Meaningful and profound messages from children

Nha Trang City People’s Committee in association with the Division of Labor, War Invalids & Social Affairs held the 2020 Children’s Forum on July 14 with the attendance of more than 100 children from junior high schools and social service centers in the city.

 

From kids’ views

 

Meaningful messages were delivered through children’s play-acting. Acting in the “Home alone”, students from Tran Quoc Toan and Phan Sao Nam Junior High Schools mentioned child abuse risks via social networks. In the play, a little girl, when getting a smart phone, starts making friends with many new people via zalo, including a guy who introduces himself as a good student and wants to be her tutor. One day, knowing her mother is away on business, the guy tries to contact and sexually harass her at home. 

 

 

 

 

Huynh Van Nhu, a student at Phan Sao Nam Junior High School said, “Many kids are currently at high risk of abuse when joining and sharing their statuses on social networks. Therefore, propaganda against kid abuse is really helpful, I think.” Another play “Speak up. Don’t stay silent on child abuse” was performed by students from Vo Thi Sau and Mai Xuan Thuong Junior High Schools. They said, “Through the play, we hope other friends would learn how to use social networks in an appropriate way, remember not to share their personal information with strangers and call the emergency telephone number  111 for help and protection from the nearest local authorities.”

 

The forum also provided information about the consideration of children’s suggestions and served as an environment for children to meet, exchange and discuss such issues as safety for children on the Internet and protection from child abuse, accidents and injury.

 

Besides discussion, children were provided skills for the control and prevention of child abuse, accidents and injury. This is one of essential activities for children before the start of their summer vacation, providing them with important knowledge and skills to protect themselves and their friends.

 

At the forum, Nha Trang City People's Committee offered 100 souvenirs worth VND250,000 each to participating children. 

 

Listening to children to protect children

 

 

Meaningful and profound messages from children at the forum included "Do not stay silent, speak up to protect children", "Preventing teenage pregnancy", "Today’s Children, Tomorrow's World", "Listening to children with hearts, protecting children by actions "," Say no to Silence. Express your opinions ", etc.

 

Le Thi Mai Loan, Chief of Nha Trang City Labor, War Invalids & Social Affairs says through the forum, leaders of the Division of Labor, War Invalids & Social Affairs, representatives of the City Public Security Department, the Department of Education & Training received messages from children and appropriate responses are expected soon, helping children to understand more about their concerned issues, thereby protecting their legitimate rights and interests.

 

In the coming time, for better child care, protection and education, local departments, agencies and grassroots units are required to continue disseminating the Law on Children; taking measures to prevent and promptly handle cases of child violence and abuse and minimize child violence, abuse and drowning; providing opportunities for children to experience social activities and get access to related information to widen their knowledge and build character; developing models to ensure children’s rights to get involved in related issues; especially imposing penalties for child violence and abuse as well as failure to report such cases, according to Vo Binh Tan, Vice-Director of Khanh Hoa Department of Labor, War Invalids & Social Affairs.

 

 

Thanh Truc

Translated by N.T