Directive No. 01/2006/CT-TTg on intensifying the implementation of policies to assist persons with disabilities in the current socio-economic development situation

DIRECTIVE

On Promoting the Implementation of Policies to Assist Persons with Disabilities in the Current Socio-Economic Development Context

In recent years, the State has issued many legal documents to implement policies to assist persons with disabilities. The responsibilities of state agencies, society, and families towards persons with disabilities; the rights and obligations of persons with disabilities have been relatively fully stipulated, creating a legal framework for activities assisting persons with disabilities, contributing to improving and enhancing their material and spiritual lives. Some ministries, sectors, and localities have actively implemented support policies for persons with disabilities in areas such as poverty reduction, vocational training, job creation, medical examination and treatment, and facilitating access to public facilities, etc. As a result, the living conditions of most persons with disabilities have significantly improved, and their status in economic and social activities in the country has been increasingly affirmed.

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However, over the past seven years, the implementation of policies to assist persons with disabilities still faces many shortcomings. Some legal provisions regarding persons with disabilities have not yet truly taken root in daily life. Legal regulations related to policies for persons with disabilities are still lacking and not synchronized, not specific, and have not focused on researching effective measures in the implementation phase. The awareness of the community, families, some levels of government, and persons with disabilities themselves in many places is still not entirely accurate; the ratio of disabled children attending general education classes under inclusive models remains low; the effectiveness of specialized educational models is not high; the access of a portion of persons with disabilities to public facilities still encounters many obstacles and difficulties. There are still many cases where persons with disabilities in difficult circumstances have not received assistance policies despite meeting the prescribed conditions. The current socio-economic development situation in the country leads to fluctuations in living costs and wages/income, while disability assistance policies have not been adjusted in time, making the already difficult lives of persons with disabilities even more challenging.

To address these issues, continue to promote the implementation of policies to assist persons with disabilities during the current socio-economic development period; and at the same time strictly implement the Government of Vietnam's commitments on seven priority areas in the second decade with the aim of promoting full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region, the Prime Minister instructs:

a. Continue to review and assess the results of implementing the Ordinance on Persons with Disabilities and related regulatory legal documents; take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to study and propose measures to amend and supplement or submit to competent authorities for amending and supplementing policies to assist persons with disabilities.

1. Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs

b. Develop and submit to the Prime Minister a project to support persons with disabilities for the 2006-2010 period; organize the implementation of the project after approval.

c. Urge provincial People's Committees under the Central Government to create favorable conditions for poor persons with disabilities to access and benefit from the National Target Program on Poverty Reduction for the 2006-2010 period.

d. Guide functional agencies of provinces and centrally-administered cities to establish and utilize Employment Funds for Persons with Disabilities; intensify vocational training and employment activities for persons with disabilities in the direction of learning trades and passing them on; develop vocational training programs specifically for persons with disabilities.

2. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Strengthen propaganda efforts to raise awareness about disability, persons with disabilities, and measures to prevent disabilities and facilitate the participation of persons with disabilities in appropriate cultural activities.

3. Ministry of Education and Training

Develop and submit to the Prime Minister a strategy and action plan for educating disabled children for the 2006-2010 period and subsequent years in the direction of integration and community-based approaches. Unify the use of sign language for persons with disabilities in the language domain nationwide.

4. Ministry of Health

a. Develop and implement a health care strategy for persons with disabilities, focusing on building early detection and rehabilitation programs for persons with disabilities based on community involvement.

b. Guide the implementation of policies to exempt or reduce hospital fees for impoverished persons with disabilities.

c. Coordinate with the Ministry of Education and Training to compile curricula and textbooks for training professionals in rehabilitation functions in secondary and university medical schools for uniform application nationwide.

d. Take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to refer to international experiences and the World Health Organization (WHO) to build standards and criteria for classifying types of disabilities in Vietnam.

5. General Department of Sports

a. Develop exercise programs and guide persons with disabilities to participate in community training.

b. Direct the Association of Disabled Sports to build sports training and competition movements; propose appropriate forms or levels of commendation for persons with disabilities who achieve success in training and competition.

Coordinate with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications to develop regulations encouraging research, production, and application of products suitable for persons with disabilities to easily access and use telecommunications and information technology services.

6. The Ministry of Science and Technology

7. Ministry of Construction

Direct the construction of new projects and the upgrading of existing ones according to the Public Building Construction Standards number: QCXDVN 01: 2002 and the standards number: TCXD Vietnam 246:2002, TCXD VN 265:2002, TCXD VN 266:2002. Review and amend the above standards to be more suitable for persons with disabilities.

Direct the construction of new projects and the upgrading of existing projects in accordance with the Public Construction Standard Set number: QCXDVN 01: 2002 and the standard sets number: TCXD Vietnam 246:2002, TCXD VN 265:2002, TCXD VN 266:2002. Review and amend the aforementioned standard sets to be suitable for persons with disabilities.

8. The Ministry of Transport

Coordinate with the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to direct the design and construction of new facilities, and the upgrading and renovation of existing facilities for persons with disabilities according to the issued standards. Coordinate with the Ministry of Industry to renovate and manufacture new public transportation means to ensure safe access and convenient participation in traffic for persons with disabilities.

9. People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities

a. Direct competent agencies to determine the number and categorize persons with disabilities according to the regulations and guidelines of the Ministry of Health, the General Statistics Office, and related agencies.

b. Develop plans and implement social welfare assistance policies, medical aid, education, vocational training, employment creation, cultural, and sports activities for persons with disabilities in accordance with state regulations.

10. During the review, approval, and acceptance of investment projects, ministries, sectors, agencies at ministerial level, government agencies, and provincial people's committees directly under the central government shall direct competent agencies to strictly implement standards so that persons with disabilities can access and benefit from economic and social development policies and use public facilities.

The Prime Minister requests the Vietnam Fatherland Front and its member organizations, and social organizations to cooperate with ministries, agencies at ministerial level, government agencies, and provincial people's committees to develop plans to promote the implementation of laws on persons with disabilities; mobilize the people to participate in protecting and caring for persons with disabilities, creating opportunities for them to access social programs and services, and integrate into the community.

Ministers, heads of agencies at ministerial level, heads of government agencies, chairpersons of provincial people's committees, and heads of relevant units and organizations are responsible for enforcing this Directive./.