Vietnam National Coordination Committee for People with Disabilities Change MMMM (NCCD)
THE 2011 ANNUAL REPORT ON PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN VIETNAM
Hanoi, March 2012 1
Table of Contents FOREWORD ...... 3
PART I. AN INTRODUCTION TO NCCD ...... 5
1.1. The strategic vision of NCCD ...... 5
1.2 The establishment and development process ...... 6
PART II: SUPPORT ACTIVITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND OUTCOMES
IN 2011 ...... 8
2.1. Directions for task implementation...... 8
2.2. Implementation of support activities for persons with disabilities according to priority sectors and outcomes...... 10
2.3. General evaluation of tasks implementation by NCCD ...... 45
PART III. ACTION PLAN FOR 2012 ...... 48
3.1. Continuing to promote the inplementation of the Law on PWD ...... 48
3.2. Implementing the Project on supporting PWD in 2011-2020 ...... 48
3.3. Improving the social awareness on the issue of the PWD ...... 48
3.4. Regarding the health care for the PWD ...... 49
3.5. Regarding education for children with disabilities ...... 49
3.6. Regarding vocational training and employment ...... 50
3.7. Social protection for the PWD ...... 50
3.8. Social access ...... 50
3.9. Developing organizations of/for the PWD ...... 51
3.10. Regarding the development of the feedback system by and for the PWD ...... 51
3.11. Regarding the organizational strengthening and organizational capacity development ...... 51
APPENDIXES: ...... 54
2 FOREWORD The year 2011 witnessed numerous significant events for the Vietnamese community of people with disabilities (PWD). It was the first year that the Law on Persons with Disabilities was executed. The Law was a comprehensive legal document realizing rights of the PWD and ensuring a bright future for the PWD. The first Congress by the Viet Nam Federation on Disabilities (VFD) was held in 2011, which was a crucial mark for the development of Vietnamese the PWD movement. Various programs and projects on assisting PWD had been deployed. For example, “The community-based project on social assistance and rehabilitation for the mentally ill and the mental-disordered persons in 2011-2020” was approved by the Prime Minister in July, 2011; ‘The project on assisting the PWD in 2012-2020’ was submitted by the Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) to the Prime Minister for approval. 2011 was also a remarkable year for NCCD. Decision No. 820/QD-LDTBXH on strengthening and renaming of NCCD was signed by the Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs on July 22nd 2011, which marked the development and also the confirmation of NCCD’s role as a Vietnamese focal point that coordinates support activities for the PWD, which receives and gives feedback, exchanges and informs International agencies, the United Nations (UN) and the Asia-Pacific region about PWD, as well as makes significant contributions to the handling of international, regional and domestic issues of disabilities and PWD. Over the past year, NCCD has found that the support activities for Vietnamese PWD have experienced positive developments towards the synchronization, professionalization and resource concentration which have been aimed at meeting more strategic needs of the PWD in order to achieve the objectives of social integration by the PWD, equality and development for everyone as well as the PWD’s self-reliance. The NCCD’s 2011 annual report summarized the support activities which had been deployed during the year for the PWD; evaluated the achievements, shortcomings, reasons, experience lessons and orientations for the activities in 2012. The report was built on the basis of synthesizing materials, documents, events, conferences, NCCD’s activities and outcome reports by ministries, sectors, agencies, relevant organizations and localities; consultancy findings of several ministries, sectors, associations, organizations of the PWD and for the PWD on the support activities for the PWD in 2011.
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During the building process of the report, NCCD received the support and opinion contributions from the ministries, sectors, relevant agencies, organizations of and for the PWD, Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped (VNAH), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and experts in the field of PWD assistance. NCCD would like to express its sincere thanks for valuable contributions by agencies, organizations and individuals in the report building process and would like to introduce the ‘2011Annual Report’ by the Department of Coordinating support activities for the PWD-NCCD.
Hanoi, March 2012
Head of NCCD Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs
Nguyen Trong Dam
4 PART I. AN INTRODUCTION TO NCCD 1.1. The strategic vision of NCCD The issue of disabilities and the PWD have become a global interest. According to the World Report on the disabilities situation by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank (WB) released in June 2011, nearly one fifth of the world’s estimated population live with disabilities, and they have to suffer from considerable difficulties when integrating into the social life due to the discrimination; and the undersupply of health care -rehabilitation services; inability to get access to means of transportation, public works as well as information technologies and communications. As a result, the PWD are prone to worse health, worse study performance and fewer opportunities for economic activity participation, higher poverty rate and insufficient basic right insurance and equality compared with other communities in the society. In Viet Nam, serious effects of the long-lasting national protection wars, natural disasters and floods, as well as development risks, made the number of the PWD relatively high out of the total population. The 2009 General Population and Housing Census showed that there was about 6.7 millions PWD; it was estimated that 1 out of 4 households had to assist the PWD; and there was 1.2-1.3 millions children with disabilities in Viet Nam. Disabilities are closely associated with employment and hunger problems in Viet Nam. The PWD have met numerous difficulties when accessing the labour market due to their disabilities, low qualifications and inequality in fully accessing basic social resources such as education, health care, and finance. Therefore, the majority of PWD and families with PWD in Viet Nam have suffered from poverty without stable income and as a result, have to heavily depend on the State’s and the community’s assistance. Over the past years, with its role as the leading, checking and supervising agency of the building and implementing of the action plans related to the implementation of the policies, programs and projects of assisting the PWD in Viet Nam, NCCD has made decisions on its strategic vision towards a society without any barriers to the PWD; a society in which the PWD enjoy the equality in participating in studying, working, entertaining and social activities as well as the equal development, community integration and contribution to the common course for the stable national development and the rights for the PWD community all over the world.
5 1.2 The establishment and development process At the end of the twentieth century, many movements for the PWD were initiated by the UN which received international support, consensus and participation commitment from various countries in the world for the rights of the PWD towards a society without any barriers to the PWD and for their stable social development. Currently, responding to the movements by the UN, numerous action programs for the regional PWD have also been initiated by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) in Asia and the Pacific region. “Biwako Millennium Framework” (BMF) is a typical example. Viet Nam is one of the countries in Asia and the Pacific region which has a relatively high PWD rate in comparison with other countries; therefore, in order to actively address the issue of PWD and to ensure the stable national development as well as to express its support to the movements by the UN, and by the Asia and Pacific region, Viet Nam has participated in and became one of the pioneer member countries in the movements for the PWD by the UN and the Asia and Pacific region. The NCCD was established on January 22nd 2001 following the Decision No. 55/2001/QD/BLDTBXH by the Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs which aimed at meeting the above mentioned goals of acting as the agency coordinating the activities by the Ministries, sectors, organizations and relevant agencies in implementing the assistance tasks for the PWD, the rights and social integration of the PWD in order to address the issue of the domestic PWD, concurrently making useful contributions to the regional and international PWD.
Initially, NCCD was named “Viet Nam National Coordination Committee for the Disabled”. The Committee was composed of 13 members from 7 Ministries and organizations or associations of the PWD for which the Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs was the honorary President and the Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs was Head of the Committee assisted by a group of experts. The Committee was responsible for working out the operational plans related to the programs and projects assisting the PWD and implementing international cooperation in the field of assisting the PWD. Since it was established, NCCD has focused on the communication to improve the community’s awareness about the issue of disabilities, PWD and the implementation of 07 priority fields in the BMF. For the past 10 years, NCCD has shown its role of coordinating and improving ministries and relevant sectors in the
6 field of PWD, closely associating with relevant agencies and organizations and its members to collect their ideas on implementing the agreed operational plans. In Viet Nam, NCCD has become the centre which receives information about disabilities from international agencies, the United Nation agencies, the Asia and Pacific region and a contingent of countries in the world, and simultaneously the centre provides information about Vietnamese PWD to international and foreign agencies and organizations. UNESCAP has highly appreciated Viet Nam NCCD’s activities and its positive contributions to the domestic, regional and international PWD. Annually, NCCD receives and works with hundreds of international visitors and experts who come to exchange and explore NCCD’s activities and Viet Nam’s disabilities. NCCD has been a reliable address for the PWD to express their feelings and aspirations and give feedback about the deployment of policies and programs of assisting PWD in practice, which in turns helps NCCD synthesize issues, make proposals and report to the Government’s Office and the National Assembly’s Office. In order for NCCD to continue promoting and affirming its crucial role in the field of disabilities and further improve its operation efficiency in the following years, the Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs signed Decision No. 820/QĐ- LĐTBXH dated July 6th, 2011 on strengthening and renaming Vietnam National Coordination Committee for The Disabled. Accordingly, NCCD’s new name was “Vietnam National Coordination Committee for People with Disabilities”.
The Committee is responsible for leading, inspecting, monitoring and implementing the operational plans related to policies, programs, and projects of assisting the PWD; exercising international collaboration in the field of assisting the PWD. Moreover, the Decision regulates that the Committee’s personnel will be expanded to 23 Members from 13 Ministries, sectors and 5 organizations of/for the PWD; its Honorary President is the Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and its Head of NCCD is the Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and Deputy Head is the Head of the Bureau of Social Protection, MOLISA. The body which coordinates support activities for the PWD is the NCCD Standing Committee and the support office. The strengthening of NCCD organizational structure has created favourable conditions for expanding NCCD’s operational scale and improving its operation efficiency in order to better meet NCCD’s role of coordinating support activities for PWD.
7 PART II: SUPPORT ACTIVITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND OUTCOMES IN 2011 2.1. Directions for task implementation Based on the evaluation of NCCD’s operation process , particularly the results in 2010; according to analysis and review on the current situation of PWD in the nation, in the region and over all the world and evaluation of the national socio- economic context during the period 2011-2020, the Steering Committee of NCCD decided that 2011 coordination activities should shift social resources to the focus of meeting strategic demands instead of basic demands of PWD to ensure the ultimate goals of social integration, equality, development, and self-reliance enhancement of PWD. With such spirit, on behalf of the Steering Committee, Head of NCCD cum Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs directed that NCCD’s key tasks in 2011 should focus on following fundamental contents: (1) Push up the compilation of documents guiding the execution of Law on Persons with Disabilities and first of all, a Decree guiding the implementation of the law; (2) Promote dissemination activities and raise awareness of related agencies on PWD and disability-related issues via multiple channels and various types of communication; (3) Evaluate and review the Project 239 on supporting PWD, its Head of NCCD, Deputy Minister of achievements and shortcomings, encourage Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs concerned localities to well implement this Mr. Nguyen Trong Dam project. In the next phase of the project, pay special attention to issues such as health care, orthopedic, function rehabilitation, literacy training, vocational training and job generation so that stable life and social integration of PWD are ensured; (4) Enhance capacity building activities of the Committee via the completion of the overall organizational structure, appoint devoted people to be in charge of assigned tasks; (5) Boost international cooperation activities, unlock potential to maximum to call for various resources to give assistance to the PWD; and (6) Promote the establishment of associations of PWD, moving towards the first Congress of Union.
