October 23, 2015
UNICEF Viet Nam: Invisible Children and the Case for Anthropology
An international organization committed to the promotion of children’s rights for the betterment of young people everywhere, UNICEF’s operations in Viet Nam correspondingly aim to ensure that child development is an equitable endeavor. As a Social Policy and Governance Intern, my responsibilities included compiling research on children’s rights to information and participation as codified in the universally ratified UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This was done with specific reference to similar child-focused legislation enacted in Viet Nam and surrounding Southeast Asian nations. The studies and policy briefs resulting from this research would go on to inform efforts to develop social policies that specifically target the unique developmental challenges faced by Viet Nam’s ethnic minority children. Though lacking the economics and international relations background often sought after in development work, my anthropological studies proved to be immaterial throughout my internship experience. Understanding the hindrances to the socioeconomic advancement of Viet Nam’s 53 ethnic minority groups will be a key part of the nation’s journey towards transcending its status as a middle-income country.
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