Hanoi (VNA) – A number of queries aboutmeasures to address child sexual abuse were put to Minister of Labour, War Invalidsand Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung at the question-and-answer (Q&A) session ofthe 14th National Assembly’s fifth meeting in Hanoi on June 5.

Dung noted the fact that 59.9 percent of sexualcrimes against children were committed by the victims’ relatives andacquaintances.

“It is necessary to strengthen State managementand coordination between the Ministries of Public Security and Labour, WarInvalids and Social Affairs and People’s Committees to improve the legalsystem,” he said.

The minister recommended increasing theresponsibilities of families, schools and society and promoting theimplementation of legal regulations on child protection and child rights.

Efforts should be accelerated to strictly dealwith violations, he stressed.

Increasing public services to protect children,especially the operation of the emergency telephone number for child protection111, is needed.

The most important thing is focusing oneducating life skills and self-protection skills for children, Dung said.

He noted that in the Action Month for Childrenin June, his ministry will propose the Government organise an online conferenceon enhancing measures to prevent violence against children, including childsexual abuse.

Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’sProcuracy Le Minh Tri said in the first six months of 2018, criminalproceedings were launched against 701 child sexual abuse cases with 805defendants and 735 cases (including pending cases) were prosecuted  with 649 defendants.

The country’s Law on Child Protection, the PenalCode, the Criminal Code and the Civil Code all contain chapters on protectingthe rights of children, he said, adding the important thing at present isensuring synchronous execution of legal regulations.

In December 2017, the Ministry of PublicSecurity collaborated with the Supreme People’s Procurary and some ministriesto issue a joint circular on coordination to receive and handle denunciationsand prosecutions for criminal offences, especially those involving child sexualabuse, he said.

Chief Judge of the Supreme People’s Court NguyenHoa Binh said courts at all levels handled 8,100 child sexual abuse cases from2013 to 2017.

Minister of Public Security To Lam said thenumber of child sexual abuse cases in the first five months of 2018 reduced by7.7 percent from the same period last year.

The ministry will closely work with Ministriesof Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, and Education and Training as wellas socio-political organisations and legal protection agencies to take measuresto prevent child sexual abuse. It is essential to have special procedures toinvestigate such cases.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam,friendly investigations are needed to help the victims and family membersdenounce violations.-VNA