Protecting children from online scams.
In the context of rapid digital transformation, the issue of protecting children in the online environment is becoming more urgent than ever. This issue was addressed at the Children's Feedback Ceremony on the program to protect and support children's healthy interaction in the online environment for the period 2026-2030. This initiative, conducted by the Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department (A05) in collaboration with the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Children's Rights, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, and with the support of international organizations, involved consultations and feedback gathering from nearly 2,800 children in 16 provinces and cities in November 2025.
According to the survey results, 47.9% of children spend 1-3 hours a day using the internet; 27.1% spend less than 1 hour; 18.8% spend 4-6 hours, and some children spend more than 10 hours a day. Notably, all children participating in the survey had experienced at least one online incident.
The program for protecting and supporting children in the online environment for the period 2026-2030 aims to: Create a safe and healthy online environment for children to effectively utilize the Internet; Equip children with digital skills and self-protection skills; Detect, prevent, and address acts of child abuse online; Strengthen coordination among ministries, sectors, localities, and social organizations; Ensure children have a voice in the development of policies related to their rights and safety.
According to Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa, President of the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Children's Rights, consultation activities that help children "speak up" and directly participate in the policy-making process related to their rights and safety clearly demonstrate children's right to participation as stipulated by law. Protecting children in cyberspace requires coordinated efforts from families, schools, communities, and state management agencies – in which the role of media and social media platforms is extremely important.
Protecting children within the family is crucial.
The Ministry of Health recently organized a workshop to orient child protection work for the period 2026-2030. According to data from the Ministry of Health, Vietnam's population is estimated to reach 102.3 million people in 2025, with the proportion of the group under 15 years old decreasing to about 22.8%. The child population is estimated to be around 24.5 million people in 2025.
At the workshop, Mr. Vu Trung Duong, Head of the Maternal and Child Protection Department, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Ministry of Health , stated that the work of preventing and combating violence and abuse against children in Vietnam has achieved remarkable results. Therefore, the rate of child labor in violation of the law has decreased, accounting for 1.31% of the total number of children aged 5-17. This figure is low compared to the region and the world. Vietnam is considered one of the bright spots in preventing and reducing child labor in the region and globally.
Child labor has decreased but remains a complex issue, especially in the context of ongoing socio-economic changes, the impact of natural disasters, epidemics, and labor migration. Enticement and deception through online platforms also increase the risk of children and minors becoming child laborers and being trafficked or exploited.
Helping children “speak up” and participate in policy-making processes related to their rights and safety is a clear demonstration of children’s right to participation as enshrined in law. (Source: UNICEF)
In her opening remarks at the workshop, Ms. Nguyen Thi Nga, Deputy Director of the Department of Mothers and Children, emphasized that child protection involves implementing appropriate measures to ensure children live safely; preventing, deterring, and addressing acts of abuse. For the period 2026-2030, the central goal is to build a comprehensive and continuous child protection system with close coordination among all levels and sectors. According to the draft National Program Framework, the overarching principle is: All children need to be cared for and protected; ensuring the realization of children's rights. This system will focus on a community-based child protection and care network, combined with inter-sectoral and inter-level coordination mechanisms along both vertical and horizontal axes.
Sharing international experience, Ms. Le Hong Loan, Head of UNICEF's Child Protection Program in Vietnam, stated that protecting children within the family is crucial, while placing children in social assistance facilities should only be a temporary solution.
The Ministry of Health is drafting a National Program on Child Protection and Prevention and Reduction of Child Labor in violation of the law for the period 2026-2030. The objectives of the National Program Framework on Child Protection and Prevention and Reduction of Child Labor in violation of the law by 2030 are to strive to reduce the number of children subjected to violence and sexual abuse by 10%; reduce the rate of child labor to below 1.1%; and ensure that 100% of abused children and children at risk of abuse, upon detection, are properly documented and managed. Simultaneously, the Program aims for 100% of child laborers and 90% of children at risk of becoming child laborers, upon detection, to be properly documented and receive appropriate and timely support and intervention measures.
Specifically, 100% of provinces and cities have established and put into operation specialized, integrated child protection service models; 90% of communes have established and put into operation commune-level child protection service facilities and community-based child protection service facilities.
On November 26, 2025, the Central Party Office issued a Notice summarizing the conclusions of General Secretary To Lam at a working session with the Party Committee of the Ministry of Health and other central ministries and agencies on the care and protection of children in special circumstances. Accordingly, the General Secretary requested that Party committees, Party organizations, governments, and mass organizations at all levels focus on minimizing the number of new abandoned children; ensuring that all abandoned children are received, cared for safely and promptly; and innovating the model of caring for children in special circumstances, while improving the capacity of the existing social welfare system.
Source: https://baophapluat.vn/tat-ca-tre-em-can-duoc-cham-care-and-protect.html
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