Vietnam launches program to protect children and end labor
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The Ministry of Health in Vietnam began a national program on Friday to strengthen child protection and reduce child labor across the country.
The program aims to enact Prime Minister’s Decision 1415/QĐ-TTg, connecting health departments in Hà Nội with all 34 of Vietnam’s provinces and cities. It will provide support services to children facing violence, abuse, exploitation, abandonment, or those in difficult circumstances, helping them rejoin communities and develop fully.
The program has set targets for 2030, including decreasing violence and sexual abuse against children by at least 5 percent each year and lowering the rate of child labor among those aged 5 to 17 to below 1.1 percent. Provinces and cities will implement integrated child protection services, with most commune-level administrations establishing inter-sectoral models and child-friendly investigation rooms.
Officials recognize challenges to these efforts, noting that global economic issues and natural disasters increase risks for vulnerable children and drive them into the workforce. They also point to gaps in service networks and data management. UNICEF representatives in Vietnam emphasized that successful child protection requires strong systems, funding, data, coordination, and accessible services.
The program outlines six key tasks and solutions, with a focus on clear responsibilities and timelines to support Vietnam’s development goals and international commitments to children’s rights.
