A total of 184 children from 30 cities and provinces presented their ideas on building a safe, friendly and healthy environment for their own future, at the 2011 National Children’s Forum in Hanoi from August 8-10.
The event, entitled “Children and a safe and friendly environment”, was jointly held by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children.
Addressing the forum, MoLISA Deputy Minister Doan Mau Diep said branches and agencies had paid attention to the protection and care for children, creating a safe, friendly and equal environment for every child.
As a result, children had better exercised their rights in their families, schools and society, Diep said.
He spoke highly of children’s involvement in social activities through which they proved their capacity and role as the country’s future owners, contributing to implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Law on Child Protection, Care and Education and other programmes and projects on children.
He said he hoped that the participating children would become goodwill ambassadors after returning from the forum and would pass on the forum’s messages.
Hoang Van Tien, Deputy Head of the Department of Child Care and Protection, said after the national forum in 2009, both Party and State had adopted many policies to further the translation of children’s fundamental rights.
He commented on the document of the 11 th National Party Congress in 2010, the project on monitoring the investment and construction of cultural and entertainment establishments for children launched by the NA’s Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children, and the country’s development strategy by 2020 and five-year socio-economic development plan for 2011-2015, in which the protection and care for children were considered top priorities.
As scheduled, the children will talk directly with Party and State leaders about their concerns and desires for the friendly environment they would like to live in./.
