Strengthening solutions for child protection, care and education

On the afternoon of June 25, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Chairwoman of the National Committee for Children, chaired the 2026 national conference on child protection, held in a hybrid format.

At the Dong Nai venue, Le Truong Son, Member of the City Party Committee’s Standing Board and Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee, together with leaders of city departments and agencies, attended the conference.

The Party and State always prioritize children

In her opening remarks at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized that the protection, care, and education of children have always received special attention from the Party and State. Over the past period, the institutional and policy framework for children has been basically completed; many guidelines, programs, and solutions have been implemented in a coordinated manner and achieved important results across child-related fields. Children's rights have been better guaranteed, while their living, learning, and developmental environments have continuously improved, creating favorable conditions for children’s comprehensive growth.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra speaks at the conference. Photo: Nga Son

In 2025 and the first six months of 2026, the Public Security Force prosecuted more than 2,900 cases involving over 4,200 individuals. One hundred percent of reports and denunciations related to child sexual abuse were received, classified, and handled in accordance with prescribed procedures. All abused children received appropriate psychological, medical, legal, educational, training, and social support interventions. Efforts to prevent injuries, particularly traffic accidents, drowning, and falls, have continued to be accelerated with the participation of numerous ministries, sectors, and localities.

Ministries, sectors, and localities have implemented a wide range of activities related to health care, nutrition, counseling, and guidance to support children's comprehensive physical, mental, and intellectual development. They have also helped children access medical, educational, cultural, sports, recreational, and social welfare services. Children in special circumstances have been supported by the State through appropriate policies, including health care, social assistance, education and training, vocational training, legal aid, counseling, psychological therapy, and other child protection services. Public communication, legal dissemination and education, inspection and examination, the receipt of information and resolution of child-related issues, resource allocation for child-related work, and the development of a digitalized data system for children have all been prioritized by authorities at all levels, sectors, and localities.

However, according to Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, in light of new requirements and circumstances, child-related work must be carried out with greater depth, coordination, and comprehensiveness. This effort requires the engagement of the entire political system, the concerted efforts of society as a whole, the business community, and, in particular, the roles of families, schools, and relevant organizations in caring for, protecting, and educating children.

At the conference, representatives of ministries, central agencies and localities, and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam shared the results of child-related work in their respective localities and agencies, presented effective models and practices, and proposed solutions to improve the effectiveness of child protection efforts in the coming period.

Le Truong Son, Member of the City Party Committee’s Standing Board, Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee, attends the conference at the Dong Nai venue. Photo: Nga Son

Prioritizing resources for child-related work

In her closing remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra affirmed that children are an especially important resource for the country's sustainable development. The nation's future depends significantly on the care, protection, and education of children. Therefore, authorities at all levels and sectors, as well as society as a whole, must provide children with the best possible conditions, creating a safe and healthy environment for their comprehensive development.

To ensure effective child protection, care, and education in the coming period, the Deputy Prime Minister requested that Party committees, authorities, and heads of authorities at all levels and sectors continue to raise awareness of and strengthen their responsibility for child protection, care, and education, treating this issue as a regular and long-term task. Goals and targets related to child protection, care, and education must be incorporated into annual socio-economic development plans as well as local strategic development programs and plans.

Delegates attend the conference at the Dong Nai venue. Photo: Nga Son

She also emphasized the need to continue improving institutions and policies by making timely amendments and additions to establish a comprehensive and well-coordinated legal framework that guarantees children's rights. There must be a strong shift from passive response to proactive prevention, minimizing risks to children and creating a "shield" to protect them starting from families, schools and communities, with the grassroots level playing the frontline role. Measures to protect and support children in the online environment must be strengthened. Meanwhile, communication methods and safety skills education should be comprehensively renewed so that children can better protect themselves. It is also essential to consolidate and enhance the capacity of the child protection workforce from the central to local levels, ensuring professionalism and effectiveness in the State management of child-related affairs.

 The Deputy Prime Minister also called on authorities at all levels, sectors, and localities to prioritize budget allocations and mobilize social resources for child-related work. This includes expanding international cooperation and promoting the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations at all levels, businesses, and society as a whole in caring for children. She also stressed the need to strengthen inspection and supervision to promptly address child-related issues.

By Nga Son- Translated by Minh Hong, Minho