The Prime Minister has approved a child protection programme for 2016-2020, with a view to protecting children from abuse and special circumstances.

The initiative aims to reduce the percentage of children in special circumstances to 5 percent. Ninety percent of children in special circumstances will be supported to integrate into the community and access to development opportunities. 

To realise the goals, communication and education campaigns are needed to raise awareness, knowledge, and skills of local authorities, residential communities and families to protect children and to improve competence for public servants, staffs and freelancers in charge of child protection. 

The new program also targets to further improve institutions and develop professional services on children protection. 

The programme’s beneficiaries include children from 16 to under 18 years old, especially those in special circumstances, ethnic minority groups, and children in disadvantaged areas. 

Vietnam is one of first signatories to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The country is the first in Asia and the second in the world to approve the convention.

The child protection programme for 2011-2015 has gained significant outcomes. The percentage of children in special circumstances fell to 5.6 percent in 2015 from 6 percent in 2011 and 85 percent of children in special circumstances got support to integrate into the community and access to development opportunities.

VNA