UN organisations will assist Vietnam in improving its national system for child protection and changing social attitudes towards violence against children, following the One UN Strategic Plan for 2017-2021.

Marta Santos Pais, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence against Children (SRSG-VAC), made the pledge at a press conference on June 22 at the end of her four-day visit to Vietnam.

Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General on Violence against Children (SRSG-VAC) Marta Santos Pais. (Source: vietnamnet.vn)

The adoption of the amended Law on Child Protection, Care and Education alongside the creation of a strong network of social workers across the country and proper funding are essential for the building of a legal barrier to prevent violence against children, she said.

She also talked on issues concerning the mental and physical child abuse on online platforms.

The UN special representative reaffirmed that preventing and responding to violence against children has been a top priority in the UN agenda, adding that the UN will provide Vietnam with information and experience regarding child protection and child care from countries in the region and the UN itself.

During the visit from June 19-22, Pais delivered an opening remark at the fourth ASEAN Children’s Forum in Hanoi and met with senior government officials, parliamentarians, civil society and other stakeholders to discuss issues on violence against children in the country.

She also visited UNICEF-assisted programme on child protection in central Da Nang city and participated in a policy dialogue with the city’s authorities and relevant stakeholders on local policies and programmes to strengthen the child protection and social welfare system.

Source: VNA