Press Release

Youth offer policy solutions to the revised Youth Law in commemoration of the 2018 International Youth Day

10 August 2018

HA NOI, 10 August 2018 – A group of young Vietnamese people today had their voices heard on the revision of Youth Law of Viet Nam at a policy dialogue with the Ministry of Home Affairs and relevant stakeholders.

The policy dialogue is part of a series of activities to celebrate 2018 International Youth Day (12 August), organized by the United Nations in Viet Nam and the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Youth Union.

Featuring the theme “Safe and friendly Spaces for Youth,” this year International Youth Day promotes generation of environments, mechanisms and platforms for young people of diverse backgrounds, ages, genders, sexual orientations, with disabilities, etc, to fully grow, engage and contribute to the revision of Youth Law.

“This is a unique opportunity for us to participate and contribute directly to youth-related policy and law development. In reality, apart from the Youth Union, there is limited open and youth-friendly mechanisms for the non-Youth Union members to voice their opinions. Vulnerable groups often have more difficulty in accessing information and knowledge to demand solutions for challenges and realistic needs such as school fee, employment, shelter, social acceptance, gender-based violence, migration, etc. I hope that youth will be empowered more to boost their confidence while participating in such process!” 21-year-old Vu Van An from Ho Chi Minh City, shared.

An also took part in a two-day capacity building workshop prior to the event that gathered 30 young people from varying groups to gain the knowledge of policy development and skills for evidence-based advocacy for youth-related policies and programs. Discussions about the Youth Law revision focused on areas of education and culture, health and sports, employment, youth participation and gender equality.

Deputy Director of the Department of Youth Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Doan Duc Hao said: “The Ministry of Home Affairs will collaborate with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to collect opinions from youth for the Youth Law revision. Through discussions, youth will have the chance to voice their perspectives, aspirations and offer their own solutions with the government on issues relating their legit rights and benefits.”

Michael Croft, UNESCO’s Head of Office in Viet Nam, Vice Chair of Thematic Group on Adolescents and Youth of UN in Viet Nam addressed to hundreds youth at the Celebration event at the National Economics University on 10th August, “In the context of Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development, the One UN in Viet Nam is committed to strengthening national policies and systems for enhanced results for young people especially vulnerable groups. Promoting youth engagement is part of the approach of partnerships for and with youth.”

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Note to the editors:

International Youth Day:

Recognizing the importance of youth and the need to address issues surrounding them, in 1999, the United Nations General Assembly declared 12 August International Youth Day, creating an opportunity to celebrate young peoples’ views and initiatives and to call governments to address youth related issues worldwide.

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