Directive No. 298/TTg On the Review and Evaluation of Five Years of Implementing the Law on the Protection, Care, and Education of Children

DIRECTIVE

OF THE PRIME MINISTER

Regarding the review and assessment of five years of implementation, protection, care, and education of children

The Law on Protection, Care, and Education of Children was promulgated by our State on August 16, 1991. After five years of implementing the Law, the situation of children has improved in many aspects. Awareness and responsibility of leaders at all levels, sectors, and various strata of the people for protecting, caring for, and educating children have been raised. Work on protecting, caring for, and educating children in the country has made progress in various fields such as health care, cultural education, spiritual life, and assistance to children in difficult circumstances.

However, there are still limitations and shortcomings in directing the implementation of the Law on Protection, Care, and Education of Children. In many places, violations of laws on protecting, caring for, and educating children occur, particularly acts of sexual exploitation, overuse of child labor, and inciting children to commit illegal acts. Supervision and inspection of the Law's implementation are not strict enough. Handling of violations of children's rights is not severe enough.

To enhance the effectiveness of the Law, promote its strengths and results, and address its limitations and weaknesses in directing its implementation in the coming period, the Prime Minister issues the following directive:

1. Conduct a review and assessment of the results of five years of implementing the Law on Protection, Care, and Education of Children at all levels nationwide. This must be completed by the end of the third quarter of 1996 with the following requirements:

a. Evaluate the results of implementing the provisions of the Law, draw out good experiences, analyze the reasons for failures or low achievements. The review should delve into the strengths and weaknesses in the leadership work of People's Committees, relevant Ministries, and sectors in protecting, caring for, and educating children. Pay attention to issues related to mechanisms, policies, organizational management, coordination among sectors, mass organizations, social organizations, central agencies, and localities.

b. Based on the evaluation results, analyze the strengths and weaknesses in the past period, propose guidelines and measures to continue directing the implementation of the Law on Protection, Care, and Education of Children, intensify the implementation of national program goals for children to achieve higher results. Link the tasks of protecting, caring for, and educating children with economic and social development tasks from 1996 to 2000.

c. Through the review and setting plans for child protection, care, and education work in the future, make specific recommendations on policies and guidelines for protecting, caring for, and educating children, including supplementing and adjusting specific provisions in the Law and other regulatory documents.

2. The Minister, Chairman of the National Committee for Child Protection and Care shall be responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of Justice and relevant agencies and mass organizations to implement the plan for reviewing and assessing five years of implementing the Law on Protection, Care, and Education of Children and Decree 374/HĐBT.

3. Comrades Chairmen of Provincial People's Committees and Municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government shall direct the review and assessment of the implementation of this Law at their respective localities. By the end of August 1996, provinces shall submit their review reports to the Office of the Government and the National Committee for Child Protection and Care.

4. Ministries and agencies under the Government shall direct their respective Ministries and sectors to review five years of implementing the Law and Decree 374/HĐBT within the scope of their functions and responsibilities as stipulated in the Law and Decree.

5. Provincial People's Committees, Municipal People's Committees directly under the Central Government, and central Ministries and sectors need to organize reviews in a practical manner, prepare thoroughly in terms of content, discuss thoroughly in leading agencies to reach clear and accurate conclusions that reflect the actual situation, and propose appropriate recommendations. Do not organize large and costly meetings that waste time.

5. The People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities, ministries, and central sectors shall organize practical reviews, prepare thoroughly in terms of content, discuss carefully within leading agencies to reach clear and accurate observations and conclusions that correspond with the actual situation, and propose appropriate recommendations. Do not organize large and costly conferences that waste time.