The plan targets to provide every student in the country with knowledge and skills to protect themselves against violence and sexual abuse by 2025.

It will guide all parents or caregivers on how to protect their children from violence and sexual abuse.

All staff working in the child-protection sector nationwide will improve their capabilities.

Following the plan, child-protection services will be set up and operated in all 63 provinces and cities.

All medical staff working at healthcare centres at both commune and district levels will be trained to better take care of children’s healthcare needs by 2025.

The plan will train police officers in charge of investigating cases related to child violence and sexual abuse, with child-friendly investigation skills.

Under the plan, at least 25 police departments in 63 provinces and cities throughout the country will establish child-friendly investigation offices.

To achieve the goals, PM Phuc told relevant ministries and agencies to strengthen education and dissemination to raise public awareness, skills, as well as the responsibility of child protection for children, parents, social organisations and local administration at all levels.

Educational institutions had to prevent school violence, support and intervene to help children who experienced violence and sexual abuse, the PM said.

Additionally, child-protection service providers were asked to improve the quality of services. Medical services were ordered to take medical examination and treatment for children who suffered violence and sexual abuse.

PM Phuc also required relevant agencies and organisations to build inter-sectoral coordination mechanisms and a network for child protection, prevention and control of violence and child sexual abuse.

The plan also sets out solutions to accomplish the goals, such as increasing the responsibility of local administration on child protection; enhancing support and intervention for children who are victims of violence and sexual abuse; perfecting laws and policies on prevention of child violence and sexual abuse as well as encouraging the private sector to participate in providing child protection services.

Relevant agencies are also tasked with developing child protection services in the fields of social welfare, health, education and justice; focus on providing child protection services at home, educational institutions and health facilities, applying information technology to connect with the national child protection hotline (111); reporting of child protection at all levels and building a national database on child protection, prevention of violence and child sexual abuse./.