Delegates, and officials at the launching ceremony. Source: Plan International Vietnam

The two new projects recently kicked off in the northern province of Ha Giang, aiming to end child marriage and consanguineous marriage here.

A survey by Plan International in Ha Giang province shows that, during and after the Covid-19 pandemic, youth from ethnic minorities (EMs) face increasing difficulties in accessing education and caring services - thereby facing higher risks of gender-based violence. At the same time, the rate of unwanted pregnancy, one of the main causes of child marriage, is still increasing along with the number of cases of violence against children and youth of ethnic minorities.

To contribute to the solutions to these problems, Plan International Vietnam has launched two projects in Ha Giang province. The first project was titled “Ensuring adolescent girls learn and stay protected from sexual and gender-based violence in Covid-19” (2023-2025) in two districts of Meo Vac and Yen Minh with the support of the Beiersdorf Group through Plan International Germany.

The other one is the project “Ethnic minority adolescent and young people aged 11-24 in Ha Giang Province are protected from becoming victims of child, early and forced marriage” (2023-2026) in two districts of Xin Man and Hoang Su with the support of Uniqlo Co., Ltd. through Plan International Japan.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Mao Quoc Toan, deputy director of the local Department of Foreign Affairs said that in recent years, children's rights, protection, and education of children have been increasingly important from central to local authorities. However, in reality, there are still children living unsafe and unhealthy lives, still facing risks and dangers such as domestic/social violence, child sexual abuse, child/inbreeding marriage.

According to Dang Quoc Viet, program manager from Plan International's National Office, the goal of Plan's five-year program in the 2021-2026 period in Vietnam is "Vietnamese girls lead change in exercising of their rights.”

Plan International in Vietnam always accompanies relevant agencies at all levels from central to local levels, partner organizations, children, families and communities - towards the goal of supporting two million girls so they can learn, lead, decide and develop, Viet affirmed.

At the kick-off ceremony, the participants shared their presentations on the current status of protection of minors and ethnic minority youth in Ha Giang province, planned specific activities of the two projects and discussed methods of implementing activities in each specific partner unit as well as the roles and responsibilities of the participating parties.

Lam The Hung, deputy director of Ha Giang Department of Education and Training, stressed that Plan International, as usual, identifies correctly the key issues in the development of the projects. The two projects are very relevant to practical conditions in Ha Giang province.

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