Delegates at the 132 nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) attended an interactive debate on April 1 to review the improvement of children’s livelihood around the globe since the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was ratified 25 years ago.

Participants pointed to achievements in ensuring children’s rights along with challenges to ending violence against children. They stressed that all countries must protect the physical and mental health of children.

Nguyen Dac Vinh, First Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee and Chairman of the group of young Vietnamese National Assembly deputies, valued efforts by the UN and IPU parliaments in promoting the CRC implementation around the world and in their respective countries.

Vietnam, one of the first countries to ratify the CRC, has enacted numerous measures to realise the convention and recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, he said, adding Vietnam’s revised 2013 Constitution recognises all of these rights.

He pointed out that the CRC implementation is encountering an array of difficulties as children around the world still face risks of labour exploitation and violence, and do not have sufficient access to medical and educational services.

Vinh suggested countries enhance experience exchange in protecting children’s rights, increase investment in child-related initiatives, and promote studies on related issues.

They must also overhaul their legal regulations in line with the CRC and create favourable conditions for children to exercise their right to participation as a basis to implement other rights, he said.

He also highlighted the necessity of adapting the 25-year-old Convention to the current social context.-VNA