Michaela Bauer, Deputy Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam, raised the concerns at the launch of Vietnam’s national program on child protection and the prevention and reduction of unlawful child labor for 2026-2030. The event was organized by the Ministry of Health’s Department of Maternal and Child Health on the morning of Sept. 11.

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Michaela Bauer, Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Vietnam, speaks at the launch event. Photo: Thu Thuy

According to Ministry of Health statistics, Vietnam had 24,950,416 children as of 2025, including 13,092,705 boys, or 52.5%, and 11,857,711 girls, or 47.5%. Around 15,000 children in particularly difficult circumstances receive monthly social assistance.

Although all identified child victims of abuse receive appropriate support and intervention measures, Bauer said children in Vietnam continue to face multiple risks, including violence, exploitation and sexual abuse, as well as abuse and exploitation online and hazardous forms of labor.

Deputy Minister of Health Le Duc Luan added that violence against children has been increasing globally amid economic downturns and inflation.

“Child labor continues to exist in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, as well as within households and small production and business establishments, where inspection and monitoring are very difficult,” Luan said.

“At the same time, child protection service networks remain limited in some areas, while connections, coordination and referrals between services are not yet consistent. The use of information technology and the management of child data at the local level also vary across regions,” he added.

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Deputy Minister of Health Le Duc Luan says child protection service networks remain limited in some areas. Photo: N. Huyen

To address these challenges, Bauer said laws and policies alone are not enough. What is needed is a strong, integrated and adequately funded child protection system, supported by capable social workers, reliable data, effective coordination mechanisms and services accessible to every community.

“International evidence shows that children are best protected when prevention and response operate as a unified system, extending from the national level to families, schools and communities,” Bauer said. “This requires close coordination across sectors, along with the active participation of government agencies, schools, families, communities, businesses, the media and children themselves.”

At-risk children to be managed through shared database system

Vietnam’s national program on child protection and the prevention and reduction of unlawful child labor for 2026-2030 sets several key targets to be achieved by 2030:

Reduce the proportion of children experiencing violence and sexual abuse by at least 5% each year and bring the child labor rate among those aged 5-17 to below 1.1%.

Have 100% of provinces and cities implement integrated child protection service models, 95% of communes operate inter-agency service models and 100% of communes establish child-friendly investigation rooms.

Ensure all identified victims of abuse and children at risk of violence, exploitation or abandonment receive timely and appropriate support and intervention. All requests for legal assistance involving children are to be addressed in accordance with the law.

Ensure 100% of children requiring protection or considered at risk are managed through a shared child database system connected with other relevant databases.

N. Huyen