The MAG Vietnam Vol 8 April 2017 | Page 15

Local Interest
The Surpreme People ’ s Procuracy , the nation ’ s premier prosecuting agency , has requested changes in the Penal Code to facilitate investigations into and legal proceedings against child sex abuse suspects .— Photo daibieunhandan . vn
“ HÀ NỘI — The Surpreme People ’ s Procuracy , the nation ’ s premier prosecuting agency , has requested changes in the Penal Code to facilitate investigations into and legal proceedings against child sex abuse suspects . This request was made last month at a meeting of the National Assembly ’ s Justice Committee and the Committee for Culture , Education , Youth , Adolescents and Children in Hà Nội .
The Ministry of Labour , Invalids and Social Affairs ( MoLISA ) estimates that around 2,000 Vietnamese children face violence and abuse annually , of whom 1,200 suffer sexual abuse . Among these , more than 13 per cent are girls below the age of six .
But the real number of Vietnamese children being sexually abused may be much higher , said MoLISA deputy minister Đào Hồng Lan .
Lan said that in Việt Nam , sexual abuse , especially of children , was such a culturally sensitive issue that the families of both victims and offenders do not want such incidents to be publicly revealed . The victim ’ s family fears that public exposure would affect the future of their children .
The Supreme People ’ s Procuracy is proposing special investigation methods be applied in cases were a child is sexually abused , the representatives said .”
Nguyễn Thu Hà , Chairwoman of the Việt Nam Women ’ s Union , said media needs to be required to keep victims ’ information confidential , and schools should take sex education very seriously . - VNS
Read more at http :// vietnamnews . vn / politics-laws / 373641 / prosecutors-want-changes-in-law-investigation-methods-to-handle-sexual-abuse-of-children . html # 4e0y2YLYl6DIGyfS . 99
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