Vietnam Strengthens Capacity of Social Organizations on Children's Rights Governance

At the ceremony.

Save the Children and three strategic partners, the Center for Rural Development (CRD), the Research Institute for Sustainable Development (MSD), and the Vietnam Association for Child's Rights (VACR) recently have organized a dissemination workshop about the project "Strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations on Children's Rights Governance" (2017-2021) with financial support from the Swedish Agency for International Development Cooperation (SIDA).

The event had the participation of representatives from CSOs, representatives of parents, leaders from Department of Children - Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, representative of People's Committee of Tam Ky district, Quang Nam province, representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Department of Foreign Affairs - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Policy and Law - Vietnam Women's Union, Department of Information Security - Ministry of Information and Communication, Department of Family - Ministry of Culture, Hanoi Youth Union, and staff of CRD, MSD, VACR and Save the Children.

After five years, the project has achieved significant results in making changes in legislation, policies, and practices, particularly in terms of banning physical and humiliation punishment (PHP) for children, building the capacity of civil society organizations and empowering children and individuals to demand children’s rights and ensure their protection.

One key milestone of the project was the inclusion of PHP in the National Action Plan on Children and the application of Positive Discipline was promoted as the alternative (the content on implementing positive educational methods was included in Decision No. 1863/QD-TTg on approving the National Action Plan on preventing and combating violence and abuse against children in the period of 2020 - 2025, Decision No. 23/QD-TTg on the National Action Program for Children in the period 2021 – 2030).

Le Thi Thanh Huong, country director of Save the Children.

Speaking at the event, Le Thi Thanh Huong, country director of Save the Children stated that the project of "Strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations on Children's Rights Governance" will come to an end in this 2021. She believes that its long-lasting and sustainable results will open chances for other programs and projects to flourish in the future, and especially strengthen the close relationship with governmental departments, CSOs and business sector to accompany with and ensure the implementation of Child Rights in Vietnam.

Sharing at the workshop, Nguyen Thi Nga, deputy director of the Department of Children - Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, highly appreciated the project's results. According to her, the project has attracted the companionship of state management agencies such as the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Information and Communication, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs and local departments and agencies.

Moreover, capacity, knowledge, and skills for social organizations and parents in projects are improved. Activities are organized regularly and continuously with the project implementation process, documents, digital products, diversity.

The project has attracted the attention of the press and businesses and made an important contribution to the implementation of Children's rights in Vietnam.

Nguyen Thi Nga, deputy director of the Department of Children - Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

"In the past time, Vietnam has done very well in its efforts to protect children's rights, however, in the past two years, due to the heavy impact of Covid-19, it is certain that the exercise of children's rights Vietnamese children will also face many difficulties in the coming years, the Department of Children, Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs always believes that with the companionship of the network of social organizations, in the coming time. There will be solutions to come up with plans and strategies to best respond to the implementation of children's rights post Covid-19 pandemic," Nga shared.

At the workshop, delegates shared experiences and lessons learned after implementing the project. Children and parents participating in the project also voiced their opinions.

NGOs Support Continuation of Teaching and Learning During Covid In response to Covid-19, NGOs are providing additional resources for Vietnam's education and training sector.

Businesses to Support Children in the Covid-19 Pandemic The Covid-19 has left serious effects on children. They need urgent help to overcome the pandemic impacts, especially children orphaned due to the pandemic.

Making School Safer from Natural Disaster and Epidemics The schools vulnerable to disasters and epidemics not only will increase safety risk to students, teachers and school community, but also influence the flow of ...