Vietnam has just revised, supplemented and issued many legal documents showing its determination and commitment to fighting against the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography.

To further the protection of rights of the child, the Government just proposed the State President to consider and decide the withdrawal of its reservation about Items 1, 2, 3 and 4 in Article 5 on extradition as stipulated in the Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography which is a supplementation to the Convention of the Rights of the Child.

When ratifying the Protocol on September 6, 2001, the State President adopted some above mentioned reservations. At that time, Vietnam had not inked or joined any multilateral protocol on criminal extradition.

However, since then, many legal documents have been issued, amended and supplemented to enhance child protection.

Many documents on extradition have been adopted, laying the legal foundation for international cooperation in extradition of criminals in general and offences in child sale, child prostitution and child pornography in particular.

So far, Vietnam has signed more than 20 judicial assistance agreements on crime control and extradition. Furthermore, its current legal system becomes more asymptotic to the Protocol.

Thus, according to the Government, the withdrawal of reservations is necessary to consolidate the international legal framework, bringing about chances for better cooperation in child protection and more effective prevention of child abuse, child trafficking and child pornography.

The Government also suggested the improvement of public awareness of criminal prevention, protection of rights of children, qualification of judicial staff, and technical foundation for extradition work.

VietNamNet/VGP