Sharing at the working session, Deputy Minister Hoàng Đạo Cương stated that juvenile crime, violence, and anti-social behavior are major challenges to community safety, public health, and sustainable development.There is increasing evidence and policy consensus that well-designed sports-based intervention programs can play a significant role in addressing these issues. In Southeast Asia, ASEAN member countries have recognized the role of sports in social development and crime prevention.
Deputy Minister Hoàng Đạo Cương received the Senior Advisor of the Sports Alliance, Mr. Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee, on the morning of April 11.
The Deputy Minister also emphasized that integrating sports into youth crime prevention is essential in today's era. Therefore, in his capacity as the Senior Advisor of the Sports Alliance, currently leading the work of the Sports Alliance in Southeast Asia, the Deputy Minister hopes that the meeting with Mr. Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee will bring many opportunities for Vietnam in this field.
Delighted to meet Deputy Minister Hoàng Đạo Cương, Mr. Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee expressed his desire to share about the Sports Alliance as well as the important project that this organization hopes to implement widely in the Southeast Asia region.
Accordingly, in the near future, the International Olympic Committee and the French Development Agency, along with an alliance led by the Sports Alliance in Criminal Justice, will launch the Sports and Youth Crime Prevention Initiative in Southeast Asia.
This initiative is derived from the initiative to integrate sports into youth crime prevention and build resilience in society, initiated by Thailand. The initiative aligns with the first priority area of the ASEAN Action Plan on Sports 2021-2025, highlighting the role of sports in promoting peace and development while also demonstrating the commitments made at the ASEAN Sports Ministers' Conference and previous high-level meetings.
The Southeast Asia Sports and Youth Crime Prevention Initiative will contribute to the International Olympic Committee's Olympism 365 strategy and the French Development Agency's mission of using sports as a tool to promote the Sustainable Development Goals, supporting the transition to a fairer and more sustainable world.
Given the importance of the initiative, Mr. Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee hopes that Vietnam will participate actively and proactively. Along with that, Mr. Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee proposed introducing this initiative at the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting and the ASEAN Sports Ministers' Meeting to be held in October in Vietnam. This will be an important opportunity for this initiative to be widely promoted to the member countries of the region. According to Mr. Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee, a representative of the International Olympic Committee, he will also participate in this event.
According to Mr. Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee, a representative of the International Olympic Committee, he will also participate in this event. Deputy Director of the Vietnam Sports Administration, Le Thi Hoang Yen, will also attend the meeting.
Deputy Minister Hoàng Đạo Cương appreciated the activities that the Sports Alliance has implemented and affirmed the importance of sports in achieving the goal of providing a healthy life for the younger generation, thereby reducing the incidence of crime among teenagers.
The Deputy Minister also expressed full support for the initiative shared by Mr. Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee. Accordingly, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will create conditions and coordinate at the highest level with the Southeast Asian Sports and Youth Crime Prevention Initiative.
To ensure the initiative is implemented successfully in Vietnam, it is necessary to develop content and maintain continuous communication through online and in-person meetings, the Deputy Minister emphasized.
Huyen Trang