HANOI, November 28, 2014 -- Yesterday Americans celebrated Thanksgiving by giving thanks. I feel as though the holiday has extended a day, given how much I appreciate the wonderful news this morning that the National Assembly has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I am also thankful to the Vietnam Federation of Disabilities for hosting this year’s Asia Pacific Disability Forum to help ensure that those living with disability in this region are heard and supported. They represent a major portion of the estimated billion people in the world who live with disability. I am honored to represent the United States Agency for International Development and its partners in support of this important effort, which for us represents an important aspect of sustainable and inclusive development. No country can be considered successful if 15% of its population is deprived of opportunity and rights.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has been signed by almost every country in the world, reflecting the hard work of many people like you. An even greater effort will be involved in securing equally robust ratification and implementation. We applaud APDF members and advocates like you for the progress toward the goals of CRPD and the Incheon Strategy to make rights real for persons with disabilities in the Asia Pacific region.  This first APDF conference to review the recent development efforts and to deliberate on new strategies to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities is an important opportunity. We should use it to reaffirm our commitment and strengthen our collaboration.

Since 1989, the U.S. Government has supported and worked with the Government of Vietnam and many nongovernmental organizations, both American and Vietnamese, to promote disability rights and expand opportunity in Vietnam.  We have developed strong partnerships in different areas, including disability policy development and enforcement, health and education services, job skills training and employment for persons with disabilities.

The United States supported a similar regional conference hosted by the Government of Vietnam in Hanoi in 2001 to promote the Asian and Pacific Decade of Disabled Persons, from 1993-2002.  The theme of that event was to “Facilitate Community Integration of People with Disabilities.”  Since then, there have been many developments that benefited persons with disabilities, by promoting equality of opportunity and ensuring better access to medical services, education, and employment. I take particular pride as an American in the private activities of many U.S. NGOs to support persons with disabilities in Vietnam.

In the early years, USAID supported the network of health professionals working to improve the quality of prosthetic and orthopedic services in Vietnam. We have been able to assist the development of nearly ten prosthetic and orthopedic clinics and production workshops to serve persons with disabilities from rural and remote areas. Since 1996, recognizing the need for  education of children with disabilities, and for vocational training and job placement of disabled persons, USAID support has expanded to include programs with the Ministry of Education and Training and MOLISA. Together we have trained thousands of teachers and school principals on topics of inclusive education. We are proud to have supported MOET in revising policies to ensure children with disabilities have access to education.

As recently noted by President Obama in his proclamation of a National Disability Employment Awareness Month, “when employees with disabilities are passed over in the workplace or denied fair accommodations, it limits their potential and threatens our democracy; when disproportionate numbers of Americans with disabilities remain unemployed, more work must be done to achieve the spirit of what is one of the most comprehensive civil rights bills in the history of our country.” President Obama’s could be the words of any country’s leader who is thoughtful on the subject of disability. I applaud MOLISA’s current effort to have provinces implement a diversified vocational training program to provide better employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. This diversified approach has been supported by USAID’s program in Vietnam since 1998. It continues to be a successful method in finding employment and generating income for a large group of persons with disabilities, particularly for those from rural and remote areas.  USAID is also proud to support the partnership of the Blue Ribbon Employer Council, which consists of almost 250 international and domestic companies and provides employment for more than 2,000 employees with disabilities.

In a parallel series of programs beginning in 1998, we have collaborated on development of disability legislation and capacity development for disabled persons organizations. These efforts helped to establish a National Coordination Committee on Disabilities, issuance of national actions plans on disabilities and rehabilitation, passage of barrier free codes and standards , and enactment of the Vietnam Disability Law.

USAID continues its commitment to support Vietnamese persons with disabilities, through its new five-year strategy to help Vietnam develop a more inclusive society. Our 2014-2018 disability programs will continue to support the development of disability policies and advocacy, including in support of Vietnam’s participation in the CRPD. We will work to improve the quality and application of physical, occupation and speech therapies.  These areas can serve as entry points to further access services that can improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities.  

The Government of Vietnam and the community of persons with disabilities and their advocates should continue their efforts to sustain the important progress and accomplishments in disability policy development in Vietnam to date. The ratification of the CRPD by the National Assembly represents a next important stage of such efforts.

However, we recognize that a strong legal framework may have little impact if it is not combined with strong enforcement.  The conference’s theme of “Accelerating Action to Make the Rights Real” is very relevant. Policies need to be translated into behaviors and actions that lead to an accessible and rights-based society and provide equal opportunities for persons with disabilities. Buildings must be accessible. Education must be provided. There must be equal employment opportunities and support for disabled person organizations. Working together, and with strong high-level commitment, we can do this.

USAID looks forward to our continued collaboration with Vietnam Federation on Disability, the Government of Vietnam and civil society to build a more inclusive society for persons with disabilities, relying on their voices to guide us.   We wish you success in the rest of the workshop, and we wish you good health, success, and happiness.  

Thank you.