Ngô Thị Minh, vice chairwoman of the Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children of the National Assembly (NA), (standing), speaks at a press briefing on Thursday. — Photo baophapluat.vn

HÀ NỘI — An upcoming conference on early childhood development policy is expected to realise commitment to protecting children’s rights, said Ngô Thị Minh, vice chairwoman of the Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children of the National Assembly (NA) at a press briefing on Thursday.

The event is an opportunity for NA deputies, members of provincial people’s councils and people’s committees and experts to exchange ideas on a comprehensive child development policy, she said.

The conference will be held by the NA’s Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children; the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs - the leading agency for child issues; and the United Nations Children’s Fund in Hà Nội tomorrow.

The event will mark 30 years since Việt Nam ratified the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The conference takes place with Asia-Pacific countries preparing for the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Early Childhood Development in Hà Nội from December 4-6.

The conference aims to raise awareness among policy makers of the threats to young children’s present and future environments, as well as opportunities to protect these environments.

Thousands of politicians, managers, scientists, experts from UN organisations from more than 40 countries will take part in the conference.

According to Minh, Việt Nam was the first country in Asia and the second in the world to ratify the International Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Over the years, the Party and the State have issued many policies to boost development for children and have had success. However, there are still shortcomings in the work.

“At the conference, delegates will clarify the situation, identify the causes and set forth solutions to ensure comprehensive development of children, based on the principle 'For the best interests of children'," she said.

The conference will focus on early childhood development for children aged 0-8 and legal systems and policies relating to youths aged from 16-18. The adherence of the implementation of the rights of the child to the national socio-economic development plan and State budget allocation would also be discussed, Minh said.

The allocation of State budget for child protection tasks and the implementation of children’s rights would be discussed at the conference to ensure their feasibility and meet the integration process and comply with the Law on Children and the convention on the rights of the child, she said. — VNS