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 PAGE 03 HANOI 03259 140412Z 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 PAGE 04 HANOI 03259 140412Z 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