Marta is attending the Asia-Pacific regional seminar, entitled “Developing a protective framework for children: The role of parliaments”, kicked off in Hanoi on February 15.
She told Vietnam News Agency on the sidelines of the seminar that “Vietnam has been an example when it was the first country in Asia to ratify the Convention and it was also the first to present a report to the Committee on the Rights of the Child. Vietnam has always been considered a very important reference for many other countries in Asia and in other regions.”
“I am sincerely pleased to be back in Vietnam, a country where so much has been done following the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. I had the opportunity to visit the country 10 years ago as a member of the UNICEF’s Committee on the Rights of the Child. I have seen many important developments of new laws, institutions and the very strong development of strategies to protect children in the country. This reaffirms the commitment of Vietnam to doing the best for children. I am very encouraged and very impressed by these developments,” Marta added
She further said that all members of the Vietnamese delegation, whether from the National Assembly or other relevant bodies, are committed, engaged and knowledgeable about children. They have themselves been associated with reflections and discussions on the laws and the policies on the national plan of action for children. “When that level of commitment exists, it is much easier to progress even further in the future,” Marta stressed.
The UNICEF expert also hailed the very close collaboration between Vietnam and UNICEF over the years and said she expects that it will continue to grow in the future.
MP Rosnah Rashid Shirlin from Malaysia also had positive remarks about Vietnam’s achievements in protecting children. “The Vietnamese government is very positive and committed in the protection of children. I think they have made great efforts to make sure that more than sufficient and protection is given to children. The country is moving very progressively toward protection of children. I have seen very committed Vietnamese MPs here at this meeting.”
During the three-day meeting, co-organised by Vietnamese National Assembly, International Parliamentary Union and UNICEF, more than 80 delegates from 18 countries and territories in the Asia and Pacific will discuss issues relating to the protection of children against violence, abuse and exploitation.
