Hanoi (VNA) - A consultation workshop themed “Monitoring the Implementation of Article 27 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) on the Right to Employment of Persons with Disabilities in Vietnam” took place recently in Ho Chi Minh City.
The event was co-held by the Norwegian Embassy and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Action to the Community Development Institute (ACDC), an organisation for persons with disabilities.
It aimed to strengthen the capacity of community leaders from organisations of people with disabilities and increase their synergies in monitoring human rights indicators and ensuring inclusive employment for people with disabilities in Vietnam.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made millions of people with disabilities worldwide face the risk of losing their jobs and not being able to re-enter the labour market. Vietnam has about 6.2 million people with disabilities, of whom 58 percent are women and 30 percent children. They are among those hardest hit by COVID-19.
Findings from an UNDP rapid assessment reveal that 30 percent of people with disabilities in Vietnam became unemployed due to the pandemic. Nearly 50 percent of those who were still working had their hours reduced and about 60 percent suffered a pay cut.
"By working together to protect the rights to the employment of persons with disabilities, we are walking our talk of “Leaving no one behind” in moving towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the SDG 8 on Promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all,” said UNDP Assistant Resident Representative in Vietnam Diana Torres.
“People with disabilities are certainly on the driving seat on this avenue. No one else can replace their critical role of being agents of change by raising awareness of an inclusive work environment.”
In her virtual opening remarks from Hanoi, Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Grete Løchen said: “This exercise and workshop today help to bring Organizations of Persons with Disabilities and the disability community in Vietnam together and hopefully build trust and strong and long-lasting networks. Together you’re strong”.
Løchen also shared some of Norway’s experiences in implementing CRPD including a government strategy to ensure equality and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities, addressing the differences between the services offered by the different municipalities to persons with disabilities, and sustainable financial support for organizations of persons with disabilities.
“Much has been done but challenges remain. We need to continue working to implement the sustainability agenda of leaving no one behind. Equality and inclusion of persons with disabilities are preconditions for a sustainable society”, she concluded.
A participant shares information on employment policies for people with disabilities. (Photo: VietnamPlus)UNDP intends to better engage people with disabilities in monitoring and developing actions plans to implement Article 27 of the CRPD in Vietnam.
The workshop brought together a selected number of leaders of people with disabilities groups, civil society organisations and community groups of advocators for rights of people with disabilities in the hope that they can work together and turn short-term challenges into long-term opportunities and sustainable development goals.
In response to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2020, themed “Building Back Better: Toward a disability-inclusive,” UNDP Vietnam has been closely coordinating with government partners to provide an enabling working environment for people with disabilities that includes wheelchair ramps, elevators, accessible restrooms, screen reader apps and sign language interpreters, among others. The move is expected to encourage more people with disabilities to access national vocational education and enter the labour market./.