8 Realizing the set forth guidelines of NCCD’s Steering Committee, NCCD office has developed the 2011 operational plan to include 10 main activities, aiming at the improvement of support activities in accordance with 07 priority fields as specified in Biwako Millennium Framework For Action (BMF) and community awareness enhancement on the PWD-related issues, namely: 1. Promote the communication on the Law on Persons with Disabilities, advocate to raise the awareness of the whole society on PWD; maintain the operation of electronic websites and operate the mechanism of information feedback; 2. Participate and coordinate the execution of the Law on Persons with Disabilities and formation of legal documents guiding the realization of PWD – related policies and regimes; join the development of Biwako Millennium Framework For Action For The Asia and Pacific Decade of Disabled People; be involved in the development of the Project on Vietnam’s approval of Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; 3. Promote the establishment of models to support PWD so that they can have access to education, vocational training, job generation, transportation, construction works, mass media, and livelihood or self - help models for PWD; 4. Push up the inspection and supervision of the implementation of special regimes and policies dedicated to PWD; review and evaluate the outcomes of Project 239 on supporting PWD in 2006-2010. 5. Support the Congress to establish Vietnam Federation on Disability; Association of persons with disabilities for persons with disabilities at localities; 6. Organize programs, meetings and exchange activities in order to welcome the celebration of Vietnam's Day of Persons with disabilities on 18th April, the International Day of Persons with disabilities on December 03 (employment trading sessions; cultural and sports activities and to honor exemplary PWD who overcome difficulties and succeed in life, etc); 7. Strengthen the cooperation with domestic and foreign organizations to promote the third Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons and take advantage of the resources and experience in supporting PWD; 8. Build capacity for members of NCCD staff at all levels, departments, officers of the associations, associations of/ for persons with disabilities, staff of
9 healthcare institutions for PWD and community care staff in terms of planning, managing, fostering, taking care of PWD and feedback mechanism; 9. Maintain periodical and extraordinary meetings of Coordination Board, exchange information and cooperation of NCCD members, maintain the preparation of 2011 annual report and other periodical and extraordinary reports; 10. Strengthen NCCD Board and Office.
2.2. Implementation of support activities for persons with disabilities according to priority sectors and outcomes 2.2.1. Advocacy to raise public awareness on PWD – related issues 2.2.1.1. Activities 2011 is the first year Vietnam Law on Persons with Disabilities takes effect. This is the basis to realize the rights and social integration of persons with disabilities. Identifying the importance of the first implementation year of the law in practice, NCCD Steering Committee directs that in addition to maintaining and promoting dissemination of policies and general laws on persons with disabilities as in previous years, it is required to focus on the propagation and dissemination of Vietnam Law on Persons with Disabilities and to monitor the implementation of laws nationwide in 2011. This should be considered as a key task in coordination activities to raise public awareness on the issues related to persons with disabilities in the year. To accomplish this task, since the end of 2010, NCCD has directed its committee members and member organizations to promote the propagation and dissemination of laws and to supervise the implementation of laws in line with their assigned extents and areas. Accordingly, the ministries and branches have this task done by its functional units while social organizations, organizations of / for persons with disabilities by the network of members in the localities. At the same time, NCCD also push up the issuance of Decree guiding the implementation of Law on Persons with Disabilities through contacting, exchanging and making proposals with leaders of the State management agencies for persons with disabilities, ministries and branches, political – social organizations and organizations of and for persons with disabilities. As a result, in 2011, ministries, agencies and organizations at central and local levels across the country have actively implemented the dissemination and propagation of Law on Persons with Disabilities.
10 Many ministries and branches have issued documents guiding the implementation of their corresponding tasks as specified in the law. Ministry of Health has sent dispatches to People's Committees of provinces and cities requesting them in collaboration with Ministry of Health to direct Departments of Health and concerned divisions and branches to implement the Law on Persons with Disabilities as well as set aside its budget for the activities as mentioned in the law such as health care and orthopedic – rehabilitation for PWD or disability aid provision for PWD. Ministry of Transport issued Document No. 4629/BGTVT- MT dated February 08, 2011 on
the implementation of the Law on Persons with Disabilities; Ministry of Education and Training directed the
implementation of the Law on Persons with Disabilities through the guiding documents of the sector, especially Guidelines for the implementation of tasks in the 2011-2012 school year and organized professional seminars and training courses. Ministry of Information and Communications, Vietnam Television, Radio-The Voice of Vietnam and local radio stations have positively and actively published the contents of Law on Persons with Disabilities on mass media and websites in order to disseminate Law on Persons with Disabilities to numerous people. Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and others have organized propaganda activities and dissemination of Law on Persons with Disabilities to officers and employees in the sectors in 2011 and have implemented specific activities to implement their own tasks as specified in the law. Vietnam Women's Union (VWU) has directed associations of all levels to organize propaganda activities to disseminate Law on Persons with Disabilities to its members and people. In 2011, many meetings and contests on Law on Persons with Disabilities of different scales have been organized by associations at different levels;
11 the issues related to the content of Law on Persons with Disabilities are popular topics in the meetings of women associations at the local level. Right after the Law on Persons with Disabilities was approved, Hanoi Disabled People Association (DP Hanoi) set forth plans to propagate and disseminate the contents of the law to all members and persons with disabilities in the community. Accordingly, with the support of the Danish Society of Polio and Accident Victims (PTU), DP Hanoi held three training courses to disseminate the law to over 200 key officials of district associations for persons with disabilities in three clusters from September to October 2010. After these three trainings, Associations for Persons with disabilities at districts will popularize the contents of Law on Persons with Disabilities to their members and at the same time, actively propagate the Law in the community. Law on Persons with Disabilities takes effect since January 1st, 2011. In the second quarter of 2011, Hanoi Disabled People Association held 23 training courses to disseminate the Law on Persons with Disabilities at 23 Associations for persons with disabilities in Hanoi’s districts. In the beginning of the third and the fourth quarters of 2011, the program continues to be deployed at 12 associations of communes / wards in 12 districts, namely, Ba Vi, Gia Lam, Hai Ba Trung, Hoang Mai, Me Linh, Phu Xuyen, Phuc Tho, Quoc Oai, Thanh Oai, Thanh Tri, Thanh Xuan, and Soc Son. Hanoi Association for Support of the Handicapped and Orphans held a competition on Law on Persons with Disabilities, the contest was launched widely to all classes of people in Hanoi and particularly encouraged PWD to participate; the submission time was from July 10, 2011 until October 30, 2011. After 4 months after launch, the organization board received nearly 37,000 entries, including 3,000 entries of PWD. Although the applicable scope was limited in Hanoi, the organization board received thousands of entries from 12 provinces and cities nationwide. Contest results were posted on various websites, mass media and reached numerous audiences in the country, which contributed to the effective dissemination of Law on Persons with Disabilities to the community. Thanh Hoa Association of Disabled People and Orphans conducted propaganda activities in various forms, ranging from law propaganda and dissemination on mass media, news, leaflets, advertising banners, panels and posters to direct activities such as seminars and training classes for communicators and persons with disabilities. In 2011, the television stations, radio stations of the province and districts broadcasted hundreds of news and articles with contents related to Law on Persons with Disabilities and PWD, 700 document sets and 20,000 leaflets were distributed, 17 seminars and training courses related to Law on Persons with Disabilities were 12 organized for 1,780 communicators and PWD in 54 communes in 6/27 districts of the province. In addition, to ensure the implementation and application of Law on Persons with Disabilities in practice, NCCD actively made proposal to the State management agencies to soon promulgate a Decree guiding the implementation of Law on Persons with Disabilities and relevant guidelines, and NCCD members actively and proactively coordinated and participated in the compilation of the draft Decree guiding the implementation of the Law. Thanks to that, the Decree guiding the implementation of Law on Persons with Disabilities was compiled and submitted for the consideration and approval of the Prime Minister in 2011. (The Government has issued the Decree on April 10, 2012). 2.2.1.2. Evaluation of Outcomes
• Achievements Social viewpoint towards disability – related issues and PWD has dramatically changed. Disability issues and PWD have been realized as liabilities of the authorities, agencies, organizations and individuals in the society instead of as ethic issues and good traditions of the nation. Agencies, organizations, enterprises and employers have changed their viewpoints and prejudice "the employment of PWD is not effective but a social burden for enterprises", they are gradually recruiting qualified PWD to work. Awareness of PWD themselves has also changed from being a passive " recipient ", they now not only feel fearless to express their needs but also become a "giver" who helps other people , in addition to being more demanding for their legitimate rights, the PWD also have to fulfill their obligations to their families and the society.
• Weakness and shortcomings
2011 is the first year the Law on Persons with Disabilities took effect so the local agencies and organizations have introduced positive moves and have played an active role in organizing activities to raise public awareness about PWD – related issues. However, through the supervision and inspection, it can be seen that advocacy for better public awareness still faced a lot of difficulties, shortcomings, inadequacies and arising issues to deal with. Firstly, the organization of the dissemination of laws and policies on persons with disabilities was not paid adequate attention in a number of localities where these activities were treated as movements, not really for ultimate objective of improving public awareness about disability issues; Secondly, raising the public awareness did not cover all walks of life in the community regardless of the
13 organization of propaganda and dissemination of policies and laws as well as propaganda forms. In urban areas, communication activities were organized at high frequency and under diversed forms of propaganda, such as indirect communication through the mass media system, panels, posters or direct forms such as organizing contests to understand about laws and policies, job fairs and the implementation of cultural and artistic competitions. In rural areas, especially remote areas, the direct form of propaganda were, however, not very popular. For this reason, the community awareness was not uniform among regions and even in the same province / city. Thirdly, the transition from awareness to behavior change of the community was at slow pace. Despite their acknowledgement, they did not implement / failed to abide and it was quite common even with those in agencies and organizations responsible for the implementation of policies in accordance with the Law on Persons with disabilities. In the opinions of many PWD, since Law on Persons with Disabilities took effect, PWD did not notice any significant changes, they were not facilitated or given priority or created favorable conditions to reach basic social services such as health care and transportation. In addition, there was further evidence of switching behavior in society via comments, feedback about the law, policies and issues related to persons with disabilities on the feedback system embedded in NCCD's Website from June 2010. Though NCCD’s Website is a system introduced to meet urgent needs of persons with disabilities and to creat a forum for persons with disabilities "to raise their voices", over one year after this feedback channel for PWD went into operation, it received very little feedback of people in general and persons with disabilities in particular. It was due to a variety of reasons, but it is shown that raising social awareness of community in general and the PWD community in particular in the disability sector should be invested more in order to promote awareness and switch from perception into behavior change.
14 Box 1. Information about access of PWD to social services Persons with disabilities face a lot of difficulty to access State policies. I am a person with severe disabilities so I must have regular medical examination in the provincial hospital, but each time I go to see doctor, I am not given priority; I have told my doctor that I must be prioritized in examination, but the doctor said my medical check took as much time as three other patients who then must wait for long time. He told me to take my register book and stand in queue, then have a
medical exam at my turn. Nguyen Thi Hien, Thanh Hoa Association of People with I also occasionally travel by bus but could not see Disabilites fare discounts or any preferences in seating arrangement,…and the bus keeps running, so even normal people find it difficult, let alone the persons with disabilities.
