Joining hands to promote the return of early marriage
In Muong Long commune, a purely Mong commune located on the high border of Nghe An bordering Laos, the signing of a commitment not to get married by students of schools has become a familiar image in recent years. On the simple documents are the promises of the students to their families, schools and local authorities about saying no to early marriage and consanguineous marriage. It is not just an administrative procedure, but an effort to stop a perennial custom, to protect the future of the students and the community.
However, reality shows that child marriage is still a "difficult problem" in many mountainous areas of Nghe An. Accordingly, in 2021, there were 109 child marriage cases, in 2022, there were 295 cases, in 2023 there were 230 cases, in 2024 there were 108 cases, in 2025 there were 95 cases. In Muong Long alone, from 2023 to now, there have been more than 60 cases of child marriage.
In recent years, implementing the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the period 2021-2025, Nghe An province has implemented many solutions and methods to reduce the problem of early marriage and consanguineous marriage.
The Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions has organized more than 12,844 participants, with 91 direct propaganda conferences at 14 model locations in Nam Can, Huoi Tu, Nhon Mai, Tri Le, Mon Son communes and 6 secondary schools (semester, boarding) of Tri Le, Ky Son, Tam Quang, Thong Thu communes.
In addition, the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions has organized a propaganda integration in the implementation of other ethnic programs and policies in the area. The Department has also compiled and distributed 2,810 Q&A notebooks to people, 80 dia CDs, VCDs; 60,000 leaflets and flyers; 15 posters and posters; 60 encouragement paintings and slogans in Vietnamese on the harmful effects and solutions for preventing and combating early marriage and consanguineous marriage.
In addition, the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religions organized 23 training courses to improve capacity with 3,580 participants; organized 5 study trips and exchanged experiences in the Northern and Southern provinces with 200 participants; organized a contest to learn about the Law on Marriage and Family at boarding and daycare centers.
Along with that, provincial departments and branches such as the Women's Union, Justice, Public Security, Provincial Youth Union, Health, Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism have also actively participated in propaganda, mobilization, raising awareness of early marriage and consanguineous marriage, in accordance with the functions and tasks of each unit.
Change from thinking to action
In recent years, along with major programs and policies of the Central Government, Nghe An has devoted many resources to ethnic minority and mountainous areas. Notably, the National Target Program 1719 for the period 2021-2025, with hundreds of infrastructure projects invested, from transportation, electricity, domestic water, schools, health stations to grassroots cultural institutions.
Improved infrastructure not only helps people travel and trade more conveniently, but also creates conditions for educational, medical, and cultural services to access deeper into community life. When the road to school is no longer too difficult, when the village has a cultural house, a sports playground, children and adolescents have more healthy living space, that is an important premise for forming a civilized lifestyle.
In parallel with infrastructure investment, creating livelihoods and increasing income for people is identified as a fundamental solution. Many agricultural and forestry production models in the direction of commodities, collective economy, and cooperatives have been effective. From raising cattle, fish in lake cages, growing medicinal herbs under forest canopy to developing indigenous products associated with e-commerce, people not only escape poverty but gradually become rich legitimately.
When economic life is improved, the mentality of waiting and relying is gradually replaced by the desire to rise up. This is an important condition for families to pay more attention to their children's education, thereby contributing to reducing the risk of child marriage and other bad customs.
Along with economic development, Nghe An focuses on building a healthy and community-rich cultural environment. The consideration of awarding the titles of "Cultural Family", "Cultural Village", "Outstanding Commune" is implemented in a practical direction, focusing on quality instead of chasing achievements. The models associated with the Great National Unity Festival with traditional cultural activities have contributed to strengthening cohesion, arousing people's pride and responsibility towards the community.
In many mountainous localities, the easily noticeable changes are that village roads and alleys are cleanly renovated, art and sports clubs are bustling, customs in weddings and businesses are gradually eliminated. A new life is formed not by administrative orders, but through the consensus and self-awareness of the people.
