A number of queries about measures to address child sexual abuse were put to Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung at the question-and-answer (Q&A) session of the 14th National Assembly’s fifth meeting in Hanoi on June 5.

Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung

Dung noted the fact that 59.9 percent of sexual crimes against children were committed by the victims’ relatives and acquaintances.

“It is necessary to strengthen State management and coordination between the Ministries of Public Security and Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs and People’s Committees to improve the legal system,” he said.

The minister recommended increasing the responsibilities of families, schools and society and promoting the implementation of legal regulations on child protection and child rights.

Efforts should be accelerated to strictly deal with violations, he stressed.

Increasing public services to protect children, especially the operation of the emergency telephone number for child protection 111, is needed.

The most important thing is focusing on educating life skills and self-protection skills for children, Dung said.

He noted that in the Action Month for Children in June, his ministry will propose the Government organise an online conference on enhancing measures to prevent violence against children, including child sexual abuse.

Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy Le Minh Tri said in the first six months of 2018, criminal proceedings were launched against 701 child sexual abuse cases with 805 defendants and 735 cases (including pending cases) were prosecuted  with 649 defendants.

The country’s Law on Child Protection, the Penal Code, the Criminal Code and the Civil Code all contain chapters on protecting the rights of children, he said, adding the important thing at present is ensuring synchronous execution of legal regulations.

In December 2017, the Ministry of Public Security collaborated with the Supreme People’s Procurary and some ministries to issue a joint circular on coordination to receive and handle denunciations and prosecutions for criminal offences, especially those involving child sexual abuse, he said.

Chief Judge of the Supreme People’s Court Nguyen Hoa Binh said courts at all levels handled 8,100 child sexual abuse cases from 2013 to 2017.

Minister of Public Security To Lam said the number of child sexual abuse cases in the first five months of 2018 reduced by 7.7 percent from the same period last year.

The ministry will closely work with Ministries of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, and Education and Training as well as socio-political organisations and legal protection agencies to take measures to prevent child sexual abuse. It is essential to have special procedures to investigate such cases.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, friendly investigations are needed to help the victims and family members denounce violations.-VNA