PHÚ THỌ — In the context of the fourth industrial revolution and expanding digital world, children have evermore opportunities to exploit and access endless sources of information and knowledge, however, they also face the risk of harm from unsafe information.

The statement was released yesterday at the launch ceremony for the Action Month for Children 2018, which was organised by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, in co-ordination with the Phú Thọ People’s Committee in the northern province of Phú Thọ.

Children also face the threat of exploitation and abuse, especially sexual abuse. Thus, the annual action month this year was launched across the country under the theme “For a safe and healthy life for children”.

The action month aims to better implement children’s rights, especially the right to participate in affairs relating to children, and the right of protection from abuse online.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh emphasised that it had been 20 years since Việt Nam joined the world wide web and is now entering the fourth industrial revolution.

Information technology has changed our lives for the better, however, the internet also poses risks to children if the community does not take preventive measures against abuse, she said.

“At the end of the school year, I congratulate all of you for your great efforts and achievements in your studies. I hope you will continue to gain knowledge and skills to protect yourselves, and together with your parents and teachers set up safe lives,” said Thịnh.

“I strongly believe that all of you will become intelligent citizens of the fourth industrial revolution,” she said.

Vice President Thịnh asked all ministries, sectors, organisations, localities and individuals to work together to create a safe living environment so that children could develop with the best capacity.

Activities during the action month will focus on improving awareness and responsibility of organisations, enterprises, schools and families in upholding the good aspects while limiting the bad aspects of the digital world to children’s development.

Youssouf Abdel-Jelil, Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Việt Nam, proposed to improve human resources for the work of protecting children.

Targets to protect children should be inserted into the socio-economic development of provinces and cities.

One more important issue was, he said, to have an effective system to receive reports on violence against children, and ensure that all cases of children being abused were dealt with promptly.

Nguyễn Thị Hà, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that during the month, children across the country would receive education on skills to access the internet safely.

Skills to prevent abuse and sexual abuse will be delivered to parents and teachers.

Additionally, families, schools and local authorities will collaborate to set up safe summer vacations for children, to manage, supervise and give guidance to children to play safely, and prevent accidents, especially drowning.

During the month, the National Fund for Vietnamese Children will give gifts to nearly 5,000 poor children across the country with a total fund of more than VNĐ14 billion (US$615,000).

Conferences and forums about setting up a national system to protect children on the internet will be organised all over the country.

The annual Action Month for Children has been organised based on the Law on Children issued in 2016. The action month is launched each June to urge the community to take care of and educate and protect children. — VNS