Hanoi (VNA) - A meeting on bullying at school and online in ASEAN was held onNovember 26 by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), theASEAN Secretariat, and the United Nations Children’sFund (UNICEF).

The online conference saw the participation of representatives from the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protectionof the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), ASEAN specialist bodies working in education,health, information and communications, the ASEAN Secretariat, the UNICEF officein Vietnam, international organisations, and ASEAN partners.

In her opening address, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social AffairsNguyen Thi Ha said she highly values the cooperation and support of UNICEF, developmentpartners, donors, specialist agencies from ASEAN, and civil and non-governmentalorganisations for their technical and financial support for activities to promotechildren’s rights in general and to protect them from bullying at school and onthe internet in particular.

She suggested strengthening cooperation between ACWC and other specialist agencies within ASEAN, and between ASEAN member countries andother countries around the world, to work towards ending bullying and violence at school andonline and creating a suitable environment for children’s comprehensivedevelopment.

Delegates exchanged views on bullying at school and online around the world andin ASEAN in particular.

They also shared good practice and made recommendations to relevant ASEAN bodiesto address the issue.

The conference is part of the ACWC’s working planin the 2016-2020 period, in the context of the increasing risk to children frombullying at school and online.

ACWC was established in Hanoi on April 7,2010, on the occasion of the 16th ASEAN Summit. It works to promote, protect, respect,and implement the rights of women and children in ASEAN./.