(VOVworld)- Since the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Vietnam has implemented a number of activities to support disabled people. State agencies, social organizations, and the community have been involved in this effort.

Vietnam now has about 7 million disabled people, 7.8% of its population.  State agencies, social organizations and individuals have provided support to help the disabled improve their lives and encourage them to participate in social activities.  Vietnam has adopted policies to ensure the rights of the disabled and enable them to access all the services that are available for them. Many apartments, offices and public facilities accessible to the disabled have been built. Social organizations and private companies have been providing vocational training to and recruiting people with disabilities. A vocational training center was set up in Son La province in April to teach the disabled wood carving. In addition to free training, students also receive free meals and an allowances of 120USD a month. Tran Thanh Son is Director of the Tuyet Son Company which owns the center:“I set up this center to generate jobs for the disabled and enable them to stabilize their lives. I want to transfer my techniques and skills to the disabled to help them earn more income”.

Lo Van Moi of Na Bo commune, Mai Son district, is a student at the center: “The work here is suitable for people with disabilities like us. I will now be able to support my family”.

In Thua Thien Hue province, the Center for Community Development has put in place a project to promote the exercise of the rights of people with disabilities. With funding of more than 5 billion VND, the project aims to empower advocacy for the disabled and provide them with legal assistance, information, and transportation. Under the project, about 800 disabled people in Thua Thien Hue province will be trained in life skills and learn about their rights and services. About 4,000 disabled people and their families members will receive legal assistance. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh is Director of the Center: “Disabled people will learn how to access public facilities and public transportation designed for them and discuss with local authorities their problems and ways to solve them”.

The implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and assistance from relevant agencies and community are improving the lives of the disabled and ensuring their rights.