Request to inspect child care facilities after 7 novice monks were abused

On the afternoon of April 12, the Department of Mothers and Children ( Ministry of Health ) sent an official dispatch to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally run cities on strengthening the work of protecting children and preventing child abuse.

According to the Department of Mothers and Children, in recent days, the press has reported on the case of Nguyen Dat Vu, born in 1987, Buddhist name Thich Van Chanh, residing in Ward 8, Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, who repeatedly sexually abused 7 children at the Thap Thien facility, causing public outrage.

In order to ensure children's rights, strengthen the work of preventing and combating child abuse, and minimize harm to children, the Ministry of Health requests the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to focus on directing and implementing synchronously, drastically, and effectively tasks and solutions on child protection and prevention and combating child abuse.

The Ministry of Health recommends that localities continue to strictly implement Directive No. 28-CT/TW dated December 25, 2023 of the Politburo on strengthening the care, education and protection of children to meet the requirements of developing a prosperous and happy country, the Law on Children and Resolution No. 121/2020/QH14 dated June 19, 2020 of the National Assembly on continuing to strengthen the effectiveness and efficiency of implementing policies and laws on preventing and combating child abuse.

Relevant units strengthen communication work, raise awareness and responsibility of people, levels and sectors in detecting, reporting and handling cases of violations of children's rights; Instruct parents and those directly caring for children on knowledge and skills to protect children, prevent and combat child abuse; educate children on knowledge and skills to protect themselves and prevent abuse.

The Ministry of Health requires continued promotion of the National Child Protection Hotline (number 111) to encourage early detection, speaking up, reporting, and denouncing acts of child abuse.

The Ministry of Health requires timely and effective implementation of receiving, processing information, notifications, and denunciations of risks and acts of child abuse and ensuring resources to intervene and support children when they are abused; resolving and strictly handling cases of child abuse in localities, agencies, organizations, and individuals that conceal, fail to report, or denounce acts of violence and child abuse or are irresponsible in handling cases of violence and child abuse.

Functional units shall organize inspections and examinations of all facilities that carry out child care and nurturing activities in the area (especially religious and belief facilities) to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Law on Children and relevant legal provisions; promptly handle facilities that operate unregistered, spontaneously, without a license or do not ensure conditions for child care and nurturing according to the provisions of law and report the implementation results to the Ministry of Health before May 15, 2025.

On April 6, Lam Dong Provincial Police initiated a case and prosecuted Nguyen Dat Vu (38 years old) for the crime of Rape of a person under 16 years old. Nguyen Dat Vu (residing in Da Lat city, Lam Dong) lives at a TT facility located in Ward 6, Da Lat city.

From 2023 to March 2025, Vu sexually abused 7 novice monks from 9 to 16 years old. These novice monks were sent by their families to practice. One of the novice monks abused by Nguyen Dat Vu and his relatives came forward to denounce the abuse at the end of March. The case is currently being investigated and clarified by the authorities./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/de-nghi-thanh-tra-cac-co-so-cham-soc-nuoi-duong-tre-sau-vu-7-chu-tieu-bi-xam-hai-post1027371.vnp