Authorities inspect the Mái Ấm Hoa Hồng private care centre for orphans at L52 Tô Ký, Trung Mỹ Tây Ward, District 12 on Wednesday in HCM City.—VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — The People's Committee of District 12 in HCM City has proposed transferring all 86 children from Mái Ấm Hoa Hồng – a private orphan facility –  to a public social welfare facility.

The children were repeatedly abused and mistreated at L52 Tô Ký, Trung Mỹ Tây Ward, District 12.

The move came after a request from the city’s Child Rights Protection Association, which on Wednesday morning sent a document to the committee, the city’s Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the police of the district, calling for an investigation into the individuals involved in the reported abuse.

Initial findings suggested that abuse and neglect of the children at the private facility was both frequent and prolonged.

The district’s police had summoned the facility’s owner and the individuals responsible for the abuse for questioning.

Vice president of the city’s Child Rights Protection Association, Phạm Đình Nghinh, said safeguarding children, particularly those in vulnerable situations, was a priority for many levels of Government and involved numerous supportive policies.

The policies were designed to ensure that children live and develop in a safe and healthy environment.

The situation at the private centre, which housed a large number of children, including many infants, was considered extremely serious due to the nature and extent of the abuse.

That had significant implications for the children's mental health, safety, well-being and exposed them to various potential risks.

In accordance with the 2016 Child Law, the city’s Child Rights Protection Association urged the committee, the department and the police to take prompt action to ensure the safety of the children under their care at the private facility.

Appropriate measures must be issued to address and rectify the abusive behaviour to prevent any recurrence.

Nguyễn Thành Phụng, head of the Social Welfare Office at the city’s labour department, said that upon receiving the information, the department promptly visited and conducted an inspection of private centre.

The inspection revealed that the facility housed 86 children, consisting of 15 under the age of one, 37 aged between one and three, 31 attending the Sóc Bông Kindergarten and three currently in hospital.

Earlier investigations by Thanh Niên (Young people) online newspaper and images shared on various online platforms revealed that a 47-year-old caregiver at the private facility, who allegedly beat, dragged and physically abused the infants, caused injuries, including bleeding mouths.

Following the revelations, the police in collaboration with the People's Committee, launched an investigation into the operations of the facility.

Local residents reported that the facility was operated as an orphanage for a long time.

The facility has been featured in various Facebook and YouTube videos promoting its charitable work and soliciting donations.

Mái ấm Hoa Hồng facility was licensed by the department to take care of 39 children. The owner of the facility is Giáp Thị Sông Hương.— VNS