The Vietnamese Government and people have always been determined to care for children and implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in particular, said a senior official from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

Speaking at a June 7 conference in Hanoi to gather opinions for a report on capacity in CRC implementation, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Doan Mau Diep stressed that over the past years, the Government has tried its best to care for children - the future of the country - by completing its legal system and better caring for, protecting and educating children.

The Deputy Minister further stated that the mobilisation and use of sources for childcare are becoming more effective, the health and nutrition of children are improved remarkably.

Specifically, the ratio of children accessing education at the right age has risen. The country completed universal education at a junior high school level and is implementing universal education at the high school level, he noted.

The protection and building of a healthy and safe living environment for children has been focused on, while children’s welfare and rights have been increasingly ensured, added the Deputy Minister.

He said the Ministry has worked with domestic and international experts to evaluate all of the country’s 63 localities’ capacity to care for and protect children, as well as the implementation of commitments in CRC in order to make timely adjustments to improve the system’s efficiency.

Participants at the conference agreed that Vietnam has recorded achievements in legalising the care for children and the protection of their legal rights.

Vietnam has also integrated children’s rights into its legal framework, they said. However, they also pointed out that many resources have yet been adequately exploited in the implementation of activities to ensure children’s rights.

Attendees stressed that to better implement the CRC, it is necessary to clearly define the tasks of all MoLISA levels, while setting up a joint-sector cooperation mechanism in conducting the CRC.

It is also crucial to raise public awareness of the MoLISA’s mission to make sure that vulnerable children and families can access services. They also spoke of the necessity of regular training for personnel in child protection work.-VNA