2.2.2. Children and women with disabilities 2.2.2.1. Activities Today, there are 3.6 million women with disabilities and about 1.2 to 1.3 million children with disabilities in Vietnam who are suffering from the worst consequences brought by disabilities. Hence, in the coordination of activities to support persons with disabilities, this group is paid special attention by NCCD and support activities of the ministries and implementing agencies take precedence to these groups compared to other PWD. To women with disabilities, the Central Committee of Vietnam Women's Union plays a leading role in organizing and coordinating with other organizations to implement aid activities. To children with disabilities, Department of Social Protection, Department of Child Protection and Care, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs are focal points for organizing and coordinating with other ministries, social organizations, child protection associations/ association for children to stimulate support activities. Key results of aid activities dedicated to women and children with disabilities in 2011 are shown as follows:
15 To women with disabilities Central Committee of Vietnam Women's Union directed associations at all levels to implement the propagation and dissemination of Law on Persons with Disabilities to their members; compiled and published 16,000 leaflets featuring "Rights and responsibilities with the persons with disabilities " and sent to associations at levels, self-help groups of women with disabilities as propagating materials, contributing to raising awareness of authorities, communities, families and PWD themselves regarding the rights and responsibilities with PWD. Instruction No. 279/CV-DCT was issued on April 07, 2011, giving instruction to associations of provinces / cities in supporting women with disabilities in 2011. Accordingly, associations should play an active role in order to set up programs to organize activities to support women with disabilities, concretely: coordinate with the Department of Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs of the localities to review, have statistics of PWD, learn about current situations and specific circumstances of women with disabilities and then introduce appropriate support plans. Set up and complete sub-project to support women with disabilities through the model of women with disabilities group in the period 2011 - 2020 with a total budget of VND 25 billion. In 2011, Women Unions of all levels throughout the country donated and supported more than VND 42 billion, built 2,770 shelters called "House of Love” for vulnerable women with disabilities in the society. In particular, on occasion of Spring of Nham Thin Year 2012 and the celebration of Vietnam's 11th National Women's Congress held in Hanoi in March 2012, Central Commitee launched commemorative work by setting a target of building of 3000 Houses of Love worth VND 20 million each, and awarded 1000 scholarships to poor children who overcame difficulties, valued at VND 3 million each. At the end of 2011, more than 40 provincial women associations were successful in setting up vocational training centers, including vocational training center for women with disabilities. Associations made unsecured loan with Vietnam Bank for Social Policy to lend members who are women with disabilities money to generate jobs. Central Committee in collaboration with women associations of localities continued to open more training classes for women with disabilities. In 2001, 18 training courses of sewing, embroiding and bamboo weaving for women with disabilities were launched in 13 provinces and cities nationwide.
16 To children with disabilities Children with disabilities are entitled to special attention of the society of Vietnam, social protection policies have been targeting this group of children, and mobilizing all resources ranging from community, organizations, businesses, individuals and donors to ensure that disadvantaged and disabled children could enjoy a normal living environment as other children in the society. In 2011, many activities to support children with disabilities have been implemented throughout the country. Ministries, branches, agencies and organizations actively built specific plans, programs and activities for children with disabilities and achieved encouraging results. Department of Children Protection and Care, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs did develop a National Program on Child Protection in 2011 – 2015 period with a total cost of VND 1.7555 trillion and submit for the approval of the government. Accordingly, it was expected that 80% of children with disabilities nationwide could have access to health care services, orthopedics and rehabilitation, education and other public services by 2015. Also in 2011, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs compiled a draft Decision by the Prime Minister on policies of supporting heart surgeries for children with inborn heart defects, aiming at reducing child mortality rates. In 2011, Ministry of Health organized movement disorder surgeries, lip surgeries, eye treatments for about 8,000 children; health care and rehabilitation for 10,039 people and provided assistive equipments for nearly 10,300 people1 (of which 30 percent were children). In 2011, Ministry of Education and Training introduced a numerous activities to promote educational activities for persons with disabilities in general and children with disabilities in particular, such as the issuance of the Circular stipulating the education policies for persons with disabilities, including the priority policies for children with disabilities to ensure the access of CWD to education and quality education; awarded 100 scholarships for students with disabilities who overcame their difficulties to learn with much greater attention paid to female students with disabilities; promoted the inclusive, barrier –free education for children with disabilities at all levels of education in 63 provinces and cities to ensure an equal right to education of children with disabilities. compiled Circular regarding the establishment of an education center for people with disabilites; Circular on priority education for participants with disabilities, strengthened Steering Committee for
1 Reports of supporting persons with disabilities in 2011, Department of Medical Services Administration – Ministry of Health 17 Education of People with Disabilities; continued to prepare textbooks for children with disabilties and hold training courses for teachers about skills to teach children with disabilities; organized Southeast Asia Summit on Disabilities Education in order to exchange experiences of disabilities education and education of children with disabilities. Vietnam Television, local TV stations broadcasted several programs about children in difficult circumstances, children with disabilities in 2011 in order to capture the attention of society and the participation of community in supporting children. The programs named "Hearts for you", "Life is Beautiful” did attract special attention of the society and mobilized significant social resources to help children facing difficult circumstances and children with disabilities. Furthermore, a variety of activities to support children with disabilities were held by organizations, businesses and individuals in 2011 such as National Fund for Vietnamese Children, Fund for Children, Ho Chi Minh Association for Protection of Poor Children and many other organizations which mobilized resources from domestic and foreign businesses, groups and individuals to support persons with disabilities, children facing difficult circumstances throughout the country. The results showed that those organizations supported millions of children with disabilities, children facing difficult circumstances nationwide to overcome their difficulties and illness and stabilize their life, bringing hope and faith about a bright future to children with disabilities and children in difficult circumstances.
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Box 2. Performance outcomes in 2011 by National Fund for Vietnamese Children - Support programs for children with disabilities, children as victims of agent orange: donated 775 wheelchairs totaled over VND 1.2 billion for 775 children; - Orthopedic survey for children with movement abnormalities: did surgeries for 370 children with total budget of VND 1.1 billion - “Give Kids a Smile” Program: did surgeries for 390 children with cleft lip, cleft palate with total cost of nearly VND 900 million; - “Children’s Eyes” Program: performed 721 surgeries for children with eye defects, with total cost of nearly VND 900 million;
- "Children's hearts" Program: performed surgeries for 65 children with inborn heart disease with total cost of more than VND 1.43 billion; - Scholarship supporting program for children of war invalids, fallen combatants and poor children with good academic results: awarded 3,156 scholarships worth more than VND 2.8 billion, up 71% compared to that of the 2010 plan; - Sponsor Program: encouraged a number of organizations and individuals to sponsor 27 orphans with total amount of VND 44.2 million;
- The program supporting disadvantaged children and children at communes of special difficulties: built 10 classrooms, the orphanages, multi-function houses for children with total cost of VND 3.36 billion. - Programs to take care and help orphans, homeless, children in areas of natural disasters, epidemics: built 10 clean water projects which cost nearly VND 300 million in sum and benefited more than 7,500 children; granted 6,534 pair of lifebuoy s with a total cost of VND 980 million for 6,534 children, donated 200 bicycles worth VND 340 million for 200 pupils. Sources: http /: giadinh.net.vn (Wednesday, January 1st, 2012 05:15:17)
In the Draft of project National Action Plan to support persons with disabilities 2012 - 2020, supporting children with disabilities is particularly concerned, and includes many objectives to help children with disabilities in term of health care and education : "90% of children from birth to 6 years old are screened for early detection of birth defects, developmental disorder , and early intervention of disabilities; approximately 70,000 children and persons with disabilities are entitled to orthopedic surgery, rehabilitation and appropriate assistive equipment, 80% of children with disabilities and with learning capacity have access to education in all forms. ". When the project is approved, children with disabilities will receive practical assistance. 19 2.2.2.2. Evaluation of Outcomes
• Achievements Communication and social mobilization to support children and women with disabilities have been strengthened with the diversity of propaganda campaigns, which have brought better results than before and mobilized the participation of the whole society to give assistance to children and women with disabilities. All levels of authorities, ministries, branches, units, organizations and individuals have become increasingly concerned and had specific plans to assist children and women with disabilities so that the number of women, children with disabilities receiving assistance keeps growing, the quality of aid activities are significantly enhanced, methods of assistance go in-depth, professional and towards post – assistance sustainable development.
• Weaknesses and shortcomings During previous years, support activities for children with disabilities have only focused on the taks of ensuring children’s rights of survival and development through the promotion of social welfare programs, health care and education support; on the other hand, entertainment rights and participation rights of children with disabilities are not paid adequate attention or mentioned in the framework of activities helping children with disabilities. The management of subjects and the understanding of living context of children with disabilities at local levels are still inadequate, and the method of assistance non creative. Supporting activities for women with disabilities are primarily implemented by the Women’s Union through the integration into other programs, projects and policies based on priority subjects. For example, in the case of vocational training for women with disabilities under Project 1956, Women’s Union is only involved with coordinating role, mainly encouraging women with disabilities to participate in the activities rather than organizing vocational training for them, which thus significantly limits the promotion of the autonomy of associations in organizing support activities as well as creativity in supporting programs. As a result, the supporting efficiency is lower. The development of self - help groups of women with disabilities in the locale is very difficult. The main reason for it is the lack of resources or funds to maintain the organization's operation.
20 2.2.3. Health care for persons with disabilities 2.2.3.1. Activities In Vietnam, health care for persons with disabilities receives particular attention of the government to improve the living quality of persons with disabilities and support them to have equal participation into social activities, promote the building of a barrier – free society for the rights of persons with disabilities. The government authorizes Ministry of Health to play a leading role in coordinating with other ministries to design and perform tasks of health care for people in general and people with diabilities in particular. In principle, the policy has been comprehensive in terms of the development of health-social infrastructure to improve priority policies to facilitate health care for persons with disabilities. As a coordinating unit of supporting activities for persons with disabilities, NCCD has evaluated a number of support activities and working results of health care for persons with disabilities in 2011 as follows: Ministry of Health has actively designed the implementation plan of health care for persons with disabilities as defined in the Law on Persons with Disabilities, specifically, the Minister of Health issued Document No. 1736/BYT-KCB dated April 4th, 2011 on the implementation of Law on Persons with Disabilities, which was sent to People's Committees of centrally governed cities and provinces. Ministry of Health requested People's Committees of centrally governed cities and provinces to coordinate with the Ministry of Health in directing the Departments of Health and concerned branches and agencies to implement the Law on Persons with Disabilities. Accordingly, there were 6 key focuses on health care for persons with disabilities, prevention, early detection and early intervention of disabilities (see enclosed Appendix). Ministry of Health has worked in collaboration with NCCD, ministries and agencies involved in developing a national plan to support persons with disabilities in the period 2012-2020. Accordingly, the objectives related to heath care in the project is set forth by Ministry of Health with the target of 80% of PWD having access to health care and appropriate medical services and about 10,000 PWD having orthopedic surgery, rehabilitation and appropriate assistive equipments (including 4,000 people with movement abnormalities, 4,000 people with jaw and facial defects, 1,000 people with eye defects, 500 children with inborn heart disease and 500 people with other types of disabilities). At the same time, strive for 100% health facilities at the central level and 70% of health facilities at provincial and district to be qualified to provide services of early detection of defects in newborns and prenatal disability 21 screening so that children from birth to 6 years can enjoy access to early intervention services;strengthen consulting activites and services for defect prevention, reproductive health care for women, nutrition care for children with disabilities and so on. Ministry of Health continues to strengthen and consolidate the network of rehabilitation and specialized rehabilitation hospitals, modernize rehabilitation hospitals, apply high technology in specialities; combine the rehabilitation with traditional medicine to meet the increasing rehabilitation demand of the sick and people with disabilties. Ministry of Health has collaborated with other ministries and sectors to promote the development and improvement of quality of medical facilities. Besides the investment in developing the network of public health institutions, Ministry of Health also focuses and encourages the participation of private medical units into health care sector for PWD. As a result, there have been 20 hospitals and 3 intensive medical centers; 700 general hospitals, 71 specialized hospitals, 46 traditional medicine hospitals, 12 research institutes of preventive medicine, 860 general clinics at localities, 10,668 communes with medical centers, 65% of centers have doctors, 83% of hamlets have health care workers. In addition, besides public health system, 30,000 private clinics and 36 private hospitals have been developed with total of 2,538 beds (equivalent to 2% of total number of hospital beds in the country) of which four hospitals are with foreign capital investment.
