The Vietnam Association for Protection of Children’s Rights (VAPCR) held its second consultation with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on the 2011-2020 national action programme for children in Hanoi on November 4.

At the event, VAPCR put forward recommendations on the programme contributed by representatives of more than 50 social organisations during the first consultation on October 20.

According to participants, the programme lacked specific methods and steps for each period as well as forecasts on advantages and disadvantages in the next ten years.

Many targets in the draft are incommensurate with the development level as Vietnam will move from a low-income country to a middle-income nation, they said.

Regarding health, nutrition and clean water issues, the NGOs recommended that the programme should have long-term, positive and comprehensive interventions for children from foetus to the age of two, in order to reduce the malnutrition rate.

Training and communication work needs to be strengthened to ensure people understand the importance of breastfeeding, they said, adding that the programme should also build separate policies for children with disabilities, facilitating their development and social integration.

The delegates also emphasised the need for prioritizing pre-school education and building a coordination mechanism between the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and other agencies in fulfilling child protection targets.

The programme should have measures to balance children’s entertainment and learning activities and create conditions for them to get better access to information and entertainment services and voice their opinions on child-related issues, they said./.