Yen Bai reviews "Ending Violence against Children" project

Illustrative photo: World Vision

The event was co-organised by the provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the non-governmental organisation World Vision International in Vietnam.

Attending the event were representatives of World Vision, provincial Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, authorities of the project areas, and international non-governmental organizations operating in the field of child protection.

The workshop was an opportunity to share best practices of successful models such as: communal child protection committee, home visiting, and children's club/children's participation.

The EVAC project was implemented across 10 communes of Van Chan and Luc Yen districts of the province.

After four years, the project fulfilled its four main targets which enable vulnerable groups, including children and young adults, to protect themselves, thus reducing the risks of child trafficking and violence. It also recorded progress in creating a safe environment for children.

At the workshop, participants discussed child protection models, efforts to minimise systematic barriers in a bid to reduce violence against children, as well as measures to encourage the engagement of vulnerable groups and the building of a powerful community that creates a safe environment for children.

Vice Director of the provincial department Nguyen Thi Thu Ha asked relevant agencies to join hands with local schools and arrange training courses in the field to strengthen child protection.

There are more than 228,000 children under 16 in Yen Bai, of this over 3,000 are living in disadvantaged circumstances. Besides, the province is also home to about 2,000 children affected by HIV/AIDS.

After three years, the project has contributed to improve the child protection system, enhance awareness and capacity of caregivers and children on detecting, reducing and preventing the risks of violence against children.

The Home Visiting Model helps households with vulnerable children improve the care and protection needed for their children's development.

This model was successfully implemented by World Vision, through the "Ending Violence against Children" project, which helped improve the lives of visited children and households and bring positive results.

Many children in special circumstances are intervened, supported and connected to well-being services; Parents and caregivers learned and adopted positive changes in protecting and taking care of children. The model helped reduce the cases of children being abused, violated, neglected, abandoned, or those with risks of falling into special circumstances./.