22 Vietnam healthcare system chart
Ministry of Heath
20 hospitals and 3 intensive medical centers; 700 general hospitals, 71 specialized hospitals, 46 traditional medicine hospitals, 12 research institutes of preventive medicine, 79 nursing hospitals (Central, provincial and ciy levels)
860 general clinics of the area; 94 specialized clinics; 58 maternity hospitals; communal medical centers and stand-by medical teams (643 districts)
10,668 communes and wards with medical centers, 65% of medical centers with doctors, 83% of hamlets with medical staffs
Among activities to provide health care for persons with disabilities in 2011, Ministry of Health paid special attention to community-based rehabilitation for the persons with disabilities. According to data reported by Departments of Health and nursing and rehabilitation hospitals, by 2010, the community -based rehabilitation programs for persons with disabilities were widely deployed in 51 provinces and cities with 337 districts and 4,604 communes and wards across the country. Through community -based rehabilitation programs, Vietnam could investigate, detect and facilitate health management for more than 170,000 persons with disabilities, conduct rehabilitation measures for 23.2% of persons with disabilities in need. Particularly for children, the program also collaborated with a number of social organizations carrying out investigations with 30,000 children with disabilities in order to set up rehabilitation programs. Community -based rehabilitation programs also attracted the participation of many international organizations, nongovernmental organizations and associations of persons with disabilities, contributing to raising the proportion of persons with disabilities having access to rehabilitation programs.
23 In addition to above mentioned activities, there are many supporting activities of significance in the provision of health care for persons with disabilities. Among these activities, persons with disabilities were also assisted to have health insurance cards. Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has collaborated with the Ministry of Health, Vietnam Social Insurance and other relevant agencies to grant health insurance cards for disadvantaged PWD of poor and sub-poor households. In 2011, 100% of PWD of poor households were granted health insurance cards for free, over 50% of PWD of sub-poor households were provided with health insurance cards; and the number of medical facilities having medical treatment for those who have health insurance cards has gradually increased.
Box 3. Health insurance participation of target groups According to statistics by the Department of Health Insurance, the number of insured people in 2010 increased from 39.749 million in 2008 to 50.771 million, reaching the coverage rate of 60% of population, of which 47.068 million were compulsory (8.1 million of children less than 6 years old; 13.5 million of poor and ethnic minorities; 9.8 million of students and pupils; 690,000 people of sub-poor households) and 3.7 million of voluntarily health insured people. So far, 8204 medical examination facilities have signed contracts to offer health care services for people with health insurance cards, including 50 central facilities, 510 provincial facilities and equivalent, 1190 facilities of districts and equivalent, 276 private facilities and 6,178 communal clinics and health care departments of agencies / units. The number of health facilities increased 24% compared to that of 2009, health insurance revenues grew by 91% compared to that of 2009 and 2010, health insurance fund reached the balance of receipt and payment and began to have available balance amount (VND 3,100 billion). Source: Department of Health Insurance, Ministry of Health, 2010
2.2.3.2. Evaluation of Outcomes
• Achievements Health care for persons with disabilities has received increasing attention of the State and community, organizations and individuals in the society. Investment of the State for people’s health care is boosted. Health care infrastructure is developed in order to ensure a sufficient number of health facilities meet quality assurance and medical demand of the population in general and persons with disabilities in particular. The State has also invested more into health programs and projects, including special attention to programs for early detection of defects in newborn 24 children, prenatal disability screening and investment into the development of community - based rehabilitation for the community of persons with disabilities; which is now expanded thanks to the participation of increasing number of domestic and foreign organizations. Along with above-mentioned activities, many other practical activities and policies to provide medical aid for persons with disabilities have been implemented, including activities to support persons with disabilities with health insurance cards and expand the type of health facilities to offer treatment for those with health insurance cards. To date, all people with severe disabilities, persons with disabilities of the poor, sub-poor, persons with disabilities eligible for preferential policies have accessed health insurance cards and used health insurance cards more conveniently. Persons with disabilities now have more favorable conditions to protect their health and improve their quality of life.
• Weaknesses and shortcomings Although there have been many significant achievements in the provision of health care for the persons with disabilities, there are still shortcomings and limitations to be solved. Currently only people with severe disabilities, persons with disabilities from poor households, sub - poor households and persons with disabilities eligible for preferential policies, people with great contribution to the country are granted with health insurance cards, the remaining half are not eligible for health insurance cards, which leads to numerous difficulties for PWD to have medical treatment and health care. In addition, the quality of medical institutions, especially communal ones, is not high. There is a lack of staff with high skills, particularly staff with professional experience in the provision of health care services for persons with disabilities. The preparation of patient records and monitoring of health status of persons with disabilities in accordance with Law on Persons with Disabilities however is hardly implemented by communal health centers at localities2. Community – based rehabilitation with its key leading role of communal health stations during the formulation and implementation process encounters numerous difficulties. According to the statistics released by Ministry of Health, less than 10 % of persons with disabilities are able to participate in rehabilitation programs. Community – based rehabilitation models are still under the pilot phase and have yet to be widely applicable due to very limited resources for the commitments to policy implementation.
2Result of survey on persons with disabilities policy implementation, Department of Social Protection, 2011 25 2.2.4 Education for people with disabilities (PWD) 2.2.4.1 Activities Education for people with disabilities has been of grave concern by Vietnamese Party and State with an aim to increase the number of people with disabilities accessing quality education, contributing to PWD’s living standard enhancement and building an integrated society without barriers that protects the rights of PWD. Performing its State management function in terms of education for PWD, Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) carried out many educational activities to support PWD with encouraging results in 2011. MOET in collaboration with Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) as well as ministries, agencies and branches built a Decree guiding the implementation of Law on Persons with Disabilities. MOET took the main responsibility and collaborated with MOLISA to issue an interagency Circular on requirements for the establishment and operation of Inclusive Education Support and Development Centers. MOET took the main responsibility and collaborated with MoLISA and Ministry of Finance (MoF) to issue an interagency Circular on education policies for PWD. MOET instructed the integration of guideline implementing education for PWD into guideline on annual objectives for each academic year at all levels of education. MOET, National Coordinating Committee on Disability (NCCD) and ministries, agencies and branches developed a Project to support PWD period 2012-2020 which set target: “By 2020, 70% of children with disabilities but able to learn will have access to quality education”. BE CONSISTENT WITH MOLISA, MOH, MOET, etc. MOET continues the development and issuance of curriculum, textbooks as well as teaching materials and equipments suitable for children with disabilities (CWD); provides training and further training for educational management staff and teachers on management and specific pedagogical skills to teach children with disabilities. Especially, MOET successfully organized the 2nd Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Conference themed “Sharing information to develop inclusive education in Southeast Asian countries” in October 2011. In this conference, Vietnam had the opportunity to share experience in effective educational practices for PWD with other countries in Southeast Asia and also gained valuable experiences from them regarding inclusive education. In 2011, education and training sector instructed local leaders to submit summary reports on education for children with disabilities and disadvantaged
26 children in 2009-2010 school year; helped children with disabilities overcome difficulties; implemented inclusive education at all levels throughout the country; developed and compiled materials as well as provided further training for educational management staffs and teachers on inclusive education for children with disabilities; organized briefings for trainers of pedagogical schools nationwide on early intervention and inclusive education; replaced text books grades 1 - 3 with Braille books for people with sight impairment; carried out the early intervention program in 10 provinces to enable children with hearing impairment to access to sign language; integrated the criteria of teaching children with disabilities into regulations on criteria for teachers. 2.2.4.2 Evaluation of Outcomes
• Achievements Education for PWD in general and the development of special education in particular in Vietnam have been given top priority by agencies and organizations at home and abroad and have yielded considerable achievements. The education system for children with disabilities has been established and initially put into operation in 63 cities and provinces. The network of institutions providing training and further training for educational management staff and teachers teaching children with disabilities has been set up and developed. Educational programs for children with disabilities have been designed and implemented. The approach of inclusive education has been applied widely and specific education curriculums for some types of disabilities such as intellectual disability and sight or hearing impairment have been worked out. The number of children with disabilities going to school is on the rise and so does education quality. The number of children with disabilities who fail to upgrade and drop out has decreased. There are more and more children with disabilities continuing study at higher levels.
• Weaknesses and shortcomings While the State focuses on the development of inclusive education for children with disabilities and considers it as the main solution for special education development, reality shows that implementing inclusive education encounters many difficulties. First, the number of educational management staff and teachers knowledgeable and skillful in teaching children with disabilities as well as teaching management at inclusive schools for CWD is of shortage. Second, State’s budget for education and children with disabilities has yet to be official and has been limited. Despite the continuous increase in the budget , there is no official spending on
27 education and CWD leading to unavailability of infrastructures, facilities and equipments to meet CWD’s needs. Third, the number of CWD who cannot access inclusive education is large while specialized education institutions are of shortage, in scattered locations, mainly in big cities and urban areas and marginal. For these reasons, education for CWD is difficult to maintain and to have sustainable development. 2.2.5. Vocational training and employment for PWD 2.2.5.1 Activities NCCD considers providing support in vocational training and job creation for PWD as one of the effective solutions to eradicate hunger, reduce poverty and fulfill Millennium Development Goals by United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. The year 2011 has witnessed positive changes in coordination practice of vocational training and job creation for PWD.
