In the Declaration of Independence, Ho Chi Minh cited the 1776 United States Declaration of Independence and the 1791 French Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, affirming that “All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Not only, adults but also all citizens, including children are covered by these fundamental rights.
Children, as citizens of an independent nation, must naturally enjoy all basic rights such as the right to life, the right to freedom, and the right to pursue happiness. Ho Chi Minh emphasized that national independence is not only the freedom of adults but also the freedom and happiness of children - the future generation of the country.
Children's rights in Ho Chi Minh's thought
Ho Chi Minh's ideology always attached great importance to education, considering children as the future of the nation. He once said: "Children are like buds on a branch, knowing how to eat, sleep, and study is good." From this saying, we can see that children's rights as defined by Ho Chi Minh are not only the right to live but also the right to education and comprehensive development.
During the resistance war, despite extremely difficult conditions, Ho Chi Minh always paid attention to protecting and educating children. He called on all people to take care of children, protect them from the harm of war and build a safe environment for them to study and develop. He also emphasized that education must be comprehensive, not only teaching letters but also teaching morality and lifestyle so that children can become useful citizens for society.
The Right to be protected and cared for
During the war, Vietnamese children suffered a lot of pain and loss. Ho Chi Minh and the Communist Party of Vietnam have always emphasized the protection of children's rights, especially the right to be cared for and protected from the dangers of war. From the Declaration of Independence, it can be seen that national independence is not only about freedom from foreign domination but also about building a society in which all children live in a safe environment and develop comprehensively.
President Ho Chi Minh once said: “The elderly can live in peace, children can study.” This clearly shows his view that society must ensure all children have the right to live safely, receive medical care, be educated and develop in all aspects. Children’s rights in Ho Chi Minh’s thought do not stop at ensuring physical safety but also spiritual, moral and intellectual development.
Children's rights in the new social context
After the country gained independence, the top priority of the revolutionary government was to build a just society in which all people, including children, enjoyed basic rights. President Ho Chi Minh always paid attention to building a comprehensive education system, creating conditions for children in all regions, especially disadvantaged areas, to have access to education.
In the new social context, children need to be protected from negative social impacts such as poverty, lack of health care and education. The revolutionary government has developed many policies to protect and promote children's rights, such as exempting tuition fees, providing free textbooks, and providing health care for children in remote areas. This is the realization of human rights values, including children's rights, mentioned in the Declaration of Independence.
Inhesion and development of children's rights in the new era
Based on the ideas and values set forth by Ho Chi Minh and the Declaration of Independence, the Party and State of Vietnam have continued to develop and improve the legal system and policies to protect children's rights. In 1989, Vietnam became one of the first countries in the world to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. This demonstrates Vietnam's strong commitment to protecting and promoting children's rights, based on the fundamental values set forth by President Ho Chi Minh.
In the present era, the protection of children's rights has been expanded with specific policies on protecting children from violence, abuse, child labor and sexual abuse. The State also pays special attention to building a comprehensive learning and development environment for children, including education programs on gender, life skills and children's rights.
Children's rights, from the perspective of Ho Chi Minh's Declaration of Independence, are not only a part of human rights in general but also a core part in building and developing the country. The Declaration of Independence is not only a declaration of national independence but also the foundation for protecting and promoting human rights, including children's rights.
Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on children's rights have laid the foundation for policies and laws to protect children in Vietnam. Up to now, children's rights have always been respected and developed by the Party, the State and the whole society, towards a future where all children can live in peace, happiness and comprehensive development.