Deputy PM Pham Thi Thanh Tra receives UNICEF Representative

Speaking at the meeting, Silvia Danailov highly appreciated Viet Nam’s efforts in promoting children's rights, emphasizing that the country was the first in Asia and the second in the world to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This stands as a strong testament to Viet Nam’s early and steadfast commitment to advancing children's rights globally.

UNICEF acknowledged that Viet Nam has made significant progress in developing a relatively comprehensive legal and policy framework for children, while continuously improving the implementation of children's rights programs in practice, she said.

Ms. Danailov noted that UNICEF is currently developing a new five-year cooperation program with Viet Nam, focusing on strengthening child protection systems, improving the quality of social services, and enhancing the capacity of policy implementation personnel.

UNICEF recommended that Viet Nam should continue to ensure adequate financial resources for child-related programs, particularly funding for the prevention of abuse and violence, as well as support for vulnerable children.

In addition, it suggested studying the allocation of dedicated child protection positions at the provincial and commune levels, especially in the health and social service sectors, in order to improve early detection and timely intervention capabilities.

The development of a professional social work workforce was also highlighted as a key factor. Such personnel are capable of providing integrated, continuous, and comprehensive support services for children and families in a wide range of circumstances.

According to Ms. Danailov, UNICEF is particularly concerned about the challenges of protecting children in the digital environment. While Viet Nam is among the leading countries in the region in this area, further improvements to the legal framework are needed to address emerging forms of online child grooming, abuse, and exploitation.

UNICEF proposed enhancing cooperation with relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam, to develop more effective coordination mechanisms for detecting, preventing, and handling violations in cyberspace.

Ms. Danailov also stressed that technology companies play a crucial role in designing child-safe products and integrating child protection standards from the earliest stages of platform development.

For her part, Deputy Prime Minister Pham affirmed that the protection, care, and education of children is both an urgent task and a long-term strategic priority. Viet Nam remains committed to prioritizing all necessary resources to ensure the comprehensive development of children in terms of physical health, intellectual capacity, mental well-being, and aesthetic development.

Pham expressed her belief that with the support of UNICEF and the engagement of the entire political system, Viet Nam aims to build a safe, friendly, and humane environment for children, where every child has the opportunity to develop their full potential and contribute to the country's sustainable future./.