According to the evaluation report evaluating the implementation of Project 239, by December 2010, 49,245 PWD receive vocational training. Among those, 50. 5% were female and 51. 8% were male and the majority of them were between 19 and 35 years old. Annually, approximately 256 institutions, including 55 specialized ones, provide vocational training for PWD. Of Job trading session for PWD has been organized in Van Ho Exhibition for the first time which 36, 0 % was private institutions and 64% were public. The average number of teachers for PWD was 638, annually. 63% of those were permanent full-time teachers, the rest are contracted part-time teachers. The capital investment for vocational training for PWD came from National Targets for Education and Training Program and was incorporated into vocational training programs for farmers and PWD with the total amount of 628, 4 billion VND; of which 561, 9 billion VND was for vocational training at local levels and 48, 5 billion VND at central level. In 2011, localities continued to carry out activities of Project 239 on supporting PWD
28 for the period 2006-2010 which included vocational training and job creation for PWD. It was estimated that approximately 10,000 PWD received vocational training in 2011. According to reports by centrally governed cities, by December 2010, around 15,581 jobs were created for PWD. 7 provinces successfully created an employment fund for PWD, namely, Quang Ninh with VND 8 billion, Bac Ninh VND 2.822 billion, Hai Duong approximately VND 600 millions, Ha Tinh VND 300 millions, Binh Dinh VND 1 billion, Gia Lai VND 454 millions and Dong Nai VND 400 millions. The total fund for vocational training and job creation for PWD was over VND 13 billion, in which VND 3.5 billion came from local budgets and approximately VND 10 billion came from organizations and enterprises which either did not employ required numbers of PWD or voluntarily made donations. More than 400 enterprises which employed over 15,000 PWD have been established nationwide; of which 146 enterprises with more than 400 workers with disabilities are currently managed by the Blind Association. In 2011, it was estimated that the number of PWD provided with jobs in these enterprises was more than 4,000. In addition, Vietnam Association of Business and Enterprises for People with Disabilities, Vietnam Association of Support for PWD and Orphans, the Red Cross Association and Departments of Labors, Invalids and Social Affairs have set up vocational training models and generated jobs for PWD. PWD were given loans and supported to start their own production and businesses. These models included “cow banks”, sedge knitting (bags, sacks...), wine making, pig raising, flower planting, vegetables growing, coal stove making and garment making. In 2011, NCCD actively proposed and collaborated with concerned ministries, agencies and branches to develop a national plan to support PWD for the period 2012- 2020, aiming at enhancing support activities for PWD including vocational training and job creation. The objectives of the Project include: by 2015, 40 % of PWD (equivalent to 50,000 people) of working age and with working ability will have been rehabilitated and obtained vocational training and jobs; and by 2020 this number will be 60% (equivalent to 70,000 people). Furthermore, many support activities for PWD in terms of employment have been organized. Especially, on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, NCCD advised MoLISA to order localities to organize activities for PWD, with special focus on job promotion for PWD. Consequently, many significant activities have been conducted nationwide that enabled PWD to get vocational training and jobs. The year 2011 saw the very first career fair specially organized for PWD on 29 a large scale with the participation of more than 40 businesses and enterprises and received attention of hundreds of PWD. Job fairs have become big days for Vietnamese PWD.
Box 4: Work and employment forum for the PWD With the theme “Job for People with disabilities”, the forum has been organized by The Will to Live Center with an aim to create opportunities helping PWD find jobs and integrate into community. The program "Miracle of Life" held by The Will to Live Center for the 3rd time and themed “Job for PWD” was launched in order to create a forum for PWD to exchange experiences in learning and establishing their own businesses. The program also created inclusive space as well as conditions for PWD to introduce and advertise their products, helping them have more energy and determination to live a meaningful life. Participated in the program were the representatives of Ministry of Information and Communications; MoLISA, Hanoi Communist Youth Union – Hanoi City Committee; Latter Day Saint Charities Organization, Caritas Hanoi, Job recruitment and vocational training agencies, benefactors, volunteers and many PWD. Source: http//:giadinh.net.vn
2.2.5.2 Evaluation of Outcomes
• Achievements State’s policies to support PWD in terms of vocational training and job creation have been gradually developed in full. Especially, Law on Persons with Disabilities with specific regulations on job and vocational training for PWD has been regarded as an important legal basis to enhance vocational training and job creation for PWD. Besides, a shift in awareness of the whole society especially of the employers about PWD and a change in people’s intellectual standard have been seen. Consequently, the employers show a more positive attitude toward employees who are PWD. The employers’ recruitment of PWD is based on PWD’s intellectual and working ability not PWD’s “disability”, sympathy or any other reasons. The development of socio- economy, infrastructure and the rapid development of transportation means and public information as well as the birth of self-help groups, non-profitable organizations involved in providing vocational training and handling employment constraints have brought about job and learning opportunities for PWD. The number of students who are PWD increases and so does the number of clubs for PWD at universities. The PWD’s awareness about vocational learning and job has experienced positive changes.
30 With the help of the State and society, the number of PWD attending vocational training and having jobs, especially job in public sector was on the rise in 2011.
• Weaknesses and shortcomings The practice of vocational training for PWD has yet to be improved. Vocational training for PWD so far has been provided together with vocational training for other target groups; vocational training exclusive for PWD is unavailable, not market- oriented and with marginal increase in demand. Moreover, according to existing regulations (pursuant to inter-ministerial Circular No. 19/2005/TTLT/BLDTBXH- BTC-BKHDT dated May 19th 2005); allowance to support PWD in vocational training under National Target Program is low and insufficient to cover the cost of materials, transportation and accommodation when PWD attend vocational training schools. Therefore, favorable conditions to encourage PWD to take vocational training have not been created.
31
Box 5: Current situation of vocational training and employment of PWD According to statistics by Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, it is estimated that approximately 93% of PWD in Vietnam have not been trained. Among trained PWD, only about 1.22% was fully qualified to meet work requirements of which 0.61% are graduated from colleges and universities and 0. 53% are new graduates from vocational schools. This situation leads to a rather high rate of PWD who are unable to find jobs: 41.86% in Red River Delta and 35.77% in the Southeast of Mekong Delta. PWD having suitable and stable jobs only account for 15% of jobs having PWD. They are mostly employed in manufacturing business and services enterprises run by PWD. The country currently has more than 400 enterprises and businesses of different scales and sizes recruiting 20 thousand employees who are PWD. The rest of PWD are doing manual works such as bamboo stick and broom making, weaving, farming and livestock raising and mostly having low income. Source: http//: www.molisa.gov.vn
PWD, even trained PWD, encounter enormous difficulties in finding jobs, especially jobs in the public sector. Despite positive changes in the opinion of the whole society about PWD, employers generally still show reluctance in recruiting PWD for some reasons of which two primary ones are the unavailability of jobs suitable with PWD in enterprises and the deep-rooted negative perceptions about PWD. 2.2.6 Social assistance and poverty reduction for people with disabilities 2.2.6.1 Activities In Vietnam, social assistance for groups of people facing extreme difficulties as well as unprivileged groups in the society has been given out in many forms including indirect and direct ones. In addition to State’s regulations and policies, many social organizations and individuals have made great contributions. Programs have always targeted PWD and regarded this group as the most unprivileged among groups in need of social support. In 2011, direct social assistance for subject groups including PWD was successfully rendered by localities, which helped PWD and families stabilize their lives. According to report ³by locality, in 2006-2010 period, there were 476, 965 PWD in total getting benefits from social security programs. The number of PWD who were 32 eligible to get allowance under the Decree No. 67/2007/ND-CP was 395,000, being taking care of in social patronage center 15,000, given social insurance 49,030 and other monthly allowance 229,981. Activities to support PWD are also performed under policies and programs of poverty reduction. The system of poverty reduction policies is relatively comprehensive focusing on areas of specific characteristics, remote areas, areas of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas. Poverty reduction is simultaneously implemented on three dimensions, namely (i) promoting access to health care services, education, vocational learning, legal consultancy, housing and clean water; (ii) supporting production development through policies such as loan at low interest rate and production land privileges for poor households of ethnic minorities, through promotion of agriculture-fishery-forestry, through the development of crafts and labor export; and (iii) developing required infrastructure for communes of special difficulties. As a result, poor PWD especially PWD in areas which is remote and facing extreme difficulties have access to basic social services. According to the program report, 100 % of PWD from poor households are granted health insurance card; 100 % of CWD from poor households enjoy tuition-free or tuition reduction schooling and support in textbooks, learning tools and equipments. The program also supports tens of thousands of households having PWD to lend money for production, business, job creation and life stabilization. The program sets aside resources to develop infrastructure in thousands of communes in remote areas and areas facing extreme difficulties, which contributes to foster social integration for PWD in such areas.
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³ Report on results of implementing Project to support persons with disabilities in the period 2006-2010, MoLISA, 2011. Furthermore, social support activities for PWD are organized because of the help of organizations and individuals. In Vietnam, the mutual-aid movement of all walks of life, all mass organizations, enterprises, international organizations and overseas Vietnamese communities has been promoted for years and consequently, people facing difficulties and PWD have received generous support. In 2011, many aid funds for Vietnamese PWD had been established and put into operation such as Lifestart Foundation Disability Community Center sponsored by the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, Social Security Fund by PWD in Hanoi, Thanh 33 Hoa PWD support Funds. These aid funds play an important role in helping PWD to stabilize their lives. 2.2.6.2 Evaluation of Outcomes
• Achievements Social assistance and poverty reduction for people facing difficulties in society including PWD has drawn growing attention of State and society. In 2011, social patronage was performed well by localities throughout the countries in compliance with regulations stipulated in Decree no. 76/2000/ND-CP dated April 13th 2007 and Decree No. 13/2010/ND-CP dated February 27th 2010 by government. The checking for annual update of the list of PWD was done by localities to avoid missing PWD and to timely provide support for them. Social allowances have helped many PWD and their families partly overcome difficulties and lead a stable life. Besides, poverty reduction programs gradually targets support activities and support resources for the poorest, for the least fortunate and for remote areas as well as areas facing extreme difficulties. Moreover, support activities have created more long-term impacts moving towards sustainable poverty reduction. Therefore, access of PWD to health services, education, vocational learning, employment, housing, and domestic water is increased considerably.
