Child Protection System
UNICEF works with partners to strengthen Viet Nam’s child protection system in response to a rise in abandoned, neglected, abused and exploited children as well as youth crime.
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- Tiếng Việt
The Challenge
While rapid socio-economic development during the past two decades has delivered greater prosperity to much of the country, it has also placed new pressures on the Vietnamese family unit. Fast-paced economic development and urbanization have resulted in increased unemployment, family break-ups, crime and an erosion of traditional values. Amid these emerging trends, Viet Nam lacks a comprehensive child protection system to respond to the increase in abandoned, neglected, abused and exploited children as well as youth crime.
Despite the overriding need to protect and support all children under 18 years from violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect, Viet Nam faces shortages in budget allocation and statutory services in welfare and justice systems, such as counselling, emergency support, alternative care and child-friendly justice services.
Viet Nam lacks a comprehensive child protection system
The Solution
To address these challenges, UNICEF is working with government to strengthen the child protection system in Viet Nam through development and amendments to child protection-related laws to ensure alignment with international standards.
At the core of this work, is promotion of a child friendly justice system with diversion programmes and child sensitive procedures to protect children. Social work has been prioritized as a cornerstone of professional child protection services in welfare, justice, education and health. In particular, we focus on evidence-based advocacy and technical support for reform of child protection-related legislation, development of cross-sector prevention and responses as well as underlining the need for an increased public budget and spending on child protection.
Social work has been prioritized as a cornerstone of professional child protection services
