The United Nations General Assembly, on December 13, 2006, adopted the International Convention on the rights of people with disabilities. The convention is the first global document in human history, affirming the rights of disabled people. It asserts that disabled people are recognized as having full rights and human dignity, like other members of our communities and should enjoy equal treatment and opportunities in society. In addition, on March 20, 2007, in New York, as many as 81 UN-member countries signed up to the convention.
At present, Vietnam has more than 5.3 million people with disabilities, accounting for 6.4 percent of its total population. It’s worth noting that about 69 percent of disabled people are of working age. Disabled people need suitable and comprehensive healthcare services, education, and cultural and vocational training activities in order to aid them in seeking employment, receiving equal treatment and fully integrating into the community.
Currently, Vietnam has adopted policies on disabled people with regulated documents showing due attention of the Party and State to disabled people, such as the ordinance on disabled people, issued in 1998, the Labour Code, the Law on Education, the Law on Information Technology and the Law on Vocational Training, which all have special articles mentioning disabled people.
As planned, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs will develop the Law on disabled people to submit to the National Assembly for approval in 2008.
In the Asia-Pacific region, Vietnam’s efforts in supporting the disabled have been in the international spotlight. The country has formulated a project to help the disabled in the 2006-2010 period, which was approved by the Prime Minister by decision No 239/2006/QD-TTg, dated October 24, 2006. The National Coordinating Council on Disabilities (NCCD) including 17 ministries and agencies and various organizations for the disabled has so far operated effectively, contributing to raising people’s awareness. Vietnam is implementing its commitments to the Millennium Framework for Action towards an Inclusive, Barrier-free and Rights-based Society for Persons with Disabilities in Asia and the Pacific (2003-2012).
The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Ministry of Public Security to conduct research and give opinions on Vietnam’s participation in the International Convention on the rights of people with disabilities.
Director of NCCD, Nghiem Xuan Tue said, once Vietnam signs the convention, it proves that the Government of Vietnam respects the rights of disabled people.
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