• Weaknesses and shortcomings The process of validating eligibility of and managing beneficiaries to receive social assistance has weaknesses due to limitations in identifying the types of disability under the law. In addition, allowance or assistance rate appears low and is not revised timely; application and procedure for getting assistance/allowance are too complicated, time-consuming and unsuitable with intellectual standard of PWD as well as their families. The number of social patronage centers and nursing homes for PWD is insufficient and does not meet their needs. Private sector’s participation in establishing healthcare centers to provide services for people with disabilities remains limited. Social work as a career has just become a concern in recent years. 2.2.7 Access of PWD to basic social services 2.2.7.1 Activities Enhancing access to basic social services is a prerequisite for PWD to exercise their rights moving towards a barrier-free society for PWD and the fulfillment of millennium development goals. In past decades, the government paid much attention 34 to access of PWD to basic social services, especially access to sectors such as information -communication, transportation, construction works and culture – sports. In 2011, activities to support PWD to access to basic social services were seriously implemented by ministries, agencies and branches. Typical activities by ministries, agencies and branches in 2011 to support access by PWD to basic social services were as followings:
• Access to information and communication As regulated in Law on Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Information and Communications takes responsibility of the issuance, instruction and implementation of National Technical Standards on information accessibility for PWD; of guiding mass media to communicate policies and laws on people with disabilities. Activities to support PWD in 2011 included: Reviewing draft resolution on Vietnam standards, filling out the application and asking Ministry of Science and Technology for the announcement of Standard “ TCVN 8710:2011 public internet access point – Technical assistance for the access and usage of the elderly and PWD”; Reviewing draft resolution on Vietnam standards, filling out the application as a preparation for the issuance of standards: Vietnam Standard on service quality of low- speed video call to combine sign language and lip reading; Vietnam Standard on telephone connection speed to connect hearing aid and cell phone; Vietnam Standard on portal to support PWD in access to and usage of information; Vietnam Standard on designing interactive telecommunication services using DTMF signal; Vietnam Standard on procedure designing ICT products and services; Vietnam Standard on basic information about telecommunication accessibility of PWD; Information technology applications to support PWD included: Finishing the construction and piloting Vietnam ICT Accessibility Portal at address www.tiepcancntt.vn - the channel which not only provides information about results of projects to support PWD in the past in terms of information and communication but also updates information related to support products and services for PWD for various subjects; Developing devices to support people with sight impairment when commuting. Upgrading portal of State-owned agencies to meet standards of WCAG version 1.0 or 2.0 which places top priority on the standard of ensuring the easier access to information by PWD;
35 Instructing Press Department to communicate policies and laws on people with disabilities; Maintaining broadcast programs by central and local television with subjects on people with disabilities as well as broadcast programs in sign language
• Access to public transport According to Law on Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Transport takes the main responsibility in collaboration with concerned ministries and ministerial-level agencies to issue instruct and implement National Technical Standards on transport infrastructure, aid tools and preferential policies to support access of PWD to public works. Performing assigned responsibility, in addition to the completion of policy frameworks on public transport accessibility, Ministry has carried out many activities to support PWD and has achieved encouraging results. Issuing Circular No. 20/2011/TT-BGTVT dated March 31st 2011 on domestic waterway transportation with regulations on priority tickets for PWD; approving amended regulations on customer services in aviation industry which stipulates the carriage free for customers’ wheel chair in all services provided by Vietnam Airline; promulgating Circular guiding the participation of PWD in transportation system using public transport; simultaneously instructing agencies and units in the sector to actively carry out accessible transportation programs which apply standards on effective construction of road and pavements. Issuing Circular No. 67/2011/TT- BGTVT dated December 29th 2011 enclosed with National Technical Regulation QCVN 18:2011/BGTVT on checking and evaluating trams when manufacturing, assembling and importing which regulates special requirements for trams used by PWD. Undertaking Project to support PWD period 2006-2010, Ministry of Transport has instructed 1-5 Automobile Manufacturing Factory – an agency under Ministry to produce a bus accessible for PWD. The bus must carry 45 passengers with space in the passenger compartment big enough to allow a wheelchair to be secured at a designated
36 position and it also must be equipped with wheelchair lift, hydraulic leveling system and auto controls to make the bus accessible to wheelchair users. In addition to the development of accessibility to transport modes in aviation and road transport, Ministry of Transport has instructed its units to carry out researches and pilot experiments regarding accessible trains to ensure standards of accessible transportation: experimentally manufacturing 01 accessible train for PWD which has compartment with at least a five-seat specially designed for PWD in a sufficient clearance to allow wheelchair users to reach the seats freely. Seats for PWD have to be equipped with seat belt system. The entrance way for PWD has to be equipped with a lift/ramp to move the wheelchair upwards or downwards and a lamp for lighting the surface of step treads. Restroom area is designed according to standards for the convenient use of PWD and equipped with two alarms in case PWD need supports. This is a prerequisite to implement Law on Persons with Disabilities and to make transport accessible for PWD. In late 2011, according to specialists in the transportation sector, accessibility of PWD to transport was done and favorable results were produced, especially in aviation and bus transport in big cities. Vietnam Airline Corporation has developed and issued procedure for customers in need of special services. Urban bus routes have been developed in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang and will be available in other cities and provinces in the future.
Box 6: Develop bus accessibility for people with disabilities in Ho Chi Minh City Ho Chi Minh City’s transportation sector has been put much effort to ensure 5- 10% of its total buses in the city to meet requirements of being accessible for PWD. Mr. Van Cong Diem, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City’s Center for Management and Operation of Public Transport, said City’s transportation sector has been trying very hard and collaborating with many other sectors to materialize the aforesaid objective. In recent years, Ministry of Transport has provided Saigon Passenger Transport Co., Ltd 1.1 billion VND to upgrade and renovate 18 buses serving PWD and operating in 2 routes: Sai Gon – Binh Tay and Western Bus Station – National University’s Dormitory. City People’s Committee has just given approval for Saigon Passenger Transport Co., Ltd to pilot 21 buses using clean energy fuel CNG. These 21 buses are also equipped with devices to support PWD in Sai Gon – Binh Tay route. 37 Regarding infrastructure in period 2011-2020, the Center will upgrade and renovate 210 bus stops and bus stops’ waiting rooms to satisfy requirements for the access of PWD with the expected cost of 6.8 billion VND. In the next step, Ho Chi Minh City will continue investments to upgrade pavements for the harmonization of structure and design as well as convenient use for PWD. Source: http://dantri.com.vn Sunday, June 5th 2011
Especially, 5 urban railway routes which meet technical standards to be accessible for PWD will be constructed in Hanoi. These are routes which have been approved on paper, under construction and expected to be completed by 2016. Accordingly, these routes are constructed in compliance with national technical standards and regulations to be accessible for PWD (PWD can access railway stations at higher ground by 2 systems, namely, a normal staircase (escalator) with handrails on two sides or a system which is equipped with an instructional system using speaker and fascia board to make the access to different places in railway station easier for people with sight and hearing impairment. The railway station will arrange staff to support PWD when needed. The entrance to railway station will be big enough for wheelchair to go through. An automated ticket selling system will be installed to serve the usage of PWD. Restroom has suitable design for PWD such as sliding door, handrails and a large space allowing wheelchairs to move in and out.
• Access to construction works/buildings According to Law on Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Construction takes responsibility to collaborate with ministries and ministerial-level agencies to issue, instruct and implement National Technical Standards on construction of cooperative housing, offices, technical infrastructure and social infrastructure to ensure the access of PWD. Performing task assigned by government, in 2011, the Ministry continued to complete policy frameworks, imposed more measures to check and supervise the implementation of construction standards through appraisal and approval of design based on standard system issued in 2002 which regulates construction standards to ensure the access and usage of PWD and on construction regulations under Law on Construction issued in 2004. Ministry of Construction sets target of ensuring the access of PWD to all following construction works and buildings: working offices of State agencies, railway stations, bus stations, health treatment and examination centers, educational and vocational training centers, cooperative housings and culture-sport works by 2025. In 38 the short term, the Ministry asks localities to select buildings to be experimentally renovated to be accessible for PWD. In late 2011, some renovated buildings have been completed such as: Construction Hospital ensuring the access and usage by PWD; Head office of Ministry of Construction (phrase 1) ensuring the access and usage by PWD to buildings and technical infrastructure in campus of Ministry of Construction – 37 Le Dai Hanh. According to statistics by Ministry of Construction, the percentages of accessibility to different types of construction works such as healthcare works, educational works, exhibition centers, conference centers and office buildings are 22.6 %, 20.8 %, 13.2 % and 11.3 % respectively.
• Access to culture, sports and physical training for People with disabilities According to Law on Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) takes responsibility to implement state management in terms of culture, sports and tourism for PWD; Instruct and implement activities for the enhancement of cultural and spiritual life of PWD. Performing its assigned tasks, in 2011, MOCST continued to complete policy frameworks and instructed its agencies to actively and jointly implement cultural, sporting and physical training activities for PWD. In 2011, sports for Vietnamese PWD received much attention and enjoyed fruitful results. The achievements of Vietnamese disable sports delegation when attending international games, national games for PWD in Ho Chi Minh City and especially 6th Para games had shown the attention of State, Party, MOCST, Sport Department and the whole society to PWD. Achievements made by PWD in these games have brought glory and honor for sport of Vietnamese PWD. Some activities to support PWD by MOCST are as followings: Drafting Circular on the organization and operation of sport and physical training centers for PWD; Asking for the opinions of competent agencies and then submitting to leaders of Sport Department and MOCST for its issuance in 2012; Organizing groups of PWD to participate in international and regional tournaments: (i) Vietnamese disable sports delegation attended Badminton Championship for People with Disabilities in German from May 31st to June 07th 2011; (ii) Vietnamese delegation of People with intellectual disability attended athletics competitions in Special Olympics World Game held in Egypt from June 26th to July 05th 2011. Participating in World Weightlifting Championship taking places in 39 Khorfakkan, UAE in 2011 with 3 athletes and coach, Vietnamese disable sports delegation clinched one bronze medal. Besides, Vietnamese disable sports delegations took part in Conference of International Paralympics Committee held in Beijing, China from December 07th to December 11th 2011. Especially, Vietnam disable sports delegation when joining Asian Games for ASEAN athletes with physical disabilities (Paragames) in Indonesia from 12/12/2011 to 21/12/2011 ranked 4/11 among participated countries with 44 gold medals , 44 silver medals and 72 bronze medals; Collaborating with Vietnam Paralympics Association to successfully organize National Paralympics Games in Ho Chi Minh City from 29/06/2011 to 06/07/2011 with the participation of 29 units, more than 900 athletes and couches, chiefs of sports delegation, officers and healthcare staffs. The results were Ho Chi Minh City ranked first with 283 gold medals, Hanoi second with 128 gold medals and Quang Tri third with 33 gold medals. MOCST, Thai Binh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and MOET jointly organized 5th National Sports Tournaments for Students with Disabilities from 7/12/2011 to 14/12/2011 in Thai Binh province with participation of more than 400 cadres and athletes from 12 delegations from all over the country. The organization of National Sports Tournaments for Students with Disabilities shown the attention by Party and State as well as common humanity and morals of society to PWD in general and students with disabilities in particular. Moreover, this is a practical activity in welcoming “International Day of People with Disability” which falls on December 3rd every year. The development of sports at local level is also of concern of MOCST and provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Therefore, sports movements for PWD in localities nationwide have been promoted on both scale and the number of sports. 45/63 provinces so far have sport movements for PWD.
