At the meeting, many delegates agreed that in Southeast Asiaregion, social work has not been recognised as a professional jobby law. Many countries have yet to realize the importance of social work in people's lives and in governance to ensure the provision of services and support to disadvantaged groups. Resources-related challenges, including professional personnel with appropriate skills, knowledge and attitudes, as well as financial resources in social work, are barriers to develop social work in the ASEAN region in particular and in the world in general.
According to UNICEF East Asia and the Pacific Regional Director Karin Hulshof, strengthening the social service delivery force is a priority in UNICEF's Strategic Plan for the period of2018-2021 to ensure every child is protected from violence and exploitation, while contribute to the achievement of the sustainable development goals.
Speaking at the event, Le Tan Dung, Deputy Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs said that with the country's historical characteristics, the number of people needing access to social work services in Vietnam is very large, reaching about 20 million people, accounting for over 20% of the total population. The Vietnamese Government has also issued many legal documents, creating important legal premises for ministries, branches and localities to step by step develop professional social work in Vietnam.
However, Vietnam also should to strengthen the legal framework for the development of social work jobs through the development of a separate law on social work to serve as a basis for adjusting the relevant content in the sectors, which are now governed by specialized laws.
Vietnam looks forward to working with ASEAN member countries and UNICEF, along with other partners to develop the ASEAN Declaration on Promotion of Social Work, which is expected to be submitted to ASEAN leaders in November 2020 for ratification in order to affirm ASEAN's political support and commitment to the development of social work in the region in the coming time, aiming to the goal of No one will be left behind of the United Nations.
