Vietnam held a dialogue with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva last week regarding the country’s implementation of optional protocols to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and on the involvement of children in armed conflict.
The Vietnamese delegation was led by Le Thi Thu, Minister and Chairwoman of the National Committee for Population, Family and Children.
Ms Thu briefed the committee on Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in implementing laws, policies and programmes to ensure the rights of its children. She spoke about the difficulties, challenges and restrictions facing Vietnam in the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.
She called for further assistance from the United Nations, foreign countries and international organisations to help Vietnam overcome the aftermath of war, especially harmful effects on children, such as Agent Orange and accidents caused by unexploded bombs and mines.
Jacob Egbert Doek, Chairman of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and other committee members praised Vietnam's efforts and initiatives, as well as its straightforwardness and openness while mentioning child protection issues. They recommended that Vietnam accelerate the dissemination of information on children’s rights in localities and at schools, continue ratifying international conventions on child protection, and pay attention to emerging issues, such as sex tourism, child pornography on the internet and the impact on children of Vietnam's accession to the World Trade Organisation.
In 2007, Vietnam will make the third and fourth periodic reports on its implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child at the request of the above-mentioned UN Committee.
VNA/VOVNews
