Ho Chi Minh City launched a 24/7 child protection hotline on October 22 to receive reports of child abuse, violence, maltreatment and illegal child labour. The hotline also receives reports involving women experiencing violence or abuse who need support.
Integrated into the city’s hotline system, hotline 1022 replaces the previous counselling hotline 1900.545.559. It aims to speed up responses, strengthen coordination between agencies and ensure the safety of people seeking assistance.
Nguyen Tang Minh, deputy director of the municipal Department of Health, said the hotline establishes a unified, transparent and confidential process for handling reports. Operators assess cases, identify their location and forward the information to the nearest responsible unit within five minutes. Urgent cases are handled within one working day, while routine cases must be resolved within three working days.
The Social Work and Youth Vocational Training Centre of Ho Chi Minh City coordinates with relevant agencies, local authorities, police and healthcare facilities. They verify reports, provide assistance and protect victims. Information about reports and handling outcomes is updated in the system, while the confidentiality of informants and applicants is maintained.
Nguyen Thi Thuy Duong, deputy director of the centre, said standardised procedures help ensure the proper handling of information and evidence relating to violence against children and vulnerable women. Depending on each case, the centre provides direct support or connects victims with relevant experts and organisations.
The former hotline assisted children subjected to abuse and violence, abandoned and street children, and those facing psychological, health or legal difficulties. Support included psychological and legal assistance, healthcare and follow-up protection. Disadvantaged children with health problems also received medical examinations and regular nutritional support through a project supporting and accompanying families.
Statistics show that the former hotline received 162 calls in 2021, 248 in 2022 and 282 in 2023. The calls covered abuse and violence, psychological counselling and legal assistance.
The city’s health sector will continue communication and preventive education, raise awareness of the risks of school violence and abuse, and improve procedures for receiving reports, providing medical care and emergency psychological support, and preserving evidence in cases involving child victims.
The Ho Chi Minh City Association for Children’s Rights Protection will also strengthen coordination among relevant parties to support children’s reintegration into the community.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
