NA Vietnam Chairwoman hosts UNICEF, UNDP representatives

The Government of Vietnam has worked incessantly towards the protection of Child Rights and has shown strong determination against eradicating child abuse, violence, and risks to their life and health.

Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan of the National Assembly (NA) of Vietnam hosted a reception for Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator and UN Development Programme (UNDP)'s Resident Representative; and Yousuf Adbel-Jelil, the UN Children Fund's (UNICEF)'s representative for Vietnam in Hanoi on Wednesday.

In the light of socio-economic development, the top legislator sought the support of the UN and UNDP as well as contributions of UNICEF to a more sustainable growth and the protection of children's rights in the country.

Vietnam is appreciated for being the first country in Asia and second in the entire world to accredit the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (in 1990) by Kamal Malhotra. Vietnam has exerted various efforts, since 1990, to work towards changing the definition of a child's basal age to 18-years-old.

The Chairwoman stressed Vietnam's specific measures to ensure children's rights, including constructing its legal system and the formation of a National Committee on Children.

The NA has also made comprehensive adjustments in order to better respond to realistic requirements between international integration as well as promote child rights along with approving the Children Law 2016, making it coherent with regulations in the convention and other similar international commitments, she said.

The Children Law 2016 regulates children under the age of 16, but the country legal ceiling age is still 18 years old. Those between 16 to 18 years old are considered adolescents and protected by law as well, she added.

The NA of Vietnam has supervised the implementation of the Children Law in 2016 at regular intervals and continued their research to consider the change in defining the basal age of children.

The Government of Vietnam has worked incessantly towards the protection of Child Rights and has shown strong determination against eradicating child abuse, violence, and risks to their life and health.

Abdel-Jelil, the UNICEF representative spoke in acknowledgment of Vietnam's efforts in safeguarding citizens aged between 16-18 years old and said that the UN fund is working with the NA of Vietnam to study the social impacts once the change in the definition of children's age is applied. It is scheduled to conclude in kate 2018.

The UNICEF representative also showed his goodwill at the partnership between UNICEF and NA, with the pledge to provide financial support in the process.