there are many good things that only girls can do. Furthermore, regardless of the circumstances, girls are the beautiful sex – beautiful in intellect and spirit – and can be a reliable support for everyone.

At Nguyen Canh Chan High School, the theme "Empowering Girls" boldly addressed a pressing issue today: preventing and combating sexual abuse, teenage pregnancy, and abortion. Drawing from the true story of a female student at the school who became pregnant early and had to drop out, the students of Nguyen Canh Chan High School hope that all levels of government, relevant agencies, and schools will regularly pay attention to and create conditions for them to be equipped with the necessary skills to protect themselves. They also hope that families will be a strong support system for their children, giving them the opportunity to share and express their concerns and thoughts...

Regarding this program, Mr. Le Van Hai, Secretary of the Youth Union of Nguyen Canh Chan High School, commented: “The program is a meaningful communication activity that gives the organizers the opportunity to listen to the thoughts of today's students on issues concerning girls. From there, it also highlights the role of the whole society in the cause of protecting, caring for, and educating girls, ensuring that all girls receive healthcare. At the same time, it strengthens good coordination between families, schools, and society to educate, shape character, and equip girls with the necessary knowledge and skills for their comprehensive development.”

At the ceremony, attendees also conveyed the message of International Day of the Girl Child by placing their hands on their left chests, where a pink ribbon was placed. This gesture symbolizes love, listening, respect, responsibility, and commitment to the best attitudes, actions, beliefs, and things that will be given to girls so that they can live their childhood to the fullest with their aspirations and dreams, without being hindered by gender inequality.

Strengthen communication

In fact, over the past period, various sectors and localities throughout the province have been disseminating and popularizing the Law on Children and other related regulations, while also integrating sex education and gender equality programs. In Van Son commune (Do Luong district), the Population Committee, in coordination with the Women's Union, organized a "Golden Bell Ringing" competition on "Understanding the Prevention and Combating Violence and Abuse Against Children." Interestingly, the contestants were mother-daughter pairs. Therefore, although the competition was quite intense, each round showcased the strong bond between the participants. And whether they won or lost, the competition left a beautiful impression, serving as a bridge to strengthen family bonds, love, and sharing between mothers and daughters.

The series of activities in response to International Day of the Girl Child in Hung Nguyen district lasted for several days with various contents. These included organizing communication sessions for students at Lam Thanh Secondary School to provide basic knowledge about adolescent and youth reproductive health care; and the physical and psychological changes that occur during adolescence.

At Hung Tay Secondary School, a "Girls' Club" was also launched on this day, providing monthly opportunities for girls to meet and participate in group activities such as cultural events, arts, and sports. Furthermore, these clubs serve as a platform for girls to share their feelings, express themselves, and receive education on social skills and how to handle various situations in life.

In 2019, Nghe An province also adopted the theme "Ending sexual abuse and violence against girls" for its International Day of the Girl Child campaign. This is a pressing issue that is becoming increasingly serious in our country, as statistics show that on average, there are 3,000-4,000 cases of child violence each year, including approximately 100 cases of child murder and 1,000 cases of sexual abuse.

A study of over 2,000 students in reform schools revealed that approximately 50% had experienced harsh parental treatment during their childhood. Of these, 23% were beaten by their fathers – six times the rate of being beaten by their mothers. The majority of victims of sexual abuse are girls. Furthermore, child violence is widespread, with 68.4% of Vietnamese children (under 18 years old) having experienced violence at least once in one form, ranging from physical abuse and assault to sexual abuse.

In response to this situation, the Population sector has invested significantly in communication efforts. This includes implementing a series of reproductive health projects with hundreds of communication and counseling sessions: counseling on adolescent reproductive health care and preventing sexual abuse for junior high school students through thematic talks, direct counseling integrated into cultural and artistic activities; establishing "life skills and adolescent reproductive health" clubs in schools; and providing telephone counseling to help girls recognize and prevent the dangers of sexual abuse and violence, and gain experience in self-care related to reproductive health.

Sharing more about the significance of this year's International Day of the Girl Child, Mr. Nguyen Trung Thanh - Deputy Head of the Provincial Population and Family Planning Department, said: “To address the issue of sexual abuse and violence against girls, it is essential to have the attention and guidance of Party committees, government agencies, departments, organizations, and the entire society. We also believe that all programs investing in girls, whether supporting their health, education, or safety, help them improve their lives and create a safe and equal environment for their comprehensive development.”