VNAH Promotes Disability Law for Vietnam

Archived News

School Construction Project

Monday, February 6th, 2012
VNAH Promotes Disability Law for Vietnam
As a result of VNAH’s coordination, technical assistance, and facilitation efforts, the government of Vietnam officially approved the development of a new National Disability Law in November of 2007. The responsibility for drafting the law was assigned to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) and the law itself is now part of the National Legislative Agenda. A drafting team for the law was established and approved by the government with 33 members representing nine ministries, the Government Office, the National Coordinating Committee on Disability (NCCD), and organizations of persons with disabilities. On March 7-8, 2008, VNAH organized an international consultative workshop on the disability law, chaired by Mr. Le Bach Hong, the vice-minister of MOLISA and chairman of the drafting committee. The workshop was a successful training and exchange forum including participants from key government ministries, members of the law drafting and editing teams, leaders from organizations of persons with disabilities, and international experts from Korea, Laos, and the U.S., including Dr. Michael Stein from the Harvard University Program on Disability. The presentations and discussions resulted in many suggestions and recommendations for the future disability law, including widespread agreement among participants on the need to promote social inclusion, non-discrimination, and equality of opportunity for people with disabilities. Most importantly, all participants confirmed that the new law will fully comply with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which attempts to ensure equal human rights for people with disabilities and was signed by Vietnam in 2007.
Volunteers and Donors: Volunteers and donors interested in helping VNAH efforts may contact VNAH through: Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped/ Health and Education Volunteers P.O. Box 6554, McLean, Virginia 22106 USA. Phone: (703) 847-9582,. Fax: (703) 448-8207; e-mail: vnah1@aol.com Copyright 2002-2011 VNAH. All Rights Reserved.