Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà (first left) with other delegates receive message from children during the forum. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoàng Hiếu

HÀ NỘI — Building a safe, friendly, and healthy living environment is good for children and for the sustainable development of the nation.

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà made this statement while joining fellow leaders from ministries and departments in listening to the sharing and questions from over 188 children representing 25 million peers across the country at the 7th Children's Forum yesterday in Hà Nội.

"This is a global theme as crises such as wars, famine, diseases, and climate change are occurring in many parts of the world. This demonstrates the maturity of thought and awareness among these children regarding their responsibilities towards their homeland," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

He believed that many issues raised by the young participants are directly related to childcare and protection, while also truthfully reflecting the institutionalisation and implementation of strategies and legal policies aimed at building a better environment within families, schools, and society.

At the four-day event, the Deputy Prime Minister Hà praised and highly appreciated the efforts of young people to overcome difficulties.

He also expressed his expectation that the younger generation would create remarkable achievements to lead Việt Nam towards a glorious future, standing shoulder to shoulder with powerful nations across the world.

The Deputy Prime Minister also praised the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Central Committee of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union, the Ministry of Education and Training, the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education, as well as several ministries, departments, organisations, and localities for their recent deployment and scaling of various models concerning children's participation.

Among them, he highlighted the children's forums at all levels, provincial and district-level children's councils, grassroots children's groups within communities, and children's rights clubs, which contribute to nurturing confident, responsible citizens who are ready to contribute with their skills and intelligence from an early age.

In order to establish a safe and healthy living environment for all children, Deputy Prime Minister suggested that ministries, departments, localities, and socio-political organisations continue to listen, consider, and respond to the appropriate opinions and aspirations of children.

This involves focusing on enhancing cooperation among all three pillars: family, schools, and society, to provide love and the best conditions for children.

Priority should be given to boosting education, nurturing knowledge, cultivating soft skills, life skills, and aiding children in coping with violence, physical or mental abuse, as well as drowning.

He requested ministries and agencies to actively engage in building codes of conduct and online safety, implementing effective measures to prevent harmful and inappropriate content for children and adolescents.

Moreover, he emphasised the initiation of numerous movements to safeguard a clean and beautiful environment, cultivate a friendly lifestyle in harmony with nature, and promote the creation of a greener, cleaner living environment for children.

It is important to create more channels and platforms for children to voice their aspirations, participate in policy development, and contribute to the improvement of policies related to the rights and interests of children, as stipulated in the constitution, laws, and international treaties.

Deputy Prime Minister said every family, sectors at all levels, and the entire society need to take even more specific actions to care for adolescents and children, especially those in difficult circumstances, in underprivileged, border, and island areas, so that all children receive attention and comprehensive development.

During the forum, children had the opportunity to meet and interact with leaders from various ministries, departments, organisations, and relevant agencies for children.

They posed numerous questions regarding topics of current concern. These included issues related to violence and child abuse, psychological support for children affected by violence and abuse, free swimming lessons, especially for disadvantaged children, ensuring children's safety in the online environment, and enhancing the quality of school-based counseling services. — VNS