News » Headlines
Child sexual abuse on the rise in Vietnam
  • | NLD, VNA | March 15, 2017 07:23 AM
 >>  HCM City reports 170 child sexual abuse cases a year
 >>  Early education urged to help stop child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse has been on the increase in Vietnam in recent years according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Many cases have been detected and denounced. But many cases of childhood sexual harassment remain undetected.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, around 2,000 Vietnamese children face violence and abuse annually, including 1,200 suffering from sexual abuse. But the real number of Vietnamese children being sexually abused may be much higher than estimated. The reported number may be only the tip of the iceberg.

 

Around 2,000 Vietnamese children face violence and abuse annually, including 1,200 suffering from sexual abuse. Illustrative photo

The ministry also said that up to 5,300 child abuse cases occurred in 2011-2015 and noted the increase in the number of boys abused.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Hong Lan said the settlement of a child abuse case in Vietnam is very complicated. In Vietnam, sexual abuse, especially of children, is such a culturally sensitive issue that the families of both victims and offenders do not want such incidents to be publicly revealed. A victim’s family fears the incident will harm the future of their child while an offender’s family fears that they will be scorned by the public.


Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Hong Lan

Most child sexual abuse offenders are relatives and acquaintances of victims’ families. Sexual offenders take advantage of naive children to sexually abuse them because children are not wary of their relatives or of people they know.

Children who are sexually abused often have to suffer from serious psychological impacts, affecting their future, the deputy minister said.

She added that the ministry has taken 2017’s theme as the year to fight child sexual abuse. The ministry has instructed localities nationwide for the implementation of the year’s activities and improved regulations to tackle the issue.

Leave your comment on this story