Fourth ASEAN Children Forum opens in Hanoi

Hanoi (VNA) – The fourth ASEAN Children Forum kicked off in Hanoi on June 20, participated by 35 children from eight ASEAN member countries, who are hoped to raise their voice about the enforcement of children’s rights.

Vietnamese representatives are from Hanoi , the northern province of Bac Kan , the central provinces of Quang Binh and Quang Nam and the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap .

Opening the four-day event, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung reiterated the ASEAN Community’s commitments to prioritising the promotion of the observation and protection of children’s rights as well as welfare policies.

Besides, one of the grouping’s major objectives is to build a community friendly to children, a place where all children can share and enjoy common values, he said.

He stressed the significance of the forum to children, during which participants will discuss the prevention and combat of children trafficking and violence against children, and the protection of children from cyber crimes and climate change.

He also expressed hope that a declaration with children’s creative proposals will be built and sent to social welfare chiefs of the ASEAN member countries as well as relevant agencies.

As schedule, children delegates will have a dialogue with ministry and sector leaders of Vietnam and ASEAN on June 22. The declaration containing ASEAN children’s proposals is also expected to be issued the same day.

At the kick-off session, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam presented awards to winners of a painting contest on ASEAN vision towards 2025, including two Vietnamese children. The contest was launched in Vietnam , Cambodia , Myanmar , Thailand , and Singapore.-VNA