As many as 46 % disabled people in Vietnam think that they should not love and get married according to a survey released on April 23 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Head of the UNDP in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen urges to erase discrimination against disabled people

The survey on disabled people's views on economic and social relationships was conducted by the UNDP and the Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE) last year. 

43% of asked people said they felt discriminated. Most of them are young men who are blind or with multiple disabilities.

Khuc Hai Van, vice head of the Tia Sang Computer Centre, said, "Doctors don't communicate with the disabled people directly but to their families instead. This means misunderstandings worsen. Getting to know each other better will help overcome the obstacles."

44% said they had been critical of themselves in the past year. According to the research, this is a result of social discrimination against disabled people in various aspects of life such as health or employment.

Thuy Chi, a disabled woman from Lao Cai Province, said, "Please stop reminding us that we're disabled. Just treat us like other people."

46% of asked people think that they should not fall in love and get married. 

Luong Minh Ngoc, head of the iSEE agreed that love and understanding are the solutions for discrimination against disabled people. "I want to add trust to the list. If we believe we can do it then we can do it."

On the same day, the UNDP and iSEE also announced the release of the film called Toi. The film is about Toi, a 25-year-old man with a mental disability. After graduating, he has various different low-paying jobs and faces discrimination from bosses and the public.

People with mental disabilities are often forgotten. They have to face various difficulties but the government has few policies to support them.

Dtinews/Nguoi Lao Dong