Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly under Resolution 47/237 in 1993, International Family Day, celebrated annually on May 15th, is not only an occasion to honor the home, the foundation of society, but also a reminder for nations to pay more attention to issues directly impacting family life.
With the theme “Family, Inequality and the Development and Well-being of Children,” International Family Day 2026 emphasizes the role of the family in ensuring a safe and equitable living environment for children in the face of increasing inequalities in economics , education, health, and opportunities in modern society.
That message also reflects a thought-provoking reality: the traditional family structure is under considerable pressure from the pace of modern life. This is no longer a phenomenon unique to one country but has become a global issue. Vietnam in general, and Ha Tinh in particular, where family values are highly regarded, has recently seen many people deeply concerned about the decline in family ethics and conduct. The coldness between relatives and heartbreaking tragedies stem from the very home that should be the most peaceful place.
In a short period of time, numerous incidents related to family ethics have continuously appeared in the media and on social networks, shocking public opinion. From the story of a woman who hired a car to transport her 85-year-old, ailing father and abandoned him at a temple in Hai Phong, to cases of domestic violence and marital conflicts leading to murder in many localities. Even more heartbreaking is the incident at the end of 2025 in Nghe An, where a man, due to family despair, took his two young children, aged 4 and 5, and jumped off the Ben Thuy bridge, claiming the lives of all three.
These tragedies are not merely legal or moral issues, but also reflect the cracks silently emerging in modern family life. Most heartbreakingly, children who are not yet capable of protecting themselves are the ones who suffer the most.
During a visit to Vinh Pagoda in Dong Loc commune, which is sheltering 22 abandoned children, I was deeply moved by the stories of many of the children there. Venerable Thich Dong Phap (Abbot of Vinh Pagoda) said: “Some children still have parents, even grandparents, but due to family conflicts or other reasons, they were abandoned at the pagoda. Some children were born with disabilities and were rejected from the moment they were born.”
Those simple stories left listeners heartbroken. When the family is no longer a safe haven, children grow up with voids in their souls and emotions that are very difficult to fill.
According to psychologist Dr. Nguyen Van Hoa (lecturer at Ha Tinh University), these heartbreaking phenomena are not new, but in modern society, their frequency and severity are increasing.
He analyzed: "Economic pressure, the pace of life, the development of digital technology and social media make people easily fall into a state of stress and emotional imbalance. But more fundamentally, the worrying thing is the decline in love and responsibility within each family. When people prioritize their own ego and only think of themselves, they easily lack empathy and sharing with their loved ones."
According to Dr. Nguyen Van Hoa, many family tragedies begin with very small but persistent issues that go unaddressed and unresolved. These could include the pressures of making ends meet, disagreements in lifestyles, or a lack of interpersonal skills in marriage and raising children. A family is not just a place to live under one roof; it must also be a place where people are loved and respected. When dialogue is replaced by imposition, when empathy gives way to selfishness and violence, children will be the first to suffer the consequences.
From a professional perspective, this psychology doctor believes that the most fundamental solution is to revive traditional moral values within each Vietnamese family. These aren't grand gestures, but rather begin with the exemplary behavior of grandparents and parents; with the way they treat each other with love and listen to one another in daily life.
Amidst the many changes of modern life, in Ha Tinh province, there are still many families quietly preserving beautiful traditional values. Mr. Le Ngoc Thach from Toan Luu commune shared: "If you want your children and grandchildren to live decent lives, first and foremost, grandparents and parents must set a good example. For a family to be happy, there must be love and forgiveness, but also strictness at the right time so that children and grandchildren understand what is right and wrong."
Protecting the "cell of society" requires not only the collective effort of each family but also the cooperation of the community and all levels and sectors. According to Dr. Nguyen Van Hoa, many heartbreaking incidents could have been completely prevented with timely attention from neighbors, residential groups, and grassroots organizations.
Faced with these challenges, family-related work in Ha Tinh province has been implemented in a more practical manner, focusing on building a safe family environment and strengthening psychological and legal support within the community.
Mr. Tran Xuan Luong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ha Tinh province, said: "In the coming time, family-related work will not only stop at propaganda but will focus on depth through the synchronized implementation of the Code of Conduct in the Family, improving the effectiveness of 'Trusted Address' models in the community and promoting life skills and parenting skills counseling for the people."
The family is a place to return to and should also be the safest place in each person's life. The heartbreaking incidents of the past serve as a wake-up call that family happiness cannot come naturally. It is the result of love, responsibility, community support, and humane policies that protect people from the root.
Source: https://baohatinh.vn/de-te-bao-xa-hoi-duoc-bao-ve-tu-goc-re-post310662.html
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