In recent years, cases of child abuse have shown an increasing trend in both number and severity. Acts of violence and abuse not only cause physical injuries but also profoundly affect children’s mental health, undermine their self-confidence, negatively impact personality development, and leave long-term consequences for families and society as a whole. In reality, effective child care and protection require close, coordinated, and intersectoral collaboration among agencies and organizations to safeguard children’s rights and safety.
To strengthen intersectoral coordination in child care and protection, on November 27, 2025, Vietnam National Children’s Hospital (VNCH) organized an intersectoral meeting to enhance coordination in child care and protection. This meaningful activity promoted multidisciplinary collaboration to protect children from increasingly complex risks.
The meeting was attended by Mr. Vu Trung Duong – Head of the Division of Maternal and Child Protection, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Ministry of Health; Ms. Bui Thi Thuy Duong – Officer of the Child Protection Division, Department of Maternal and Child Health, Ministry of Health; Dr. Cao Viet Tung, MD, PhD – Deputy Director of Vietnam National Children’s Hospital and Head of the Hospital’s Child Protection Committee; along with members of the Child Protection Committee of VNCH.
Participants also included representatives of Lang Ward Police, local officials responsible for child protection, representatives from Bach Mai Hospital, 108 Central Military Hospital, Saint Paul Hospital, and representatives from Blue Dragon Organization and Peace House (Ngôi nhà Bình Yên).
Dr. Cao Viet Tung, MD, PhD – Deputy Director of Vietnam National Children’s Hospital, delivering remarks and chairing the meeting.
In his remarks, Dr. Cao Viet Tung stated that in recent years, the hospital has placed strong emphasis on child protection through the establishment of the Child Protection Committee, holding regular monthly meetings, and effectively implementing activities to care for, support, and protect children suspected of being abused or maltreated, as well as providing guidance and counseling for families during treatment or follow-up at the hospital.
As a national tertiary referral hospital, VNCH has integrated child protection into its outreach and technical guidance activities to enhance diagnostic capacity and has strengthened child protection training and support for lower-level hospitals. However, current challenges include the reluctance of some families to cooperate actively during intervention and support processes. Therefore, intersectoral coordination plays a crucial role in improving the effectiveness of child protection efforts in the coming period.
On this occasion, Dr. Cao Viet Tung expressed sincere appreciation to UNICEF, the Department of Maternal and Child Health, Lang Ward Police, Peace House, and partner organizations for their continued support and collaboration.
At the conference, participants presented and discussed many important topics. In the first presentation, entitled “Overview of Child Abuse Cases Received and Treated at Vietnam National Children’s Hospital: Challenges and Proposals for Coordination,” Dr. Nguyen Mai Huong, MD, PhD – Head of the Adolescent Health Department, introduced the operational model of the hospital’s Child Protection Committee, which involves a multidisciplinary team including physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, legal officers, and collaborators.
The hospital has developed standardized procedures for receiving and caring for children suspected of being abused or maltreated, issued professional practice guidelines, and maintained close coordination with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Security, and relevant agencies to ensure timely, coordinated, and appropriate support for children and their families.
Participants presenting papers and sharing experiences and solutions at the meeting.
In the following presentation, Mr. Vu Trung Duong – Head of the Division of Maternal and Child Protection, Department of Maternal and Child Health (Ministry of Health), provided an overview of current intersectoral and inter-level coordination in child protection, including the situation, causes, and solutions. He reported that, according to provincial reports, in 2024, nationwide authorities prosecuted 2,361 cases involving 2,505 abused children. Although a slight decrease was recorded in the first ten months of 2025, the situation remains complex, with many serious cases, approximately 60% of perpetrators being relatives or acquaintances. Crime reports and denunciations have been handled in accordance with regulations, and children have received timely support and intervention.
Mr. Vu Trung Duong presenting at the meeting.
In addition, Ms. Bui Lan Anh – Deputy Director of the Community Support Center (Peace House) shared experiences on support and reintegration models for children who have experienced violence and abuse, highlighting the importance of creating safe environments, providing psychological care, and mobilizing community support to help children recover, develop normally, and reintegrate into society effectively.
During the discussion session, representatives from participating organizations exchanged experiences, shared practical challenges, and proposed various solutions to enhance the quality of child protection. Mr. Vu Trung Duong addressed questions related to coordination procedures, information sharing, and existing support mechanisms.
Participants are engaging in discussion at the meeting.
Concluding the meeting, participants agreed that the current context requires strong and timely engagement from all sectors in child protection efforts. Each case and incident has its own characteristics and requires flexible and effective coordination among relevant agencies. Vietnam National Children’s Hospital, together with participating organizations, is committed to strengthening the intersectoral coordination model to build a broad, sustainable, and humane child protection network, ensuring that all children can live in a safe environment and receive comprehensive protection.
