Thirty-five years after Viet Nam became one of the first countries – ahead of many developed nations – to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the results are clear: this was not merely a commitment on paper, but a transformative step that has helped shape a generation of children who are healthier, better protected, and offered greater opportunities.
Yet in a world transformed by climate change, technological disruption and social pressures, strengthening and upgrading the foundations built by the Convention has become more urgent than ever – and must never be allowed to stall.
A Convention that reshaped the future of childhood in Viet Nam
The first 35 years of CRC implementation reveal significant progress. In 1990, Viet Nam made a pioneering decision to put children at the centre of national development when it ratified the Convention. Since then, with UNICEF’s continued partnership throughout this journey, the essential systems that children rely on have been steadily strengthened: The under-five mortality rate has fallen more than threefold, from 58% in 1990 to 16.9% in 2024. The proportion of children under one year of age who received the full schedule of essential vaccines has reached over 90% (2024). The prevalence of underweight among children under five has decreased nearly fourfold, from 38.7% in 1998 to 10.4% in 2024. Access to education, safe water and improved sanitation has also expanded significantly and continues to strengthen nationwide.
Alongside service improvements, child-related laws and policies have become increasingly comprehensive: the Law on Children; the Family and Juvenile Court – with more child-friendly procedures; and a network of social workers and community-based child protection models. These efforts have together created a stronger foundation for children to grow up safer, healthier, and with more opportunities than previous generations. Most importantly, they mark a shift in societal perceptions – from viewing children merely as recipients of care to recognising them as rights holders with agency, voice and an essential role in the country’s development.
At the ceremony marking 50 years of Viet Nam–UNICEF cooperation and 35 years since Viet Nam ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Deputy Prime Minister Lê Thành Long reaffirmed that the Convention reflects Viet Nam’s strong commitment to protecting, caring for, and educating children. He also commended UNICEF’s steadfast support over many decades, which has made important contributions to national development strategies and the Sustainable Development Goals, and expressed the Government’s desire to continue receiving UNICEF’s close partnership, effective assistance, and collaboration with UN agencies and national and international partners in advancing child-related work in the years ahead.
As an expert on child rights, Ms. Sophie Kiladze, Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, noted: “Over the past three and a half decades, Viet Nam has achieved remarkable progress. These achievements go far beyond legal reforms. Most importantly, they are reflected in the everyday lives of children.”
Beyond survival – children need safety, voice and a sense of being loved
These achievements are undeniable. Yet the journey to fully realise children’s rights is one of continuous improvement. According to the report, 72% of children aged 1–14 continue to experience violent discipline at home – a direct challenge to their right to safety. In education, only 16% of ethnic minority girls and boys complete upper secondary school — with adolescent girls often facing additional barriers linked to early marriage, household responsibilities or limited access to digital resources.
In nutrition and health, more than 200,000 children suffer from acute malnutrition each year but only a small proportion receive appropriate treatment. The resurgence of measles in 2024, following a decline in routine immunisation coverage, is a stark reminder that progress in child health can be reversed at any time if systems are not stable and comprehensive.
These realities indicate that for the gains of the past 35 years to endure, CRC implementation must be updated and advanced to a deeper, stronger level. When fundamental rights such as safety, learning and health remain fragile for many children, the challenges of a rapidly changing world place them at even greater risk.
CRC in a new era – when technology and climate shape childhood
The shifts of a new era are reshaping the lives and childhoods of children in Viet Nam. Climate change is now affecting almost every essential system: schools closing after storms, health stations isolated by floods, water supply disrupted, and air quality increasingly compromised. The climate is changing faster than systems can adapt – and children, despite contributing the least to the crisis, are the most affected.
Yet children are not only those who bear the impacts; they are also part of the solution. At the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP30), to be held in Belém, Brazil in November 2025, Vietnamese students will bring to the global stage the perspectives from their own communities – days of school disrupted by floods, worries about clean water, and the strain of air pollution. Their voices honest and responsible reflect a generation that understands climate risks and seeks to contribute to solutions. CRC provides the framework ensuring that these voices are heard in policy dialogues.
At the same time, digital transformation and artificial intelligence are rewriting how children learn, explore and interact. Opportunities are vast, but so are the risks: digital inequality, cyberbullying, online exploitation, data breaches, and gaps in digital literacy. CRC again serves as a guiding compass, helping Viet Nam build digital skills, ensure online safety, and close the technology gap between different groups of children.
Meanwhile, mental health has emerged as a defining challenge of our time. Around one in five adolescents face mental health issues, yet only a small minority receive appropriate support. This highlights the need for child-serving systems to broaden their focus – protecting not only physical wellbeing but also emotional wellbeing, connection and belonging, all of which are essential for children to thrive.
After more than three decades, the Convention on the Rights of the Child is not only a legacy of the past. In the face of extreme climate events, rapid technological change and profound social transformation, the CRC has become a critical instrument guiding Viet Nam’s pathway forward – towards a future where every girl and boy is safe, heard, loved, and able to reach their full potential
In this context, Ms. June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific, commended Viet Nam’s remarkable progress in placing children and young people at the centre of national policies over the past 35 years. She also underscored three priority areas where UNICEF will continue to support Viet Nam in the years ahead: increasing investments in children and human capital; ensuring safety and empowerment for children within communities; and strengthening the resilience of families and communities to climate change, natural disasters and social shocks.
Speaking on behalf of the Government agency responsible for child affairs, Minister of Health Đào Hồng Lan shared: “Looking ahead, all of our efforts today converge on a single goal: ensuring that every child in Viet Nam grows up in a safe and healthy environment, receives comprehensive care, and has the opportunity to reach their full potential. We firmly believe that through close cooperation, innovation, the application of global knowledge and technology, and the active participation of children themselves, Viet Nam will build a strong foundation for its young generation – contributing to a prosperous and resilient nation.”
