Directive 28-CT/TW 2023 strengthening care, education and protection of children

DIRECTIVE

OF THE POLITICAL BUREAU

On strengthening the care, education and protection of children for the development of a prosperous and happy country

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After 10 years of implementing Directive No. 20-CT/TW, child care, education and protection have achieved many positive results; awareness and responsibility of party committees, party organizations, government, family and society; organizational structure, policies, resources, health system, education, recreation, entertainment, and social services have been strengthened, basically meeting the requirements of child care, education, and protection; children's rights and children with special circumstances and difficulties in life are taken care of. The coordination between all levels, sectors, unions, families, schools and society is increasingly tight and effective. Vietnam is highly appreciated by the international community for implementing international commitments related to children.

However, policies and laws are not consistent and lack specific regulations in some areas. The situation of children suffering from malnutrition, abuse, violence, accidents, injuries, drowning, and law violations tends to increase worryingly. The creation of a safe environment and protecting children has not been given due attention. The welfare system, basic social services, the institutions of culture, recreation, entertainment, physical education and sports are not widespread which fail to ensure access for children in mountainous and remote areas. Resources to implement guidelines, policies and goals are limited; the State management in some places and areas is not highly effective. A number of serious child abuse cases have not been prevented and handled in a prompt and strict manner, causing anger in public opinion.

To strengthen and improve the quality of child care, education and protection, effectively implement the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws, and ensure the best education, care and protection for children, the Political Bureau hereby requires party committees and organizations at all levels to effectively perform the following key tasks and solutions:

1. Focusing on leadership and direction to thoroughly grasp and concretize the Party's policies closely to local and unit realities; raising awareness and responsibility for the development of future generations associated with the development of a prosperous and happy country. Enhancing the sense of responsibility and example of leaders, cadres, party members, civil servants, public employees and the People; closely coordinating agencies and organizations in the political system and mobilizing the People, creating synergy to improve the effectiveness of child care, education, and protection, ensuring that children receive enjoy the best benefits, may express their opinions and are listened to, without discrimination.

2. Improving policies and laws; standards and procedures for accessing basic social services for children appropriate to the new period. Innovating socialization mechanisms and policies, encouraging and mobilizing organizations, enterprises, individuals and society to participate and coordinate to effectively implement policies, goals, targets, solutions and models of child care, education and protection.

Ensuring the leading role of the state budget and reasonable allocation of resources in implementing policies towards children. Increasing investment in facilities, welfare works, provision of social services, health services, education, recreation, entertainment, cultural activities, arts, physical education and sports for children, especially those in difficult and extremely difficult socio-economic areas, ethnic minority areas, border, sea and island areas.

3. Improving the effectiveness of state management, creating uniformity in the implementation of policies and laws; ensuring that children are at the center of development policies and strategies; prioritizing integration such in national, sectoral and local development strategies, plans and goals. Researching, integrating, and developing a comprehensive and comprehensive National Strategy for Child Development; promoting the implementation of the National Action Program for Children for the 2021-2030 period, National Nutrition Strategy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2045, and the Program for Child Injury and Accident Prevention for the 2021-2030 period, Intervention program to reduce deaths of children under 5 years old by 2030, Program to prevent and reduce child labor against the law for the 2021-2025 period, with orientation to 2030, Program for Mental Health Care for Children and Care for Orphaned Children for the 2023-2030 period and other programs and plans related to children. Urgently developing and completing the database on children, connected to the national population database and specialized database.

Perfecting the apparatus on state management of children in a streamlined and effective manner; promoting decentralization and decentralization; innovating management, administration and coordination methods. Improving the capacity, ethics and responsibility of officers working with children, social workers, and collaborators in the community. Strengthening the inspection, supervision and examination; strictly managing care, nurturing, sponsorship facilities, social activities, charity and other activities related to children. Proactively preventing, strictly and timely handling acts of abuse, violence, abandonment, trafficking, and incitement of children and other prohibited acts.

4. Improving the effectiveness of implementing policies on nurturing, health care, education, recreation, entertainment, cultural activities, arts, fitness, sports, and tourism to create synchronization and continuous development from the first years of life to adulthood for children, especially children in special circumstances, difficult areas, remote areas. Continuing to promote universal preschool education for children under 5 years old; developing a system of welfare and social services for children towards connectivity, quality, and convenience in access. Building a safe, healthy and friendly family, school and social environment, ensuring opportunities to develop physically, mentally, personally, talentedly, and intellectually for children.

Strengthening the coordination between family, school and society, highlighting the responsibility of family and school; focusing on educating ethics, lifestyle, and life skills, preparing children to live responsibly and fulfill their duties to family, school, community, society, and homeland appropriate to their age. Promoting the protection of children against unfavorable information in cyberspace and society, issues that affect comprehensive development; not letting children do work that affects their learning, health, physical, intellectual or spiritual development; developing a friendly justice system that protects children. Developing healthy, appropriate, and quality cultural, literary, artistic, and educational products for children.

5. Strengthening the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, mass associations, social organizations, news agencies and newspapers in advocacy and propaganda work of the Party, policies and laws of the State. Organizing the effective implementation of the “all people care for, educate and protect children” movement in association with the campaign “all people unite to build new rural areas and civilized cities”. Providing information, giving advice, support and guidance, and replicating movements, models, and initiatives for child care, education, and protection; promptly reporting and coordinating to resolve issues related to children.

Paying attention to ensuring children's rights, creating conditions for children to participate in relevant issues in families, schools, and children's organizations. Strengthening the cooperation, participation, and promoting active membership in implementing the United Nations Convention, global and regional movements on implementing and protecting children's rights.

6. Organization of implementation  

- Provincial and municipal Party Committees, Party Committees, designated representation, Party Unions, Party Committees directly under the Central Government, socio-political organizations, social organizations shall disseminate, thoroughly grasp, lead and direct the strict implementation of the Directive.

- Designated Representation of the National Assembly, Party Committee of the Government shall lead and direct the supplementation, amendment and perfection of the laws relating to children; integrate and allocate resources for the implementation of objectives and targets in terms of children in socio-economic development policies, laws, strategies and programs; strengthening the inspection, supervision and examination of the implementation.

- The Government Designated Representation shall lead and direct the consolidation of the state management apparatus for children; develop and improve policies for staff working with children; assess the impact on children during the process of developing and implementing policies and laws; direct the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate closely with departments, ministries, branches and localities in, organizing and effectively implementing the Directive.

- The Vietnam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, mass organizations, Vietnam Association for Protection of Child’s Rights and social organizations shall strengthen the supervision and social feedback for issues related to children.

- The Central Committee for Propaganda and Education shall assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with relevant agencies and organizations in, guiding, inspecting, supervising, and summarizing the implementation of the Directive and report to the Political Bureau and the Secretariat.

This Directive shall be disseminated to all party cells.