Blue Dragon joins national conversation on child protection in Vietnam
June 11, 2026
Recent high-profile cases have sparked important discussions across Vietnam about how we can better protect children from abuse and neglect.
This month, Blue Dragon co-CEO Skye Maconachie and Program Director Giang To joined Vietnam Today to share insights from Blue Dragon’s decades of child protection work.
The interview covered the warning signs of abuse, the importance of early intervention and the role that all of us can play in keeping children safe.
Recognising the signs
One of the key messages from the discussion was that children often show signs of abuse long before they have the words to explain what is happening.
Abuse can take many forms, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse, neglect, bullying, exploitation and trafficking. Skye shares that adults should pay attention to changes in a child’s behaviour.
“A child may become withdrawn, anxious or fearful,” she shares. “Others may become aggressive or begin acting out behaviours they are experiencing themselves.”
Schools and kindergartens play a particularly important role because teachers and staff see children every day so are well placed to notice changes in behaviour.
When concerns arise, reporting them to the appropriate authorities is critical so that children can receive the protection and support they need.
Building safer environments for children
The discussion highlighted several approaches that have proven effective around the world in preventing abuse and helping children stay safe.
These include educating children about their rights and personal safety, supporting parents to use positive parenting approaches and strengthening safeguarding systems in schools and communities.
Skye pointed to the value of parenting education that helps caregivers understand children’s developmental stages and respond in ways that support healthy growth and wellbeing.
“The goal is not to raise children who obey out of fear,” she said. “The goal is to raise children who learn and thrive and know how to navigate this world.”
Strengthening child protection in Vietnam
Vietnam has made significant progress in developing systems to protect children, including legal frameworks and child protection mechanisms at national and local levels.
Looking ahead, Skye emphasises the importance of continuing to strengthen expertise, coordination and collaboration across the agencies and professionals responsible for protecting children.
A shared responsibility
Protecting children is not the responsibility of one organisation or one government agency alone. Parents, teachers, relatives, neighbours and community members all have a role to play in creating safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive.
As Skye concludes: “We need to speak up for children who cannot speak up for themselves.”
