Vietnam always gives priority to activities to raise the awareness of State agencies, persons with disabilities and their family members as well as the whole community.

"No one is left behind"

The 12th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in New York, entitled "Ensuring the participation of people with disabilities through the full implementation of the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities", attracted the attendance of many ministers, senior representatives of the Convention's member states, and representatives of many non-governmental organizations.

Sharing the efforts and experiences of Vietnam, Dinh Nho Hung, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Vietnam Mission to the United Nations, said that Vietnam has for the first time completed a national survey on persons with disabilities to international standards. The survey’s results show that their socio-economic conditions are an important foundation for Vietnam to design policies and programmes to remove obstacles facing them, increase their engagement in all social aspects, and improve their living quality.

Hung underscored that Vietnam always gives priority to activities to raise the awareness of State agencies, persons with disabilities and their family members as well as the whole community through training courses, conferences, and media programmes and publications.

Mr. Dinh Nho Hung also emphasized that Vietnam places high priority on awareness raising activities towards government agencies, people with disabilities and family members of people with disabilities, as well as the general public, through training courses, seminars, television shows, radio and propaganda publications. Vietnam has chosen April 18 as the Day for Persons with Disabilities, he noted.

"Vietnam is committed to the effective implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, nationally, regionally and globally, with the goal that no one will be left behind," Hung affirmed.

"Not only a matter of justice but also an investment for the future"

Vietnam commits to effective implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Addressing the event, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that disability inclusion is central to the promise of the 2030 Agenda. He called for CRDP members to continue joining hands together and with UN agencies as well as partners to realise goals of the convention. He also announced the launching of a new UN Disability Inclusion Strategy, “to raise the standards of the UN’s performance on disability inclusion across the board, and action to bring about the unified and transformative change we need”.

“The participation of the disabled is a focus of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, realizing the rights of people with disabilities is not only an issue of justice but also an investment in the future of all of us,” said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

At the session, themed "Ensuring the inclusion of persons with disabilities in a changing world through the implementation of the CRPD", representatives from countries and organisations shared their experience in realizing the convention, ensuring that disabled people are recognised and respected, and promoting their contributions to the society.

They highlighted the need to make full use of science and technology to make the life of disabled people easier through new inventions to renovate their traveling means, hearing and seeing support devices at an affordable cost, thus contributing to coping with challenges facing them in discrimination, inequality and poverty.

In the face of rapid changes in the world, many countries emphasize the importance of utilizing scientific and technological achievements to support and improve the quality of life of people with disabilities such as facilitating the mobility of people with disabilities, smart houses, audiovisual and communication support devices at reasonable costs, thereby contributing to eliminating challenges of discrimination, inequality, poverty and improvement of independence as well as the participation and contribution of people with disabilities. 

 Hai Anh