(VOVWORLD) -The Vietnamese Government and UNICEF jointly held a ceremony marking 50 years of Vietnam-UNICEF cooperation and 35 years since Vietnam ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
 The ceremony "50 years of partnership between Vietnam and UNICEF" (Photo: Le Phuong) |
Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long told the ceremony that Vietnam has always paid special attention to, prioritized resources for, and focused on improving policies related to child protection and care. The best possible conditions have been created for children to develop comprehensively in a safe and healthy environment, especially disadvantaged children, children in difficult circumstances, children with disabilities, and orphans.
 Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long addresses the ceremony. (Photo: Le Phuong) |
“The Vietnamese government continues to consider the protection of children’s rights as a national strategic priority and is committed to comprehensively implementing policies to ensure that all children can develop fully, safely, and equally. The Vietnamese government hopes to continue receiving close cooperation and effective support from UNICEF, United Nations agencies, and domestic and international organizations and individuals in implementing child-related work,” the Deputy PM said.
 Participants at the ceremony (Photo: Le Phuong) |
Acknowledging Vietnam’s remarkable progress in placing children and young people at the center of policy-making over the past 35 years, June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific, said that UNICEF will always stand by Vietnam to realize its development goals.
“We will continue to support the government and our partners to close remaining gaps, safely harness digital opportunities, prepare young people for the future economy with climate resilience and social inclusion at the heart of every policy. Together we can turn ambition into action and make Vietnam a model for children and their rights in the region and in the world,” said Ms. June Kunugi.
At the event, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long presented a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister to UNICEF in recognition of the organization’s contributions over 50 years of working with Vietnam for children’s rights.
Vietnam was the first country in Asia and the second in the world ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1990. Over 35 years of implementing the Convention, Vietnam has recorded important milestones. Its legal framework for children has become increasingly comprehensive, with the 2016 Law on Children affirming children as holders of rights, not merely beneficiaries of care. Children’s participation rights are respected and implemented through practical mechanisms; the under-five mortality rate decreased from 58‰ (1990) to 16.9‰ (2024); the rate of full immunization for children under one year old exceeds 90%; underweight malnutrition dropped from 38.7% (1998) to 10.4% (2024); school attendance rates are high; and the child protection network continues to expand.