Investing in children to ensure national vitality

Climate and environmental crisis impact on children's lives

November 20 is World Children's Day, marking the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). On November 20, 2024, the United Nations Children's Fund in Vietnam (UNICEF) held a celebration with the theme "Climate action today, for the benefit of future generations". At the ceremony, according to the report "State of the world's children 2024: Children's future in a changing world", three major trends are predicted: climate and environmental crisis, demographic change and disruptive technology, which will impact the lives of children in 2050 and beyond.

Viet Nam is one of the countries most affected by climate change and children are affected to varying degrees. Severe climate-related shocks such as droughts, storms, landslides and floods, which have led to disruptions to essential health, nutrition,education , social and child protection services, have had a profound impact on the lives of millions of children and their families, affecting their ability to survive, thrive and reach their full potential. For example, in September 2024, the devastating impact of climate disasters was clearly demonstrated when Typhoon Yagi (Storm No. 3) made landfall in much of northern Viet Nam. The storm, landslides and flash floods forced thousands of people to flee their homes and shelters. Schools, health facilities and critical infrastructure were destroyed or severely damaged. Children and families are disproportionately affected and will take a long time to recover.

Therefore, speaking at the celebration of World Children's Day in Viet Nam 2024, UNICEF Representative in Viet Nam, Ms. Silvia Danailov, emphasized: “Typhoon Yagi has shown the truth that climate change is devastating communities. This is not the problem of the next generation, but our problem. We must do everything we can to protect children and families from the impacts and devastation of climate change. Every child has the right to a safe and bright future.” “Vietnam is at a critical turning point in addressing the growing impacts of climate change on children,” said Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (now the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment , as of November 2024). “The government remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting policies and partnerships that protect children from climate-related risks while promoting sustainable development. Through joint, tireless efforts, we have the potential to turn challenges like Typhoon Yagi into drivers of development. This approach ensures that every child can hope for a future that is not only safe and healthy, but also one that can reach their full potential.”

Prioritize resources to achieve goals for children

In addition to the impact of the climate and environmental crisis on children's lives, despite many achievements in child protection and care, Vietnam still faces many challenges. The rate of malnutrition in children remains high, especially in remote areas; many children, especially ethnic minority children and children in difficult circumstances, do not have full access to quality education; violence and child abuse still occur, requiring timely and effective intervention from authorities; the system of child support services, especially psychological counseling and social support services, is still limited...

Illustration photo. (Source: VGP)

On May 31, 2024, during a visit and gift presentation to teachers and students at the Hanoi Center for Children with Disabilities, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that children are the happiness of every family and the future of the country. Child care, education and protection is a strategic and long-term issue, contributing significantly to the preparation and improvement of the quality of human resources to serve the cause of industrialization, modernization and international integration, building a strong and prosperous Vietnam, and making the Vietnamese people increasingly happy and prosperous. Investing in children is investing in the future of the country, investing in long-term, sustainable, fast and highly effective development. Doing this work well is the responsibility of Party committees at all levels, authorities, organizations, families, schools and the whole society.

According to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, over the years, our Party and State have always paid special attention to the work of protecting and caring for children, creating the best conditions for children to develop comprehensively, have a safe and healthy living environment; respect, listen, consider, and respond to children's opinions and aspirations; do not discriminate and ensure the best interests of children in related decisions; consider this a strategic and long-term issue. The Party and State have perfected institutions, mechanisms, and policies on child protection and care, organized smooth, synchronous, and comprehensive implementation from the central to grassroots levels, mobilized all resources, invested in facilities, teachers, and curriculum so that students have the conditions to study, in which children with disabilities are cared for, educated, have the opportunity to overcome adversity, and develop their best abilities. All levels, sectors, localities, social organizations, unions and people always pay attention to, invest in and care for the education, protection and health care of children, especially for poor children, children in especially difficult circumstances, disabled children, orphans...

The Prime Minister affirmed that such attention and care have brought about very positive results, with children with disabilities receiving special attention, in accordance with the spirit of “leaving no one behind”, not sacrificing progress, fairness and social security to pursue mere economic growth, taking people as the center, the subject, the goal, the driving force and the resource for development.

Illustrative photo. (Source: Vietnam Children's Fund)

It is also necessary to affirm that the care, education and protection of children does not only take place during the Month of Action for Children. It is "a strategic, long-term issue, contributing significantly to the preparation and improvement of the quality of human resources to serve the cause of industrialization, modernization of the country and international integration, building a strong and prosperous Vietnam, and making the Vietnamese people increasingly happy and prosperous", as affirmed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Children are the future of the country. Investing in children is not only a responsibility but also a strategic investment for the sustainable development of the country. To overcome the above challenges and ensure children's rights, it is necessary to synchronously implement solutions such as: prioritizing the budget for health care, education and child protection programs, especially in disadvantaged areas; expanding and improving the quality of counseling services, psychological and legal support for children and families; raising community awareness of children's rights and measures to protect children from violence and abuse; creating conditions for children to participate in decisions related to their lives, from family to community; continuing to cooperate with international organizations such as UNICEF to learn from experiences and mobilize resources for programs for children...

Action Month for Children 2025 is an opportunity for the whole society to look back on past efforts and make a stronger commitment to protecting, caring for and educating children. Take action today to ensure a bright future for the next generation.

According to the Department of Mothers and Children, Ministry of Health, in 2025, the Month of Action for Children 2025 (from June 1 to 30) has the theme "Prioritizing resources to complete goals for children" to increase the attention and direction of leaders, policy makers, levels and sectors on the work of caring for, educating and protecting children to meet the requirements of developing a prosperous and happy country; promote the provision of comprehensive services on caring for, educating and protecting children; prioritize the allocation of resources to complete the goals, targets, tasks and solutions to ensure the implementation of children's rights. Activities in the month of action include: organizing screening for children with congenital malformations and congenital heart disease; organizing children's painting activities with the message "For our safety"; launching a campaign to teach children to swim safely; Launching a campaign to supplement vitamin A for children...

Hong Minh

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/dau-tu-cho-tre-em-de-bao-dam-sinh-luc-quoc-gia-post549526.html