Focus on girls in world day against child labour
HA NOI — Poverty has long been blamed as the main challenge of Viet Nam’s efforts to eliminate child labour and empower young girls.
With “Give girls a chance: end child labour”, Viet Nam calls on society to protect children, give them vocational training and improve their living conditions, paying special attention to girls, to mark World Day Against Child Labour, which falls on June 12 this year.
More than 9,000 children work as labourers in dangerous locations. Nearly 10,600 children live on the streets and 800 work far from home, said Nguyen Dinh Ton from the Viet Nam Association for the Protection of Children’s Rights.
Head of the Child Protection and Care Department Nguyen Hai Huu said all forms of labour negatively impacting children’s health, learning or spirit must be eliminated.
“We should not prohibit them from doing work which does not impact their health and spirit,” Huu said.
Viet Nam has always paid special attention to child-related issues. The country was the first in Asia and the second in the world to join the International Convention of the Rights of the Child.
Viet Nam has also ratified two ILO conventions related to child labour, including convention 138, which focuses on a minimum age for employment, and Convention 182 concerning a prohibition and immediate action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour.
Full story at http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn
