Empowering young digital citizens

UNICEF and partners explore the opportunities and risks that Viet Nam’s digital evolution presents for children

Junior reporters participating in the UNICEF-supported workshop
© UNICEF Viet Nam/2012

As Viet Nam experiences rapid growth in access to mobile phones and the Internet, UNICEF and partners are focusing attention on the impact of this digital expansion on children in the country. According to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Internet penetration in Viet Nam doubled between 2006 and 2011 while the number of mobile phone subscriptions per 100 inhabitants jumped from 22 to 143 during the same time period – and children and young people are at the forefront of this surge in use.

Protecting child victims of commercial sexual exploitation

Children are entering prostitution at a younger age than five years ago
This photo is for illustration purpose only!
© UN Viet Nam\shutterstock48041263\Jose AS Reyes

Linh* was born into a poor family in Chau Doc, a small town in the Mekong Delta region of Viet Nam. She did not enjoy school and dropped out without completing lower secondary level. Despite her parents’ concerns, Linh followed the path of many young people from her region and headed to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) to look for a job. She was only 16 years old and knew very little about Viet Nam’s biggest city.

Sea change: The "Making of" video

An instructional video capturing the process of making the participatory short film entitled "Sea Change" by a group of Vietnamese young reporters in May 2012.

"Sea Change" is part of a 3 country project with UNICEF Vietnam, the Democracy Center in Bolivia and UNICEF UK that combines young people's expressions and viewpoints on climate change in their own countries into one unified voice. The Viet Nam film workshop is funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy to Viet Nam and managed by UNICEF Viet Nam.