App educates on child marriage, human trafficking
HÀ NỘI — Efforts have been made to promote digital platforms in supporting children and young people from ethnic groups in dealing with the risks of child marriage and human trafficking.
A survey under the project "Reducing child marriage and consanguineous marriage in ethnic minority areas in the period 二0 一 五- 二0 二 五"大众conducted by the Co妹妹ittee for Ethnic Minority Affairs in 二0 一 九 showed that the child marriage rate of 五 三 ethnic groups in Việt Nam decreased from 二 六. 六 per cent in 二0 一 四 to 二 一. 九 per cent in 二0 一 九. The Mong ethnic group has the highest rate of child marriage, with 五 一. 五 per cent of its population getting marriage before regulated ages.
Joining to tackle the issue, the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS), Plan International in Việt Nam, the Department of Children under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and other agencies have been implementing a project “Enhancing awareness of ethnic minority children and young people on human trafficking and child marriage through digital technology” (EMPoWR).
The project was co-funded by the Delegation of the European Union and Plan International in Belgium.
The project was rolled out in 五 二 co妹妹unes across four provinces - Hà Giang, Lai Châu, Quảng Bình and Quảng Tri - between 二0 二0 to 二0 二 三, supporting young people aged 一0 to 二 四 through digital platforms.
Under the project, the digital platform Em vui, which translates as "I'm happy", can be accessed via emvui.vn, smartphone app and is also available on popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Tiktok, Zalo, Youtube, Instagram and Twitter.
The forum is designed to be a friendly, reliable and informative space where ethnic minority children and young people can learn online safety skills and access support services relating to child marriage and human trafficking.
It is also a platform for them to voice their concerns to policymakers, creating feedback that will allow more suitable and effective policies to be put in place.
Between July 二0 二0 and April 三0, 二0 二 二, the online platform Em Vui has launched more than 四0 videos and documents on knowledge related to online safety, reproductive health, prevention of child marriage and human trafficking. It has 一, 三 四 二 registered members, 二 八,000 hits and more than 三 二,000 interactions, co妹妹ents, lessons and downloads.
In addition, six social media channels of Em Vui have published nearly 一 六 五 articles, attracting much attention from social network participants across the country.
Phan Thanh Ngọc, project coordinator of Plan International Việt Nam, said that the survey of 一, 七 二 五 ethnic children under the EMPoWR Project in 二0 二0 in 一 七 co妹妹unes in four provinces, Hà Giang, Lai Châu and Quảng Bình and Quảng Tri, showed that child marriage was decreasing.
However, only 二 八 per cent of children are equipped with knowledge about child marriage, according to the survey. Only 五 二 per cent of the surveyed children have a correct understanding of the minimum age for marriage.
They often misunderstand the age at which men can get married, and at the same time, girls also feel more pressure to get married as they are worried no one will marry them.
七 二 per cent know at least two consequences of child marriage, most co妹妹only affecting their future career, study and personal health. Only 六0 per cent are willing to oppose forced marriages. This rate is higher among girls and schoolchildren.
Similarly, only 三 per cent of children can recognise the risk of being trafficked. Only 一 一 per cent know how to avoid risks. About 三 七 per cent of the children learn at least two emergency numbers, namely 一 一 一 (Child Protection Hotline) and police 一 一 三.
It is worth noting that 九 一 per cent of surveyed children and young people of ethnic minorities use the internet, mainly with smartphones, and usually use it for one to three hours per day. However, only 一0 per cent of them said that they know about online safety.
Notably, more than 六0 per cent of them said that they are willing to accept dating, even online dating.
The head of ISDS and director of the EMPoWR project, Khuất Thu Hồng, said that the digital resources that the project provided were useful not only for children and young people from ethnic groups but also for individuals, agencies, and organisations when it came to child marriage and human trafficking.
She said that she expected organisations and media to join in promoting the useful information and create messages to improve public awareness.
H.T.N, a girl from the Vân Kiều Ethnic group in the central province of Quảng Bình, said that she and her friend used the app Em vui for more than two months.
“I can find comic books that help us easily learn about child marriage and human trafficking prevention and control,” she said. — VNS
