Ho Chi Minh City Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs informs about child abuse at Hoa Hong Shelter

Regarding the child abuse case that occurred at Hoa Hong Shelter (L52 To Ky, Trung My Tay Ward, District 12), on the afternoon of September 4, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City held a press conference to inform about the case and take initial action.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tang Minh, Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City, by 4:00 p.m. on September 4, the units under the department and the relevant authorities had brought 85 children to 3 public facilities under the department, of which 15 children were brought to the Go Vap District Child Care and Protection Center; 36 children to Thu Duc Children's Village and 34 children to Tam Binh Child Care and Protection Center.

According to the authorities, at the time of inspection of this facility on the morning of September 4, out of 85 children, 15 were under 12 months old; 36 were from 12 months to under 36 months old; 30 were from 36 months to under 72 months old; 3 were from 6 to 12 years old; and 1 was being treated at the hospital. The number of staff at the shelter at the time of work was 16 people.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thanh Phung, Head of the Department of Social Protection (Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City), the Department's Working Group; the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of District 12, the People's Committee of Trung My Tay Ward and a number of related agencies are coordinating to check information and determine the needs of children, implement intervention measures, and support children according to Decree 56/2017/ND-CP and Decision No. 2017/QD-UBND dated June 8, 2020 of the City People's Committee on "Issuing the Procedure for coordinating support, intervention, and handling of cases of children suffering from violence, abuse, and sexual abuse in Ho Chi Minh City", ensuring that the intervention process to support children is in accordance with the provisions of law to ensure the rights, interests and best development of children.

Currently, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of District 12 is reviewing regulations on the operating conditions of Hoa Hong Shelter; at the same time, advising the People's Committee of District 12 to direct the District Police, the People's Committee of Trung My Tay Ward and relevant authorities to coordinate in handling violations of children's rights according to the law.

District 12 police worked with Ms. Giap Thi Song Huong, the owner of the facility, the person suspected of child abuse, and the facility's employees.

According to the city's Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, authorities are urgently handling, investigating, verifying and clarifying those involved in the child abuse that occurred at the Rose Shelter.

The Department also requested the City Children's Rights Protection Association to assign the Bar Association to coordinate with District 12 units to have a plan to protect the legal rights and interests of children and their families (if any); direct child care centers to prepare facilities, personnel and resources to promptly receive children for care and nurturing.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tang Minh, Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City, the protection of children, especially groups of children in special circumstances, is always of concern to the city, sectors and levels.

Agencies and localities have many policies to support and create conditions for children to live and develop in a truly safe and healthy environment. However, this is a case that has "slipped through the net" unintentionally by the authorities despite regular inspections.

Therefore, in the coming time, the city's Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs will directly increase regular and unscheduled inspections and supervision to avoid similar cases.

Regarding this incident, on the afternoon of September 4, Vice Chairwoman of the City People's Committee Tran Thi Dieu Thuy directed relevant departments, branches and local authorities to urgently clarify the incident.

The leaders of the City People's Committee assigned the People's Committee of District 12 to preside over and coordinate with the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the City Police and relevant units to urgently inspect, verify the case and strictly handle it according to the law to deter acts of child abuse, violence and molestation.

The leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee assigned the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to coordinate with the Department of Information and Communications, the City Association for the Protection of Children's Rights, relevant departments, agencies, organizations and the People's Committees of districts, towns and Thu Duc City to promote propaganda and dissemination of legal regulations on child care and protection; at the same time, regularly monitor and inspect to promptly detect, prevent and strictly handle acts of violence and abuse against children in the city.

Ho Chi Minh City currently has 79 social assistance facilities for raising children; of which there are 16 public facilities and 63 non-public facilities.

Hoa Hong Shelter is a non-public social assistance facility that does not charge fees, licensed by the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of District 12 under operating license No. 917/GPHD dated July 7, 2023 with the functions and tasks of assisting and nurturing disadvantaged children, abandoned children, orphans, and street children.

The subject serves to care for children in special circumstances, the number of which does not exceed 39 children in Trung My Tay Ward, District 12, Ho Chi Minh City. The legal representative is Ms. Giap Thi Song Huong, born in 1974, permanent address at 94/1053D Street No. 20, Ward 6, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City.