CAMPAIGN 2001 ON DISABLED PERSONS

UNCLAS HANOI 003259

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV

STATE PASS TO USAID/AA/ANE FORMAN, USAID/ANE/ESA FERRARA,
AND USAID/G/PHN FEINBERG

PHNOM PENH PASS TO USAID FOR CHILES AND FORSYTHE

E.O. 12958: N/A
UNCLASSIFIED

PAGE 02 HANOI 03259 140412Z
TAGS: SOCI EAID PHUM VM LABOR
SUBJECT: CAMPAIGN 2001 ON DISABLED PERSONS



1. USAID AND ITS GRANTEES ARE PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN
SUPPORTING A LANDMARK EVENT IN HANOI DURING THE WEEK OF
DECEMBER 10: CAMPAIGN 2001, THE NINTH ANNUAL CAMPAIGN IN
THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS. UNDER
THE OVERALL LEADERSHIP OF THE U.N. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (ESCAP),THE EVENT
BROUGHT TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN VIETNAM MORE
THAN 1000 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FROM 37 COUNTRIES TO
REVIEW PROGRESS ON AN ACTION AGENDA SET AT THE FIRST
MEETING IN BEIJING IN 1992.


2. SRV PRESIDENT TRAN DUC LUONG OPENED THE MEETING ON
DECEMBER 11. PRESIDENT LUONG AND MINISTER OF LABOR,
INVALIDS, AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS (MOLISA) NGUYEN THI HANG
LATER PAID A PERSONAL VISIT TO USAID'S BOOTH IN THE
EXHIBITION HALL. THE EXHIBIT (THE ONLY ONE BY A
BILATERAL DONOR) HIGHLIGHTED ASPECTS OF THE USD 30
MILLION IN FUNDING THAT USAID HAS PROVIDED TO PROJECTS ON
DISABILITIES IN VIETNAM OVER THE PAST DECADE THROUGH THE
LEAHY WAR VICTIMS FUND AND THE DISPLACED CHILDREN AND
ORPHANS FUND.


3. USAID GRANTEE VIETNAM ASSISTANCE FOR THE HANDICAPPED
(VNAH) WAS ON THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE FOR THE CAMPAIGN,
ALONG WITH MOLISA, AND THE REGIONAL NGO NETWORK FOR THE
PROMOTION OF THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC DECADE OF DISABLED
PERSONS. VNAH'S REPRESENTATIVE IN VIETNAM, JOHN
LANCASTER, WAS ONE OF THE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS. MR.
UNCLASSIFIED

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LANCASTER PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE HEAD OF THE
PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES IN THE U.S.


4. VNAH, WITH USAID FUNDING, ALSO HELPED MOLISA ADDRESS
THE CONSIDERABLE COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPORTATION
CHALLENGES POSED BY THE CONFERENCE, INCLUDING THE
PROVISION OF SPECIALLY FITTED BUSES FOR PEOPLE IN
WHEELCHAIRS.


5. THE OVERALL THEME OF CAMPAIGN 2001 IS "FACILITATING
COMMUNITY INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES."
SPECIFIC TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE NATIONAL
POLICIES AND PUBLIC AWARENESS PERTAINING TO PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES (PWDS); EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING;
EMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES; BARRIER-FREE
ACCESS TO PUBLIC FACILITIES; PREVENTION OF CAUSES OF
DISABILITY; WOMEN AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES; AND
EMPOWERMENT OF DISABILITY GROUPS.


6. IN ADDITION TO VNAH, USAID'S OTHER NGO GRANTEES IN
THE DISABILITY ARENA INCLUDE VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA
FOUNDATION, HEALTH VOLUNTEERS OVERSEAS, PROSTHETICS
OUTREACH FOUNDATION, WORLD VISION INTERNATIONAL, CATHOLIC
RELIEF SERVICES, WORLD CONCERN DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION,
AND PEARL S. BUCK. VVAF, HVO, POF, WVI, AND CRS ALSO
CONTRIBUTED PRESENTATIONS AND EXHIBITS AT THE CONFERENCE,
AND ALL OF USAID'S NGO PARTNERS PROVIDED VOLUNTEERS TO
MOLISA TO HELP PLAN AND EXECUTE THE OVERALL EVENT.


7. COMMENT: VIETNAM HAS MADE VERY SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS
UNCLASSIFIED

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IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS IN SERVING A DISABLED
POPULATION ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MILLION PEOPLE.
WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE U.S., THE GVN HAS PASSED A
NATIONAL DISABILITIES LAW (MODELLED AFTER THE U.S.
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT),ESTABLISHED A NATIONAL
COORDINATING COMMITTEE, WRITTEN A BARRIER-FREE CODE FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, AND MADE A PROMISING
COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVE EDUCATION FOR DISABLED CHILDREN.
MUCH GREATER ATTENTION IS STILL NEEDED FROM THE GVN,
HOWEVER, TO EMPOWER DISABLED GROUPS TO ORGANIZE PROGRAMS
FOR THEMSELVES, TO PROVIDE THEM GREATER ACCESS TO
TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT, AND FULLY TO IMPLEMENT ITS
COMMITMENTS TO PHYSICAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC PLACES BY PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES AND EXPANDED EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
FOR DISABLED CHILDREN.
PORTER

UNCLASSIFIED