Deputy Đặng Thị Phương Thảo from the northern provine of Nam Định stressed the negative consequences of such vices, both physically and mentally, on children which are already in dire need of proper attention. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

HÀ NỘI — Top lawmakers on June 7 urged for sustainable poverty reduction in ethnic and mountainous areas and the tackling of child abuse to be given priority in the National Assembly’s action programme next year.

Discussing the National Assembly’s supervision programme of 2019, National Assembly (NA) deputies said such activities were urgent and fitting with the country’s social and economic development.

Deputy Âu Thị Mai from the northern province of Tuyên Quang noted that of the 13.6 million ethnic people in Việt Nam, accounting for 14 per cent of the country’s population, some 10 million are living in under-privileged areas.

“Despite attention and investment from the Party and the Government in recent years, those areas are still the poorest in the country,” Mai said, adding that the poverty rate in ethnic areas is on average three times higher than the average rate of the country. On top of this, many ethnic minority villages are still not connected to the national power grid, and households have limited land for cultivation.

Government’s policies for ethnic minority areas still have loopholes and routinely fail to meet targets, she added, urging the National Assembly to closely supervise the sustainable poverty reduction programme in ethnic and mountainous areas, which was implemented in 2011, to solve shortcomings and develop more appropriate policies.

Pointing out recent cases of children abuse, deputy Đặng Thị Phương Thảo from the northern provine of Nam Định stressed the negative consequences of such vices, both physically and mentally, on children which are already in dire need of proper attention.

According to statistics from the Child Protection and Care Department under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, by the end of 2017, Việt Nam had an average of 2,000 children suffering from serious abuse who now require special care.

“This number is increasing,” Thảo said.

She noted statistics from the Ministry of Public Security saying that in the first five months of 2018, more than 600 sexual abuse cases were reported, of these 84 per cent were on children.

“There are more than 10 agencies and organisations across the country responsible for child care and protection, but the situation is still ongoing,” Thảo said.

“To thoroughly solve this problem, child care and protection need to be added into the NA’s supervision agenda,” she said.

Deputy Triệu Thị Thu Phương from the northern province of Bắc Kạn asked for supervision on fire prevention and protection work, noting the increasing number of fires that caused severe loss of life and damage to property this year.

The deputies also listened to a report on the revised Law on People’s Police.

The revised law had seven chapters, including 48 clauses, and supplemented four clauses, revised 31, and removed one clause from the previous 2014 law.

In the afternoon, the deputies discussed in groups the revised Law on People’s Police. — VNS

In Box:

Land lease of special economic units to be adjusted: PM

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has affirmed that all opinions on the land lease period crafted in the draft Law on Special Administrative-Economic Units of Vân Đồn, Bắc Vân Phong and Phú Quốc will be considered, and reasonable adjustments will be made to meet people’s aspirations.

Recently, the regulation on land lease of 99 years in the draft Law on Special Administrative-Economic Units of Vân Đồn, Bắc Vân Phong and Phú Quốc has been a hot topic among the community. 
 
Speaking on the sideline of the National Assembly (NA)’s fifth session on June 7, the PM stressed that the Government has listened to opinions from intellectuals, citizens, NA deputies, experts and the Overseas Vietnamese community. 
“We must be open to opinions to make necessary changes to the bill, while creating a sustainable environment for investment, business and growth, and safeguarding the country’s independence, sovereignty and freedom, as well as its national interests,” said the PM. 
He noted that special administrative-economic units have been applied in many countries, including China and Japan, with mixed success.
The Government leader noted that there were some misunderstandings about the land lease issue in the bill and clarified that the land lease will only applicable during a certain period, and will be considered every year, not for an endless duration. 
Meanwhile, investor structure will be calculated carefully with a specific ratio for each country, he said adding that it is unnecessary to worry about a monopoly of investors from one country at any particular special unit. “This will also be specified by the law to make a necessary legal environment,” said the PM. 
“We have gathered people’s ideas and presented them to the NA for discussion, ensuring that people’s voice is heard. The NA will decide the land lease period,” he added.
 
He also highlighted the need to create a favourable institution and investment environment to enhance competitiveness, and underlined that prioritising national interest is of great significance.
The bill is expected to be adopted during the NA’s fifth session. — VNS