(VNF) - The National Assembly's Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Adolescent and Children, the Ministry of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs and the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union together with Plan International Vietnamheld a press conference on October 2 to announce the Girls’ Forum 2018.

At the press conference.

The Girls’ Forum will be held in response to International Day of the Girl Child (October 11).

With this year's theme "Empower girls to learn, lead, decide and thrive", the forum event will be held at the National Assembly office, featuring 100 girls from various cities and provinces of Vietnam.

During three days from October 5-7, the girls will represent their peers nationwide, with half of them ethnic minorities, to engage in dialogues with government leaders at Central and Local levels about "Girls' safety in public places" and "Early marriage and consequences".

The girls will share what they experience, the challenges and barriers they have to face every day, and call for leaders to ensure their rights to change and grow to their full potential.

"We need female leaders in the future," said Ngo Thi Minh, Vice Chairwoman, National Assembly Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Adolescent and Children, "To enhance girls' right to participate, they need to have more opportunities than before...Therefore, in this forum event, girls will be in total leadership."

The forum is expected to extend the voice and aspirations of children to competent agencies and leaders of the Party and the State at all levels, and create conditions for girls to participate in the building and implementation of relevant policies and laws.

Since 2012, October 11 has been marked as the International Day of the Girl Child. The day aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls' empowerment and the fulfillment of their human rights.

Under the theme “With Her: A Skilled Girl Force”, this year’s event will mark the beginning of a year-long effort to bring together partners and stakeholders to advocate for, and draw attention and investments to, the most pressing needs and opportunities for girls to attain skills for employability./.

VNF