Press Release: Training on Guiding Children’s Participation in Activities Outside the Family and Educational Institutions
Hanoi, April 12, 2023 – The Department of Child Affairs, Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the Sustainable Development Management Research Institute (MSD) and Save the Children International, organized training on guiding the implementation of Circular No. 27/2022/TT-BLĐTBXH, issued by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs on December 28, 2022, regarding children’s participation in activities outside the family and educational institutions. The training was attended by 50 delegates from the Ministry/Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, the Government’s Religious Affairs Committee, the Religious Affairs Department – Hanoi Department of Home Affairs, the Youth Work Department – Ministry of National Defense, the Red Cross Society, Đình Quán Pagoda, and organizations and enterprises organizing programs for children. The training shared the contents of implementing Circular No. 27/2022/TT-BLĐTBXH, guidelines on children’s participation rights, standards for children’s care facilities in Buddhist teachings, and discussions on methods and solutions to implement Circular 27 as well as ensuring children’s rights effectively and substantially.
In her opening speech, Ms. Nguyễn Thị Nga, Deputy Director of the Department of Child Affairs, Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, shared: “Ensuring children’s rights and minimizing the risks to their safety, participation, and development is extremely important. When children participate in activities outside the family and educational institutions, the risks to their safety are higher, especially in the context of the growing number of educational programs, summer camps, military-police semesters, retreats, etc., designed to meet the demand for learning and entertainment during the summer holidays. Extracurricular programs are very good, but ensuring the rights of children while they participate in these programs still faces some limitations and challenges. When the Department of Child Affairs surveyed some programs, such as military semesters and retreats, we found issues related to infrastructure, programs, and behaviors that do not ensure safety, privacy, or children’s participation rights, etc. Circular 27/2022/TT-BLĐTBXH on guiding children’s participation in activities outside the family and educational institutions was issued to provide timely guidance for agencies, organizations, units, individuals, and families regarding children’s participation in such activities to ensure their rights, as well as to ensure a safe, healthy, friendly, equal, and non-discriminatory environment.” Ms. Nga provided examples, saying: “When girls participate in military semesters, it is essential to ensure their living needs are met, and ensuring their health and nutrition is very important. If summer camps are organized without proper knowledge, children may face risks related to food poisoning, drowning, accidents, not being fit for the activities, privacy violations, and even child abuse.”
Ms. Nguyễn Thị Nga – Deputy Director of the Department of Child Affairs, Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, gives a speech
Ms. Nguyễn Thị Nga – Deputy Director of the Department of Child Affairs, Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, shared:
“Circular 27/2022/TT-BLĐTBXH provides specific guidance on children’s rights, as well as the rights and responsibilities of parents and caregivers when children participate in activities outside the family and educational institutions. In particular, the Circular clearly states, ‘Children have the right to participate in activities outside the family and educational institutions in locations where the conditions ensure: safety, friendliness, age-appropriate, gender-appropriate, appropriate restrooms and personal hygiene areas, and favorable conditions for children, including children with disabilities; ensuring nutrition and food hygiene for children.’ Furthermore, children have the right to cancel participation if they feel that the activity outside the family or educational institution does not meet or align with their needs and desires. Parents and caregivers are responsible for respecting children’s opinions and wishes.’
The Circular also specifies the rights and responsibilities of agencies, organizations, and businesses organizing activities involving children outside the family and educational institutions; and particularly the responsibilities of coordinators, facilitators, volunteers, those in charge of children, and instructors participating in such activities and guiding the program contents and activities with children’s participation outside the family and educational institutions.”
On the implementation of children’s participation rights and privacy, Ms. Phạm Thị Thuỷ, Head of the Children’s Participation Development Department at the Department of Child Affairs, shared:
“We often talk about children’s participation rights, but it cannot be understood in a vague manner. It is essential to understand the regulations, methods, and approaches to promote children’s participation. When organizing activities outside the family and educational institutions, organizations and businesses must ensure key principles for children’s participation, such as ensuring that children voluntarily and actively participate; compliance with legal regulations, equality for all children, and guaranteeing privacy. The program contents must be age- and gender-appropriate, prioritizing children’s benefits, ensuring a safe, friendly, and equal environment, with mechanisms to record and respond to children’s requests. Most importantly, we must remember the principle of ‘the best interest of the child.’ The interests of children must come first, not those of the parents or the organization or business hosting the activities outside the family and educational institutions.”
Ms. Phạm Thị Thuỷ, Head of the Children’s Participation Development Department, Department of Child Affairs
Discussing the organization of activities involving children’s participation outside the family and educational institutions, the delegates shared the advantages, challenges, and solutions during the implementation process, including the challenges, recommendations, and solutions.
A representative from the Youth Work Department – Ministry of National Defense shared that military semester programs are designed to introduce and educate young people about history, the military, weapons, and activities aimed at improving physical fitness through military games, exercises, and safety rules such as accident prevention, drowning prevention, and others. These programs also emphasize discipline, orderliness, and organization. The application of the Circular will help ensure that the operation is more effective and protects the rights of children.
Representative of the Youth Work Department – Ministry of National Defense
A representative from Đình Quán Pagoda shared that participating in the training will help the pagoda better organize retreats for children. The Circular provides completely appropriate guidance, which allows Đình Quán Pagoda to reassess its retreat activities to ensure they meet child protection criteria. Đình Quán Pagoda always strives to balance educational content, including Buddhist education, ensuring it is age-appropriate, in line with children’s psychological development, and caters to their needs and understanding.
Venerable Lỗ Nghiêm shared: “Children’s privacy is very important, and they have the right to have their own opinions and voice. When children want to share something personal, it must be carefully considered whether to share or respond to their concerns. We cannot disclose their issues in front of everyone. When taking photos during retreats, there should be clear criteria to determine which photos are allowed to be used and which should not, to ensure the children’s privacy rights are respected.” Ensuring the implementation of the Circular and complying with legal regulations will help Đình Quán and other organizations or businesses carry out their missions and activities more effectively.
The delegates also discussed several challenges related to the implementation of children’s rights, such as the Circular stipulates that children have the right to request to leave or stop participating in activities, but if a child wants to leave immediately upon arrival, there may not be enough time for the child to adapt to the new environment. Some activities are difficult to ensure children’s privacy rights. Additionally, there were discussions on how to handle disciplinary measures when children violate the rules. Child rights experts agreed on solutions to ensure information and children’s participation so that children can be aware, voice their opinions, and be mentally prepared before participating in activities. During their participation, children also have the right to discuss rules and propose mutually agreed-upon disciplinary methods that are suitable for them. Moreover, organizations and businesses need to unify educational methods, and approaches with children, and parents.
Ms. Nguyễn Phương Linh, Director of the MSD Institute, concluded: “Ensuring children’s participation rights is not just about complying with the law and safeguarding their rights; it is also a method to ensure safety, effective learning, and play for children, always in the best interest of the child. I believe that promoting the content of Circular 27 and other legal documents about children to a wide range of organizations, businesses, children, and parents will contribute to raising awareness and practice so that all stakeholders are conscious and responsible for creating a safe, equal, and friendly environment for the comprehensive development of children in Vietnam.”
The training will continue to be organized by the Department of Child Affairs, Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the MSD Institute, Save the Children International, and other partner organizations. It will take place in Ho Chi Minh City on April 13, 2023, and in other provinces and cities.
