Tomorrow, November 20, the whole world will celebrate the 18th birthday of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Adopted by the UN General Assembly on 20 November 1989, the Convention has become the most widely ratified human rights agreement in the world. Anyone who turns 18 this year is part of the first generation to go from birth to adulthood protected by the CRC.

Vietnam was the first country in Asia and the second country in the world to ratify the CRC in 1990. Since its ratification of CRC, the Government of Vietnam has issued and amended a number of laws and policies to implement the CRC in Vietnam.

Vietnam has made impressive results in realizing children’s rights since its ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Infant and child mortality rates have declined substantially. Between 1990 and 2006, the under-five mortality rates fell from 58 to 27 per 1,000 live births. During the same period, the infant mortality rate decreased from 44 to 22 deaths per 1,000 live births. The country’s consistently high immunization coverage eradicated polio in 2000, and maternal and neonatal tetanus in 2005. Children in Vietnam are also better educated now. Around 95 per cent of eligible children are enrolled in primary school and the Government is committed to expanding educational opportunities for children throughout the system.

However, the achievements are not enjoyed equally by all Vietnamese children. Those living in remote mountainous areas are most at risk of not having all their rights realized. “The country is on track to meet the MDGs in 2015, which is an achievement that only few countries in the world can attain. However, the MDGs are not likely to be reached for all children in all the 64 provinces of Vietnam”, said Jesper Morch, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam.

Guided by the CRC, UNICEF has been supporting the Government of Vietnam in realizing children’s rights over more than 30 years. On this milestone day in the CRC’s history, UNICEF would like to bring the attention to four areas that the organisation is looking forward to work together with the Government of Vietnam and further the implementation of the CRC:

• Raise the national age of childhood to 18. This will ensure the best possible standard of protection for all children under 18. This would render Vietnam more consistent with the internationally accepted standard.

• Stronger and meaningful participation of children. Children’s voice should be included in decision making processes as well as in important planning processes –both on national level, but also in their schools, families and communes.

• Improve the quality of data on children. A quality disaggregated database on children should be developed to help better address the emerging disparities in terms of gender, ethnic group and geographical areas.

• Strong leadership for children. Taking advantage of Vietnam’s growing leadership role in the region and the world, Vietnam could also lead the country to take centre stage as a country fit for children.

Today, 193 states parties have ratified the CRC. The Convention states that everyone under the age of 18 (the definition of a child), regardless of gender, origin, religion or possible disabilities, needs special care and protection because children are often the most vulnerable.

Although the Convention has 54 articles in all, it is guided by four fundamental principles.

• Non-discrimination (article 2): Children should neither benefit nor suffer because of their race, colour, gender, language, religion, or national, social or ethnic origin, or because of any political or other opinion; because of their caste, property or birth status; or because they are disabled.

• The best interests of the child (article 3): Laws and actions affecting children should put their best interests first and benefit them in the best possible way.

• Survival, development and protection (article 6): The authorities in member countries must protect children and help ensure their full development – physical, spiritual, moral and social.

• Participation (article 12): Children have a right to have their say in decisions that affect them, and to have their opinions taken into account.

Vietnam also signed the optional protocols on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography and the involvement of children in armed conflicts.

Since its ratification of CRC, the Government of Vietnam has issued a number of laws and policies to implement the CRC, for example: The Law on Protection, Care and Education of Children (first issued in 1991 and replaced by a new version in 2004); Labour Code; Law on Gender Equality; Criminal Proceedings Code of 2003; Civil Proceedings Code of 2005 and many other sub-laws that consist of regulations to protect children. Moreover, the Government of Vietnam has also made efforts to integrate children’s issues in to the Social Economic Development Plan 2006-2010. (CPV)