Box 7. Christmas Celebration for people with disabilities 11th Christmas festival in Ho Chi Minh City 11th Christmas Festival for those suffering from special circumstances was held at Archdiocesan Pastoral Center - Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese at 15pm on December 17th 2011. The festival was launched in 2001 with an aim to create favorable conditions for the expression of solidarity and compassion among people especially those who are serving in the shelters and center for PWD to bring joys to children with disabilities, children with hearing and visual impairment, street children, orphans and leprosy patients. This year festival witnessed the participation of over 4,000 people,
40 the present of several food stalls selling 20 dishes prepared by the organizing board and 20 other stalls selling products made by Shelters and Centers for PWD and the organization of games with prizes for children. Especially, performances to welcome Christmas were given by the singers, circus performers and people suffering from special circumstances. Source: http:/www/hoptactre.com Christmas Festival for people with Disabilities in Thai Binh Pastoral Center – Thai Binh Archdiocese held a festival for people with disabilities inside and outside its diocese on the occasion of 2011 Christmas. More than 1,500 people with disabilities from Hanoi, Vinh and Thai Binh attended the event. In the festival, people with disabilities participated in a meaningful meeting with Bishop Pierre of Thai Binh diocese, doctors and students studying in Thai Binh. Also on this occasion, PWD voiced their opinion in three seminars on hot topics of modern-day life: “Youth with disabilities, love, marital happiness and unhappiness"; "social traps and youth life today";" youth and the future”. Christmas Day for people with disabilities is a significant event to God and man and a gift of grace to motivate PWD to stand up and escape their cruel fate. Source http:// wwwbaothaibinh.com.vn
Over the past years, cultural and artistic activities for PWD have been paid attention by competent agencies and social community. Cultural and Sport Competition has been organized since 1997 and has become a once-every-5-year event attracting the participation of thousands of PWD throughout the country. Nowadays, many provinces have had culture and arts clubs for PWD to let them have cultural and artistic exchange. Especially, on international or national day of people with disabilities, intensified cultural and artistic activities for PWD take place in all cities and provinces across the country in diversified forms with mass participation of PWD drawing attention of communities where PWD live. 2.2.7.2 Evaluation of Outcomes
• Achievements Access for PWD has been of grave concern of the whole society and at the same time, PWD accessibility to society has seen some increase. Legal regulations to ensure access to society for PWD have become tighter, especially in construction, transportation and information sectors. In 2011, these sectors experienced positive changes. In construction sector, in the process of evaluating design of and granting
41 license to the construction of public works and office buildings by state administrative management agencies, the criteria of ensuring access by PWD has been considered. Schools which provide training for civil engineers have trained students to take the access by PWD into account when designing. The renovation of construction works, especially public works such as bus stations, railway stations, transportation tunnels and office buildings of sate agencies has been piloted. In transportation sector, in addition to invesment for infrastructure, investments for the development of accessible transport modes for PWD has been promoted. The models of electric trains, buses and ships to ensure access by PWD have been designed, built and piloted to be replicated in the future. Public transport to ensure access by PWD has been developed in big cities such as Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City. In informtion and communication sector, the access for PWD has much improved. Researches to develop and apply softwares supporting PWD has been done, contributing to enhance the access for PWD to outside society. Researches to design and apply devices supporting people with sight and hearing impairment such as vision stick, hearing aids and digital road map has been implemented by agencies under the instruction of Ministry of Information and Communications. In culture-sport sector, cultural and artistic movements of PWD have been concerned by agencies at all levels. All provinces nationwide have organized cultural and artistic activities for PWD. Sport movements of PWD also gained attention of agencies at all levels. Many investments for sports for PWD have been made such as building, renovating and upgrading stadiums and sporting places and upgrading equipments.
• Weaknesses and shortcomings Regarding access to transportation, basically, infrastructure to ensure access of PWD is remains a problem and its improvement appears slow. The roads are too narrow. Drainage systems in big cities have yet to be fully developed making the launch of low-rider buses to support access of PWD very difficult. The replacement of passenger vehicles is time consuming and so expensive that domestic transportation companies cannot afford. While the improvement of transportation system needs investments for items serving the access of PWD in compliance with existing laws and regulations, State budget remains limited leading to constraints in investing and upgrading transportation systems. Regarding access to public works, PWD accessibility to public works increased but at slow pace. According to the report on the implementation of construction code and standards, the percentage of accessibility to healthcare works is 22.6 %; educational works 20.8 %; exhibition centers 13.2%; conference centers and office 42 buildings 11.3%; post office, stations and border gate buildings 7.5%; markets and supermarkets 5, 7%; tournament buildings 3.8%; nursing houses and pensioner’s clubs 3.8 % and banks 1.9%. Regarding access to information and communication, the percentage of accessibility to information technology is low, with a marginal increase and fails to keep up with the speed of information development of modern-day society. Even the web which is designed by NCCD to meet the needs of PWD and to create an information channel for PWD to send their feedbacks has only a modest number of visitors. Regarding access to culture, sport and tourism, PWD still have to face many difficulties due to the shortage and non-conformance of equipments specially designed for PWD in sport clubs for PWD (due to inability to produce by local manufacturers and its high cost in the foreign market). Infrastructure, athletic fields, stadiums and places are unavailable for PWD to come and practice. Activities to support PWD to participate in cultural and tourism activities have not been fully implemented. In many provinces, the conducting of support activities is not serious and the instructions lack consistency causing difficulties for PWD in access to cultural and tourism services.
2.2.8. Activities to develop organizations for PWD 2.2.8.1. Activities In 2011, NCCD actively collaborated with other organizations in mobilization for the foundation of the Viet Nam Federation on Disabilities (VFD) following the Decision No.179/QD on the permission of the establishment of the VFD by the Minister of Interior dated October 14th 2010. As a result, the Ceremony on the Establishment of the Viet Nam Federation on Disabilities (VFD) was organized by the Office of coordinating support activities for Viet Nam’s PWD on March 22nd 2011 in Hanoi. On March 26th 2011, the first Congress by the VFD was organized to announce the decision on the establishment of the VFD; the Charter of the Federation, the operation programs were approved; and the Executive Board was elected. The Congress was organized with the participation of over 200 representatives for the PWD, associations and organizations of and for the PWD all over the country. The VFD’s new Executive Board worked out the orientation and the operation plans for the Federation in the period of 2011-2015, which marked an important progress to promote the establishment and development of the PWD organizations in localities. 43 Box 8. The development of Thanh Hoa province’s PWD Association There are 224,000 PWD in Thanh Hoa province, which accounts for 6.4% of the population, and 21,000 orphans. The organization for the PWD and the PWD’s self- reliant organization are composed of: 1. Thanh Hoa province’s PWD and orphan protection association and 22 district PWD and orphan Protection Association, 367 communal PWD and orphan Association with 182,000 members. 2. The PWD’s self-reliant organization: Thanh Hoa province’s PWD Inter-branch with 8 member organizations: Thanh Hoa province’s children with disabilities and children rights protection and relief Branch; Thanh Hoa province’s youth and students with disabilities Club; Thanh Hoa province’s deaf and dumb people Club; Thanh Hoa province’s PWD photography Club; Hau Lau district PWD singing Club; Hoang Hoa district’s Huong Dua PWD Club; Hoang Hoa district’s sentiment Club, Hoang Truong district’s PWD Club. In the future, the Thanh Hoa province’s PWD Inter-branch is planning to prepare for the establishment mobilization of Inter-branches in 27 districts, towns, and cities; district PWD clubs...It is trying to mobilize 6.2 billion Viet Nam Dong (in cash and items with equivalent value) for the provincial PWD assistance Fund. 2.2.8.2. Outcomes evaluation
• Achievements The practice over the past years has shown the crucial role of the organizations of/for the PWD for the PWD in communication, knowledge, experience, feelings, aspiration sharing and mutual assistance in life towards the development and social integration of the PWD. Therefore, the development of organizations of/for PWD has attracted attention from the community of the PWD and all levels and sectors. NCCD over the past years, especially in 2011, together with relevant agencies, has promoted the development acceleration of these organizations; especially the establishment of the VFD in 2011 was the notable mark for the development of the organizations of the PWD in the following years, making favorable conditions for the PWD all over the country to take part in their organizations which in turns give them opportunities for exchanges, study, work and to develop themselves.
• Shortcomings The establishment of provincial PWD’s self-reliant organizations has met numerous difficulties as it was related to various documents, policies and especially the resources to maintain the association’s activities. Moreover, the PWD usually
44 distribute sparsely; apart from that, the transportation for the mobilization of the association or club establishment has still met difficulties; and the PWD themselves have still been unconfident and have limited awareness. These are some of the reasons why the establishment of the PWD’s self-reliant organizations has not been more significantly increased. 2.3. General evaluation of tasks implementation by NCCD 2.3.1. Organization development and organization capacity
• Achievements In 2011, NCCD’s apparatus was strengthened which apart from expanding the personnel scale up to 23 members, new members belonging to several important ministries and sectors were supplemented, and numerous NCCD’s members participated in both domestic and overseas training courses; fields trips to localities were also organized to inspect and supervise the implementation of support activities for the PWD, to detect good points as well as shortcomings of these activities in localities which helped make suitable proposals in assisting the localities in better implementing the activities. In 2011, NCCD’s network activities were implemented better than previous years. Periodical meetings were held every three month by NCCD with the participation of its members to review the activities of the ministries, sectors, relevant agencies and organizations, concurrently made evaluation on the general picture of support activities in disabilities implemented by ministries, sectors and relevant agencies and on this basis, necessary adjustments on the operation plans were made accordingly. Hence, information could be updated and relevant coordination activities were initiated to promote and orient towards better support activities. NCCD’s permanent members kept in touch with other members of the Committee as well as the Committee’s leaders to make timely feedback to them; receive their instructions and promote the members’ roles in the department. NCCD’s office in 2011 also received information regarding the issue of disabilities and PWD from agencies, organizations and individuals with disabilities; such information was sent to the members for processing and giving feedback; moreover, proposals were also made to the state management agencies, and relevant organizations in order to make timely adjustment to support activities following the contributed ideas from agencies, organizations and individuals.
• Shortcomings
45 Despite the above mentioned remarkable renovation on organization development and organization capacity improvement made in 2011, several issues still restricted the capability of bringing the organization’s capacity into full play; firstly NCCD’s role of coordinating and mobilizing the participation of other ministries and sectors still met certain restrictions due to the fact that NCCD was the unit under the Bureau of Social Protection, MOLISA; secondly, NCCD’s members belong to various agencies and organizations who work for NCCD as a part-time job or hold more than one position, and only 1-2 members are permanent, which has partly restricted NCCD’s operation outcome; thirdly, only 2-3 of NCCD’s staff assist NCCD which has not been enough to meet the requirements; moreover, the staff’s limited working capacity has not ensured the effectiveness of the task implementation, especially the one related to international cooperation and international resource mobilization in assisting the PWD. 2.3.2. Assistance activity coordination for PWD in 2011
• Achievements NCCD’s coordination was implemented relatively successful in 2011 as changes had been made in comparison with previous years; the establishment and implementation of the operation plans were supervised closely which related to the policies, programs, and projects of assisting the PWD by ministries, sectors, socio- political organizations, organizations of/for the PWD. Especially, the implementation of the project 239 on assisting the PWD by relevant ministries, sectors and agencies was promoted and inspected regarding the implementation of the project’s components charged by ministries, sectors, agencies, and organizations; the evaluation of the project implementation outcomes were reported and submitted to the Government. Apart from that, each member of NCCD was assigned with the coordination task depending on the agency or related fields for which the member was responsible; therefore, NCCD always actively updated information about the support activities for the PWD and timely initiated relevant coordination activities, increased coordination capacity, connected the support activities by different agencies to make full use of their resources, and to achieve better results in the assistance of the PWD. Concurrently NCCD actively played the role of positively coordinating and connecting organizations as well as mobilizing the participation by relevant ministries, sectors, agencies and international organizations in the building of policies, programs and key projects aiming at assisting the PWD. Thus several key and significant
46 activities in assisting the PWD had been promoted and implemented. For example, the building of the Decree’s draft guiding on the implementation of the Law on PWD; the building of the document draft on the functions and missions of the VFD; The building of the Project’s draft on assisting the PWD in 2011-2015 with the technical and financial participation of numerous relevant ministries and agencies and international organizations (for example WB, USAID, VNAH, …). Other common activities related to the PWD were strictly directed, supervised and inspected by NCCD such as organizing activities on the occasion of the PWD’s day, the international PWD’s day, Viet Nam PWD Federation Festival, and other important events.
