Hanoi, November 27, 2025 – The Europe Today: The United Nations has lauded Việtnam for its exceptional progress in protecting and nurturing children over the past five decades, transforming from a country recovering from war to one achieving notable success across child-focused sustainable development goals.
Speaking at a ceremony in Hànoi on Wednesday marking 50 years of Việtnam–UNICEF cooperation and 35 years since Việtnam ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific June Kunugi praised Việtnam’s long-standing commitment to putting children at the centre of national development.
“There are millions of lives transformed. Việt Nam has shown the world what happens when children are placed at the heart of national development,” she said.
UNICEF became the first UN agency to establish a presence in Việt Nam in 1975, immediately after the country’s reunification. Kunugi highlighted how the partnership had evolved from emergency relief efforts into an enduring collaboration that continues to shape child welfare policies and systems nationwide.
“What began as an emergency relief operation became a lasting partnership that continues to transform the lives of girls and boys in whole societies. Yesterday, with life-saving health, nutrition and education support; today, with world-class strategies where UNICEF brings its expertise and best international practices to the child rights agenda of the 21st century,” she said.
Kunugi underscored the country’s major milestones since the 1970s, including dramatic reductions in child mortality, the eradication of polio and neonatal tetanus, expanded access to clean water and sanitation, and sustained success in universal education. She also commended Việt Nam’s efforts to integrate children with disabilities and those from ethnic minority communities into early childhood education, reflecting a wider national dedication to inclusive development.
Amid emerging challenges such as demographic shifts, climate change and pollution, the UNICEF official called for continued strong investment in health, education and social welfare. She emphasised the need for resilience-building, shock-responsive social protection and child-centred climate policies as environmental pressures intensify across the region.
UNICEF, she added, remains committed to supporting Việt Nam with evidence-based policymaking and global best practices as the country advances ambitious reforms.
“We will continue to support the government and our partners to close remaining gaps, safely harness digital opportunities, and prepare young people for the future economy — with climate resilience and social inclusion at the heart of every policy. Together, we can turn ambition into action and make Việt Nam a model for children and their rights in the region and in the world,” Kunugi said.
Deputy Prime Minister Lê Thành Long reaffirmed Việtnam’s long-standing prioritisation of child protection and development, highlighting progress in healthcare, nutrition, education and legal frameworks. He noted that under-five and infant mortality rates, along with underweight and stunting levels among young children, had significantly decreased since the early 2000s. Between 2022 and 2024 alone, child fatalities caused by accidents and injuries declined by 3–5 per cent each year.
He also recalled that Việtnam was the first country in Asia and the second worldwide to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1990, embedding child rights firmly into national policy and setting a strong foundation for future progress.
