The Ministry of Public Security have proposed measures to deal with the sharply-rising child sexual abuse in Vietnam, including the launch of hotlines and email contact points, to provide legal consultation and assistance to victims.  

According to the ministry, child sexual abuse has been on the rise across the country, with many cases remaining unreported. 

Child sexual abuse on the rise in Vietnam (Illustrative photo)

Between 2014 and 2016, up to around 4,000 cases of sexual abuse on children were reported, with girls accounting for more than 80%. 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.

According to the ministry, the number of rising child abuse cases is partly due to lack of parental care, lack of gender education and life skills at schools.

Many incidents remain unreported as families of victims fear their children’s dignity and privacy will be affected for their entire lives if the incidents are made public.

Meanwhile, 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.

The Ministry of Public Security has recommended the launch of hotlines and emails to receive the public’s report on child sexual abuse cases as well as provide legal consultation and assistance to victims.

The Ministry of Public Security will tightly co-operate with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Vietnam Women’s Union and Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to address child abuse cases.