Care and protection of 'buds on the branch'

Girls need to be fully equipped with knowledge and skills to protect themselves and develop comprehensively.

The case of Trinh Thi Huong, 13 years old, in Linh Son ward, being brutally beaten by her grandmother and two people acting as her grandfather in the house has once again sounded the alarm about child abuse. Although it happened in mid-November, the whipping scars on the child's skin have gradually healed, public opinion is still indignant.

Huong is just one of many children who have been abused by relatives and have fallen into special circumstances in recent years in the province.

According to the statistics compiled by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism: Currently, the whole province has more than 405,000 children, of which nearly 4,500 children are in special circumstances; more than 38,000 children are at risk of falling into special circumstances; tens of thousands of children are children of poor and near-poor households; 192 children are orphaned; 31 children are abandoned; 50 children have no place to live.

The situation of TE being sexually abused has not ended. In 2025, the whole province had 27 cases. Notably, there were 2 cases of TE being seriously physically and mentally damaged due to violence.

In reality, there are still many TEs who are at risk of falling into special circumstances, including lack of care, health and learning risks, or violence and abandonment.

At-risk groups include: TEs living in poor families, families with drug addicts, alcoholics, divorced parents or TEs living in families with frequent conflicts between members. Especially girls, TEs living in poor families or in remote areas, lacking community attention and comprehensive protection policies, increasing the risk of falling into special circumstances.

TE falling into special circumstances not only directly affects physical and mental health, but also has long-term impacts on intellectual development, social skills and ability to integrate into the community.

In addition, children are also at high risk of falling into social evils such as drugs, prostitution, violence or illegal behavior. These consequences not only affect the future of children, but also impact the community and the overall development of society.

To protect TE, Thai Nguyen has regularly organized wide-spread propaganda activities to the people about the work of caring for, educating and protecting TE, including related laws, decrees and guiding documents. There has been synchronous coordination between families, schools, communities and functional agencies.

In residential areas, there is a movement to build cultural families, thereby encouraging each family member to be aware and responsible for cultivating the roots of the family; the movement of exemplary grandparents and parents and filial children and grandchildren is widely replicated.

The Women's Union regularly organizes propaganda activities to educate members about skills of being a wife, a mother, and how to deal with children of different ages. The love of grandparents and parents for their children is the best way to create a safe living environment for TE.

In the digital age, modern technology attracts family members in many different directions. Each person's individuality is expressed through their interests. This is also one of the reasons why many TE are at risk of falling into special circumstances. Therefore, identifying, supporting and protecting TE is not only the responsibility of the family and school but also the task of the whole society.

(Character names have been changed)

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/xa-hoi/202512/cham-lo-bao-ve-bup-tren-canh-55560b6/