Initiative to promote children's participation rights

The first mock session of the "Children's National Assembly " held in 2023 with the participation of 263 child delegates from 63 provinces and cities across the country showed the positive effects of activities promoting children's participation rights in issues related to children that have been carried out at the local level.

The Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Central Council of the Young Pioneers have just chaired and coordinated with the National Assembly's Committee on Culture andEducation and the National Assembly Office to organize a mock session of the "Children's National Assembly" in 2023 from September 9-10 with the accompaniment of Plan International Vietnam.

From the Children's Council model...

Since 2018, Plan International Vietnam has begun to coordinate with the Central Council of Young Pioneers to introduce the Children's Council model in the mountainous provinces of Ha Giang , Lai Chau, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Kon Tum with the goal of promoting the implementation of children's rights to participate in children's issues as stipulated in the 2016 Law on Children.

To date, 15 Children's Council (CH) models in the above 5 provinces have been established with 543 members, making great contributions to raising awareness among children, parents, communities and relevant agencies about children's rights and responsibilities, and children's right to participate.

Scene of the mock session of the "Children's Parliament" in 2023. (Source: Organizing Committee)

Truong Giang, Chairman of the Lai Chau Provincial Children's Council, said: "Since 2021, I have officially become a member of the Lai Chau Provincial Children's Council.

Members of the Council are trained on children's rights and responsibilities as well as soft skills to be able to organize surveys to collect children's opinions in the locality.

We also learned from other Youth Councils and had the opportunity to meet and present the opinions of children in the province to the People's Council and National Assembly Delegates of the province."

With the success of the HĐTE model, Plan International Vietnam is a companion of the Central Council of the Young Pioneers and the Central Youth Union to continue to replicate the model to 63 provinces and cities nationwide according to the Central Youth Union's project plan "Promoting children's participation rights" for the period 2023-2027".

Ms. Pham Thu Ba, Acting Country Director of Plan International Vietnam, shared: “The HĐTE model that Plan International initiated and implemented in Vietnam over the past 5 years is a typical example of our efforts to help children, especially girls, confidently speak up, lead, and lead meaningful changes in their lives."

...to the special "National Assembly" session

The fact that this model is being replicated nationwide is the clearest proof of the positive and beneficial impacts on society as well as on the development of Vietnamese children that the model brings.

Notably, the initiative of the 2023 "Children's National Assembly" Mock Session was organized with many meaningful activities in Hanoi, especially the child delegates learned about the position and role of the National Assembly and National Assembly delegates; practiced skills and methods of using interactive equipment at the National Assembly Building; and directly participated in discussions on two topics: "Protecting children to interact healthily and creatively in the online environment" and "Preventing and combating injuries, violence, and child abuse".

To prepare for the mock session around these two topics, more than 40,000 children nationwide participated in online and in-person surveys on the current situation, causes and solutions to the problems.

Child delegates participating in the mock session of the “Children’s Parliament” listened to and absorbed the opinions and aspirations of local children to bring to the discussion at the session and were trained, provided with information and necessary skills to actively and effectively participate in the activities in the session program.

Thanh Thao, a H'Mong ethnic, Vice President of the Children's Council of Xin Man district, Ha Giang province, at the mock session of the "Children's National Assembly". (Source: Organizing Committee)

Thanh Thao, a H'Mong ethnic, Vice President of the Children's Council of Xin Man district, Ha Giang province, shared: "At first, when I first joined the district-level Children's Council, I was quite self-conscious, but gradually I understood more about the rights and responsibilities of children.

Every day we interact with our schoolmates and classmates, so we learn about the problems children are facing, filter information and discuss with the members of the advisory board to give opinions and propose solutions to local leaders.

I feel extremely happy and proud to represent ethnic minority children from Ha Giang province to attend the meeting and bring their wishes to the Children's National Assembly to find appropriate and legitimate solutions."

On September 9, after visiting Uncle Ho's mausoleum and the National Assembly, the child delegates were divided into 8 discussion groups, contributing ideas on solutions to raise awareness, knowledge and skills for children, recommendations for state agencies, socio-political organizations, solutions to strengthen the role of schools, solutions to strengthen the role of parents to prevent and avoid accidents, injuries, violence and child abuse at home, school and community as well as ensure children can interact safely, healthily and creatively in cyberspace.

Lecturers from the Sociology Department of the Youth Academy, program officers from Plan International and members of the Plan International Youth Advisory Board participated in guiding, coordinating and supporting child delegates in discussion sessions to prepare their presentations at the plenary session on September 10, which was directly chaired by child delegates.

At the plenary session of the “Children’s National Assembly” held at Dien Hong Hall, child delegates played the roles of National Assembly leaders, leaders of Government agencies, and National Assembly delegates to speak, discuss, and vote on the contents of the session revolving around two issues: “Protecting children from healthy and creative interactions on the Internet” and “Preventing and combating injuries, violence, and child abuse”.

Among the 33 child delegates from Plan International's project areas, 7 were trusted to hold key assumed positions including Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism...

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue takes a photo with delegates attending the mock session of the 'Children's National Assembly' in 2023. (Source: Organizing Committee)

Attending this special session, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that the excellent performance of the "Children's National Assembly" delegates showed that this initiative has promoted the early participation of children in political and social activities, contributing to ensuring the rights and interests of children, guiding children to become responsible citizens of the country and society and capable of becoming future leaders.

The discussion opinions of the "Children's National Assembly" delegates and especially the Resolution of the mock session are also the basis for the National Assembly, the Government and departments, branches and organizations to study, absorb and have better preparation in the process of promulgating legal policies on issues related to children.

Children's councils are groups representing children in localities that periodically express children's opinions and aspirations to local delegates and leaders on issues related to children. Children's councils can operate at many levels, from village to commune, district, to provincial level.

The Children's Council consists of members elected by the children themselves, representing the voice of children in the locality and unit. The Children's Council is organized and operates on the principle of voluntariness and self-management, with the guidance of the Advisory Board.

Decisions of the Children's Council must be passed at a meeting and have the consent of more than 50% of the Council members. The term of the Children's Council follows the term of the Provincial People's Council.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/phien-hop-gia-dinh-quoc-hoi-tre-em-sang-kien-thuc-day-thuc-day-quyen-tham-gia-cua-tre-em-241803.html