Children Question National Leaders about Pressing Issues

Nearly 200 children heated up the third National Children Forum, which took place in Hanoi on August 8-9, when they directly asked the government’s senior leaders about existing issues at their locations. 

The 15-year-old, Bui Viet Thu, from Phuoc Son district in Quang Nam province, said: “Early marriage still happens in my living area. Parents of my close friend asked her to drop out of school and get married. Local authorities haven’t had proper measures and have sometimes kept silent about the situation. Is there any strict regulation to cope with the issue?”

Another child, Giang A Minh, 14 from Dien Bien province, was concerned about playground for local children at his mountainous district.

“There is no playground in my living area so we go around for entertainment. We may take a risk of being drown when swimming at lakes or get traffic accidents when play football at streets,” said the boy from Dien Bien Dong district.

His fellow, Le Bao Ngan, from Ho Chi Minh city, shared the same concern. The 15-year-old girl said: “Many children living in my area, District 8, don’t have enough money either to buy an entrance ticket for the water park or to go to other entertainment.”

Entitled “Children’s voices for the amendment of Law on Child Protection, Care and Education”, this national forum opened space for the children aged 10-16 from 30 provinces and cities to actively discuss in groups and directly talk with national leaders about relevant topics. 

Responding to Thu’s question about early marriage, Mr Doan Mau Diep, Vice Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs promised they are making more efforts to ensure that all children can access school and to stop the problem.

Mr Tran Huong Duong, Vice Head of Family Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Travels, explained his ministry has set up policies on supporting children’s easier access to entertainment until 2020.

“Accordingly, we have requested entrance fees for children must be reduced by 20 to 50 per cent at entertainment places,” he said. “Still, there are violations so I want the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to work with us in monitoring the current fees,” he added.

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan said: “I request related ministries check all issues that the children raised today to ensure that our national standards on child care, protection and education are implemented.”

This national forum was co-organized by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), National Assembly’s Committee of Culture, Education, Youth and Children, World Vision and other international organizations.

Safe playgrounds for children, child entertainment, mental violence prevention, early marriage, child labor, child crime, child participation, access to education, especially for children with disabilities, child with HIV and measures to prevent children dropping out of school were among the issues that the children focused.

Launched in 2009, the national children’s forum is held every two years. All the messages, ideas and suggestions that the young participants brought to the national forum were raised at local forums which are often organised earlier.