Child abuse case at Hoa Hong Shelter: Licensed to raise no more than 39 children but inspection found 85 children

At the time of the inspection of the Rose Shelter, the authorities discovered that there were 85 children and 15 staff members. However, according to the operating license, this shelter is only allowed to take care of no more than 39 children.

Rose Shelter is only licensed to take care of no more than 39 children.

Regarding the case of child abuse at Hoa Hong Shelter, on the evening of September 4, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City issued a quick report on the incident.

According to the department, this shelter is licensed to operate but is only allowed to raise and care for no more than 39 children, but when the authorities checked, there were 85 children.

Specifically, Hoa Hong Shelter is a non-public social assistance facility that does not charge fees, and was granted operating license No. 917/GPHD by the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of District 12 on July 7, 2023. The shelter's function and task is to assist and nurture disadvantaged children, abandoned children, orphans, street children... with a number of no more than 39 children.

This shelter operates in Trung My Tay ward (District 12, Ho Chi Minh City) and the representative is Ms. Giap Thi Song Huong (born in 1974, residing in Go Vap district).

During the day, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City, together with the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of District 12 and related units, were present at the Hoa Hong Shelter to verify and inspect. At the time of inspection, the authorities recorded 85 children present at the shelter. Of these, 15 were under 12 months old; 36 were from 12 months to under 36 months old.

Authorities take care of children at Rose Shelter

In addition, 30 children aged 36 months to 72 months (currently attending Soc Bong Kindergarten, No. 18F Quan Tre Street, Ward 1, Trung My Tay Ward, District 12); 3 children aged 6 to 12 years old and 1 child is being treated at the hospital. The number of employees at the time of inspection was 15 employees.

The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of District 12 is reviewing regulations on the operating conditions of the Rose Shelter; advising the People's Committee of District 12 to direct the District Police, the People's Committee of Trung My Tay Ward and relevant authorities to coordinate in handling violations of Children's Rights according to law; proposing to transfer 85 children at the shelter to public social protection facilities, to isolate children from environments at risk of violence and abuse.