Poster of the child protection campaign “Cái ôm ấm áp” (Warm Hugs). — Photo courtesy of the campaign

HÀ NỘI — To increase awareness of child rights and fight against child abuse, a campaign was launched on Monday to engage the community in child care and protection.

According to the Ministry of Public Security and Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, nearly 2,000 cases of child abuse were recorded in 2021.

Statistics from the National Child Protection Hotline 111 show that 72.84 per cent of Vietnamese children suffer from physical abuse in their family within the past year, an increase of 5.3 per cent compared to 2020.

A study from UNICEF said the situation was worsened by COVID-19 due to school closures and lockdowns, which means children spent more time at home.

In 2021, more than 507,800 calls were made to the national child protection hotline.

During the first quarter of 2022, the call centre received a total of 202,098 calls. They also provided consultations for 10,603 cases, equivalent to 45.8 per cent, more than that of the same period last year.

The campaign, titled “Cái ôm ấm áp” (Warm Hugs), wants to send out the message “A warm embrace soothes all” to remind adults that even small and simple words and actions could make children feel protected and healed.

People are also encouraged to reach for the National Child Protection Hotline 111 to report and receive free consultations on child abuse cases.

The campaign is the result of cooperation between ChildFund in Việt Nam and South Korea, with Hanwha Life as the sponsor.

Hwang Jun Hwan, director of Hanwha Life Việt Nam said: “The campaign ‘Cái ôm ấm áp’ translates our spirit [of protection] to concrete action.

“We hope that this project will bring about positive changes in the urgent situation of child abuse, contributing to protecting young children’s joy and development.”

ChildFund has been operating in Việt Nam since 1995, focusing on child rights and child protection, education, health, and well-being for children.

ChildFund Vietnam also prioritises building the resilience of young people, by giving them the opportunity to take part in sports, learn life skills, and support their participation in local decision-making processes. — VNS