• Shortcomings Besides the above mentioned achievements, the coordination of support activities for the PWD in 2011 also exposed shortcomings which needed to be addressed. For example, the coordination task was still passive, rather than clearly showing the coordinator role, the supervision of the support activities by the ministries, sectors, agencies, organizations was much clearer instead, together with contributing ideas to prevent the assistance activities from being overlapping and repetitive but focusing on key and priority national objectives for the PWD.
47 PART III. ACTION PLAN FOR 2012 On the basis of the implementation experience of support activities for the PWD by localities, ministries, agencies, domestic and international organizations over the past years, especially the activities implemented in 2011 which were sponsored by NCCD; through the analysis and evaluation by an agency responsible for coordinating and promoting relevant ministries and sectors in the field of disabilities; the proposals on support activities for Vietnamese PWD in 2012 were made by NCCD, which have focused on the following points. 3.1. Continuing to promote the inplementation of the Law on PWD The Law on PWD was approved by the National Assembly in 2010 and came into effect in January 1st, 2011. Over the past year, the localities, relevant ministries, sectors and agencies have deployed the implementation of the Law’s regulations. However, as analyzed above, numerous localities have still been confused and had difficulties in organizing the implementation of the law; more importantly, the Decree guiding on the implementation of the Law has not been built. Therefore, in order to effectively deploy the Law in 2012, it is necessary for the ministries, sectors and functional agencies to initiate positive moves for the building of the Decree guiding on the implemenation of the Law on PWD; the Circular and related documents needed to be issued early to be the foundation for local implementation. 3.2. Implementing the Project on supporting PWD in 2011-2020 The Project of assisting the PWD in 2006-2010 (the first stage) achieved significant outcomes and achievements, which helped make contributions to the improvement of the PWD’s living standards and actively assisted the social integration of the community of PWD as well as promoted the social equality. The outcomes of the Project’s implementation had been evaluated and reported to the Government in 2011. At the same time, the Project of assisting the PWD in 2011-2020 (the second stage) has been built by the coordination between MOLISA and other ministries and sectors; this Project has been waiting for the Government’s approval. In order to prepare for the Project’s implementation, the ministries, sectors and localities on the basis of the experience and lessons drawn from the first stage, need to work out key contents on the assistance of the PWD and actively build the plans for the second stage implementation.
3.3. Improving the social awareness on the issue of the PWD Continue and improve the campaigns of popularizing the Party’s as well as the State’s policies on the PWD in general and the Law on PWD in particular. The 48 ministries, sectors, local authorities, agencies and organizations regulated in the Law by their tasks, need to build the communication plans of popularizing the Law on PWD as well as policies and programs of assisting the PWD. Organize the thorough popularization of the issue of disabilities in mass media; establish the bookshelves on the PWD from the communal and ward levels for every resident to get access and be aware of the issue of disabilities, PWD, prevention methods, legal rights and obligations of the PWD, and services for the PWD. Positive examples of the PWD who have overcome the difficulties in life and the organizations as well as individuals who effectively assisted the PWD need to be announced; publications on the evaluation of the PWD reality and the implementation situation of the PWD need to be published; and information as well as data related to the PWD need to be provided to the relevant agencies and organizations. 3.4. Regarding the health care for the PWD It is necessary for the localities to concentrate on the implementation and finalization of the classification and categorization of disabilities according to the working capacity deficiency and the self-serving ability, which is the basis for the orientation of building relevant healthcare programs; The capacity for implementing services detecting early disabilities of the embryos and the infants need to be improved; favourable conditions need to be made for the infants to the 6 year-old- children to get access to and enjoy early intervention services; propaganda, consultancy and healthcare services need to be strengthened; early detection, intervention and orthopedic surgery services and assisting tools for the PWD need to be deployed, especially the early detection and intervention skills for the grassroots health lines. The managers’ capacity, the specializations of early detection and intervention and orthopedic surgery need to be strengthened, especially at the grassroots levels. 3.5. Regarding education for children with disabilities Firstly, it is necessary to improve the awareness for the PWD and their families about the benefits of the education for the PWD and their families as well as the social benefits to encourage children with disabilities to participate in education. The classification and categorization of disabilities, census of scale, age, gender and structure of children’s disabilities need to be implemented to act as the foundation for the designing of relevant educational programs; data and reports from localities on the contingent of the managers, teachers and PWD, infrastructure and educational equipment for the PWD need to be collected and analyzed in order to work out the educational development plans for the PWD. Programs, course books, materials and 49 educational equipment for the PWD suitable for each type and level of disabilities need to be built and issued, especially for chidren suffering from autism and hearing- impairments. Increase in subsidy and budget allocation for students with disabilities 5 to 10 times higher than that for ordinary children need to be studied. Integrating educational development assistance centres need investment and developed to ensure there is 01 centre in each city. The sign language system needs to be built and popularized to be used consistently nationwide and relevant to the international use; the sign language system for high schools and tertiary levels also need to be studied; The proposal on changing the educational support policies towards subsidy increase and further assistance for development and social protection for the students with disabilities also needs to be studied. 3.6. Regarding vocational training and employment On the basis of the type and level categorization of the disabilities, it is necessary for the localities to conduct statistics, evaluation and classification of the PWD on the levels and types of disabilities and working capacity to make the vocational training relevant to the vocational learning, working capacity and professional requirements in the future; the vocational training programs for the PWD need to be studied, and proposed to be separated from the general vocational training towards achieving the social protection for the PWD participating in vocational learning. Measures assisting the PWD in accessing the capital sources for job generating from the employment generating fund need to be worked out, especially the preferential loans from the social policy banks. 3.7. Social protection for the PWD On the basis of type and level categorization of disabilities, the statistics on extremely serious disabilities, serious disabilities and moderate disabilities need to be conducted to be the foundation for the social protection; the proposal on expanding the patterns of PWD subject to social protection and social subsidy increase as well as the subsidy for different PWD need to be studied (PWD classified as poor households, children and the elderly). Social service and social work development need to be studied. Poverty reduction programs need to work out assistance policies and plans for the PWD whether they are classified as poor or households or not. 3.8. Social access Management needs to be strengthened, the licensing verification for newly constructed buildings, or building upgrading and improvement must ensure technical specifications and criteria on PWD’s access; strict sanctions handling violations of the
50 specification’s regulations as well as relevant legal documents in the new building, improving or upgrading of construction process need to be worked out. The policies/criteria on assisting the PWD in accessing and applying informatics-communication need to be finalized; the assisting mechanism for supplying the PWD with the informatics-communication services needs to be built. Software and hardware of assisting the PWD in applying informatics-communication need more investment; and training models as well as employment related to information technology for the PWD need to be tested. The establishment of sports and performance clubs for the PWD need to be promoted at localities; the infrastructure improvement and upgrading, sports infrastructure buildng for the PWD need to be implemented; sports and singing movements, local cultural, singing and sports contests need to be launched. 3.9. Developing organizations of/for the PWD It is necessary to organize the evaluation of the establishment and operation of the national organizations of the PWD to be the foundation for the study on assistance policies and mechanism and to make favourable conditions for the establishment of organizations and associations of the PWD; frequent operation of Associations and self-reliant organizations of the PWD need to be maintained. 3.10. Regarding the development of the feedback system by and for the PWD The feedback system of the PWD has been built and piloted in Viet Nam, which has helped the PWD with accessing the information and giving feedback on the shortcomings in the assistance services as well as law and policy deployment violations related to the PWD to relevant agencies in order for the necessary measures and adjustments to be introduced aimed at assisting the PWD in social integration and development. The pilot studies have shown that this is a sound and useful way for relevant agencies as well as the community of the PWD in the assistance activity implementation for the PWD. However, the number of PWD getting access to the Website and giving feedback has been limited One of the reason for which has been the inconvenience of the web for the PWD. Hence, specific reasons need to be investigated in 2012 to work out the measures of recovering and upgrading the Website 3.11. Regarding the organizational strengthening and organizational capacity development
51 In order to ensure the favourable conditions for NCCD to bring its role of coordinating the support activities for Vietnamese PWD into full play, it is crucial to work out the provincial NCCD’s network development and promotion; there should be provincial NCCD’s unit or office in each province/city. In the long-term, it is necessary to consider the improvement of NCCD into a National Commission on the issues of Vietnamese People with Disabilities.
52 Reference
1. United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; 2. Vietnam Law on Persons with Disabilities, 2010. 3. “Project to support persons with disabilities in the period 2012-2020”, Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, 2011.
4. Report on evaluating the implementation of “Project to support persons with disabilities in the period 2006-2010”, Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, 2011.
5. Report on outcomes of support activities for persons with disabilities in 2011 by following ministries and agencies:Ministry of Construction; Ministry of Transportation; Ministry of Information and Communication; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Education and Training; Ministry of Culture,Sports and Tourism; General Directorate of Vocational Training and a number of other ministries and agencies.
6. Report on outcomes of support activities for persons with disabilities in 2011 by following associations, organizations of PWD: Vietnam Women‘s Union, Vietnam Federation on Disabilities and several other organizations.
7. Information portal for persons with disabilities, http://nccd.vn 8. Annual Report 2010, Disabled American Veterant, 2011; 9. Government Performance and Results Act Annual Report to the President and Congress—Fiscal Year 2008, National Council on Disabilities
53 APPENDIXES: DOCUMENTS BY MINISTRIES AND AGENCIES ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LAW ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND SUPPORT ACTIVITIES FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
• APPENDIX A: Circular by Ministry of Health “Regarding the implementation of Law on Persons with Disabilities”/
• APPENDIX B: Inter-ministerial Circular on “Regulating priority policies for the education of people with disabilities”.
• APPENDIX C: Extract Document No. 5438/BGDĐT-GDTH dated 17 August 2011 by Ministry of Education and Training on instructing the implementation of tasks for school year 2011-2012 in primary schooling system.
• APPENDIX D : Decree by the Government on “ detailed regulations and instructions for the implementation of Law on Persons with Disabilities
(Please also refer to the appendixes of another translated material)
54