ĐỒNG THÁP – The Provincial Child Friendly Programme (PCFP) funded by UNICEF has helped more than 3,600 vulnerable children in the Mekong Delta province of Đồng Tháp.According to the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Đồng Tháp Province has a population of nearly 1.7 million people, with 374,000 children, accounting for 23.57 percent of the population. The province is one of the localities with the most juvenile offenders in Việt Nam.The PCFP was launched in Đồng Tháp Province in 2012, aiming to protect and provide public services for vulnerable children, along with the provincial Children Protection plan in 2011-2016.After four years, the programme has run several activities such as providing financial support, vocational training and health care for children and ensuring their basic rights. It also improved self-defence skills for about 2,800 children, lowering child abuse cases by 50 percent.—VNS
