Vietnam, Sweden Seek Ways to Better Protect Children Rights

Hundreds of local and foreign experts gathered at a conference in Hanoi on Dec 13 to discuss measures to provide children with best education methods and social services, state media reported. The event chaired by Swedish ambassador to Vietnam Staffan Herrstrom drew participation of Lotta Sylwander, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)’s Chief Representative in Vietnam. The participants also discussed ways to make the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) more effective. Protecting children’s rights in Vietnam is a challenge as the country remains the opinion of “sparing the rod and spoiling the child,” experts worried, warning that the Southeast Asian country is facing the high rate of children suffering maltreatment, labor and sex abuses.  To tackle the problem, experts recommended solutions to ensure basis rights of all children namely rights to live, to amuse, to be protected and participate in, said Pham Sinh Huy, director of Save the Children in Vietnam. (Dat Viet – National Land Dec 14 p2)