In the direction, Binh, who is also head of the Government Steering Committee on Crime Prevention and Fight, clarified that recently, the media has over the past days reported several cases of violence, abuse and murder involving children, sparking anger in society and seriously affecting social security, order and safety.

According to the media, a seven-year-old girl in Chau Thanh district of southern Kien Giang province was brutally racked by her father and step mother, while a 2-month-old baby girl in Phu Ly, northern Ha Nam province was beaten and juggled by her baby sitter, kids in a kindergarten in District 12 of Ho Chi Minh City were hit cruelly by their care givers, and a 20-day-old baby girl in Bim Son town, north central Thanh Hoa province was allegedly killed by her grandmother.

The Deputy PM asked the Ministry of Public Security to coordinate with other ministries and sectors as well as localities to prompt the investigation of the cases and other violations targeting children.

Strict punishments must be applied on both violators and those who cover up the cases or hesitate to handle them.

Especially, he requested the ministry to report the investigation result of the murder of the 20-day-old baby girl in Bim Son town, Thanh Hoa before December 31.

He also asked the Ministries of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Education and Training, Health, Culture, Sports and Tourism, Information and Communications, Public Security and centrally-run cities and provinces to implement Instruction 18/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister on strengthening the prevention and combat of violence and abuse against children.-VNA