On 17^th June 2010, at 10:45 local time, the National Assembly of The Socialist Republic of Vietnam passed the Disability Law with the agreement of 431 delegates, that is 87.2% of the vote, which will come into effect on 1^st January 2011.

This is a historic ruling for persons affected by disabilities everywhere in Vietnam. All organisations that have long been lobbying for such legislation to ensure efforts are made to improve the lives of persons living with impairments have welcomed it with open arms too. These include the Hanoi Blue Dreams Volunteer Group, which has been active since 2003. The volunteers of this Group and disabled persons throughout the country will be eager to ensure that its 53 articles are followed when it is enacted next year.

The Hanoi Blue Dreams Volunteer Group

Defending the Cause of Persons with Disabilities

The activities of this dynamic volunteer group have been wide-ranging. And, to date, they have helped numerous individuals. Among their leaders are many young persons with disabilities, who have provided a friendly and safe environment in which persons with disabilities can discuss the daily challenges they face. This Group has played an important role in helping develop the organisational, leadership and project skills of persons with disabilities so that they can form their own disabled peoples’ organisations (DPOs). In this way, the Group has helped stimulate the formation of DPOs in provinces such as Ha Giang, Ha Nam and Ninh Binh and cities such as Nam Dinh, Can Tho, Da Nang and Hanoi. They were among the first to set up this type of organisation in the capital.

These volunteers act and fight for the rights of all persons with disabilities. Over a period of many years they lobbied the Government successfully for the use of “khuyết tật, rather than “tàn tật“, replacing the use of “handicap” with “disability”, because of the deeply negative connotations of “tàn tật“ in Vietnam. Their vigilance in observing whether governmental policies related to the rights and legal interests of persons with disabilities are implemented, such as making public buildings accessible, has gained them respect and attention from the national government.

In recent years, the government has appreciated the participation not only of individuals, but also of DPOs in formulating policies and laws for persons with disabilities. The government was very receptive to comments on, and suggestions and expectations for the Draft Disability Law, many of which were included in the Disability Law.

Persons with Disabilities Due to Leprosy

For over twelve months now, this group of volunteers has taken a special interest in helping persons with a disability as a result of leprosy, whom they realised were being excluded from other programmes and activities for people with disabilities for many reasons, not least of which their isolated living conditions. Most are in centres managed by dermatology hospitals, which support them in their everyday lives. Society tends to regard them as patients still, even though they no longer have leprosy, which poses a barrier to their re-integration into the community.

To begin breaking down this substantial barrier, the Hanoi Blue Dreams Volunteer Group is planning to establish self-help groups of people with disabilities as a result of leprosy train them and help them until they can find their own voice and start joining in activities for all with disabilities and claim their rights. The Group has already helped over 600 individuals with disability due to leprosy. It has organised successful meetings between people with disabilities for reasons other than leprosy with those with disabilities caused by leprosy. Also persons with disabilities due to leprosy have been given opportunities to participate in programmes for people with disabilities from other causes.

Network of Persons with Disabilities

To bring together all persons with disabilities in Vietnam, the Hanoi Blue Dreams Volunteer Group plans to create a network of self-help organisations for persons with disabilities throughout the country. It is hoped that these connections can be maximised through the creation of a website where news and views can be shared easily. Articles in magazines will also be published. These measures should not only help increase awareness about persons with disabilities, but also spur on the passing of the Disability Law. 

Changing Attitudes towards Persons with Disabilities

Other advocacy work undertaken by the Hanoi Blue Dreams volunteers to bring about awareness and increase awareness of the issues faced by persons living with disabilities includes providing information on websites, in newspapers and on television. And organising special events to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities of 3^rd December and the Vietnamese Day of Persons with Disabilities on 18^th April (chosen as the day in 1980 when Vietnam established a National Committee in response to the First Asian and Pacific Decade of Disability).

These activities are helping to change society’s attitudes towards persons living with disabilities, by increasing understanding of the daily experiences of persons with impairments. In fact, it has motivated some members of the general public to volunteer to help persons with disability.

Of no less importance have been training courses the volunteers of the Hanoi Blue Dreams Volunteer Group have provided to persons with disabilities to improve their independence by training them in coping strategies. 

End Note

The passing of this Disability Law is one of many other positive measures, such as those of the Hanoi Blue Dreams Volunteer Group described above, that are paving the way for Vietnam to ratify to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Contact Mr Trinh Công Thanh, Chair, People with Disability Vietnam:  trinhcongthanh@gmail.com

People with Disability Vietnam (website in Vietnamese): http://pwd.vn/ 

 

Categories: Vietnam