This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

140349Z Dec 01

2001HANOI03259 - UNCLASSIFIED
 
 
 
                           UNCLASSIFIED     PTO9916

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ACTION EAP-00   

INFO  LOG-00   NP-00    AID-00   CIAE-00  DODE-00  SRPP-00  EB-00    
      ED-01    OIGO-00  UTED-00  VC-00    HHS-01   H-01     TEDE-00  
      INR-00   IO-00    LAB-01   L-00     AC-01    NSAE-00  NSCE-00  
      OIC-02   OMB-01   OPIC-01  PA-00    PC-01    PM-00    PRS-00   
      ACE-00   P-00     SP-00    STR-00   TEST-00  TRSE-00  USIE-00  
      EPAE-00  PMB-00   PRM-00   DRL-02   G-00     NFAT-00  SAS-00   
        /012W
                  ------------------4B4EDC  140412Z /38    
FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5001
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY 
ASEAN COLLECTIVE
USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI

UNCLAS HANOI 003259 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV 
 
STATE PASS TO USAID/AA/ANE FORMAN, USAID/ANE/ESA FERRARA, 
AND USAID/G/PHN FEINBERG 
 
PHNOM PENH PASS TO USAID FOR CHILES AND FORSYTHE 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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TAGS: SOCI EAID PHUM VM LABOR
SUBJECT:  CAMPAIGN 2001 ON DISABLED PERSONS 
 
 
¶1.  USAID AND ITS GRANTEES ARE PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN 
SUPPORTING A LANDMARK EVENT IN HANOI DURING THE WEEK OF 
DECEMBER 10: CAMPAIGN 2001, THE NINTH ANNUAL CAMPAIGN IN 
THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC DECADE OF DISABLED PERSONS.  UNDER 
THE OVERALL LEADERSHIP OF THE U.N. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (ESCAP), THE EVENT 
BROUGHT TOGETHER FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN VIETNAM MORE 
THAN 1000 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES FROM 37 COUNTRIES TO 
REVIEW PROGRESS ON AN ACTION AGENDA SET AT THE FIRST 
MEETING IN BEIJING IN 1992. 
 
¶2.  SRV PRESIDENT TRAN DUC LUONG OPENED THE MEETING ON 
DECEMBER 11.  PRESIDENT LUONG AND MINISTER OF LABOR, 
INVALIDS, AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS (MOLISA) NGUYEN THI HANG 
LATER PAID A PERSONAL VISIT TO USAID'S BOOTH IN THE 
EXHIBITION HALL.  THE EXHIBIT (THE ONLY ONE BY A 
BILATERAL DONOR) HIGHLIGHTED ASPECTS OF THE USD 30 
MILLION IN FUNDING THAT USAID HAS PROVIDED TO PROJECTS ON 
DISABILITIES IN VIETNAM OVER THE PAST DECADE THROUGH THE 
LEAHY WAR VICTIMS FUND AND THE DISPLACED CHILDREN AND 
ORPHANS FUND. 
 
¶3.  USAID GRANTEE VIETNAM ASSISTANCE FOR THE HANDICAPPED 
(VNAH) WAS ON THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE FOR THE CAMPAIGN, 
ALONG WITH MOLISA, AND THE REGIONAL NGO NETWORK FOR THE 
PROMOTION OF THE ASIAN AND PACIFIC DECADE OF DISABLED 
PERSONS.  VNAH'S REPRESENTATIVE IN VIETNAM, JOHN 
LANCASTER, WAS ONE OF THE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS.  MR. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
PAGE 03        HANOI  03259  140412Z 
LANCASTER PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS THE HEAD OF THE 
PRESIDENT'S COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT OF PEOPLE WITH 
DISABILITIES IN THE U.S. 
 
¶4.  VNAH, WITH USAID FUNDING, ALSO HELPED MOLISA ADDRESS 
THE CONSIDERABLE COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPORTATION 
CHALLENGES POSED BY THE CONFERENCE, INCLUDING THE 
PROVISION OF SPECIALLY FITTED BUSES FOR PEOPLE IN 
WHEELCHAIRS. 
 
¶5.  THE OVERALL THEME OF CAMPAIGN 2001 IS "FACILITATING 
COMMUNITY INTEGRATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES." 
SPECIFIC TOPICS UNDER DISCUSSION INCLUDE NATIONAL 
POLICIES AND PUBLIC AWARENESS PERTAINING TO PEOPLE WITH 
DISABILITIES (PWDS); EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING; 
EMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES; BARRIER-FREE 
ACCESS TO PUBLIC FACILITIES; PREVENTION OF CAUSES OF 
DISABILITY; WOMEN AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES; AND 
EMPOWERMENT OF DISABILITY GROUPS. 
 
¶6.  IN ADDITION TO VNAH, USAID'S OTHER NGO GRANTEES IN 
THE DISABILITY ARENA INCLUDE VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA 
FOUNDATION, HEALTH VOLUNTEERS OVERSEAS, PROSTHETICS 
OUTREACH FOUNDATION, WORLD VISION INTERNATIONAL, CATHOLIC 
RELIEF SERVICES, WORLD CONCERN DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION, 
AND PEARL S. BUCK.  VVAF, HVO, POF, WVI, AND CRS ALSO 
CONTRIBUTED PRESENTATIONS AND EXHIBITS AT THE CONFERENCE, 
AND ALL OF USAID'S NGO PARTNERS PROVIDED VOLUNTEERS TO 
MOLISA TO HELP PLAN AND EXECUTE THE OVERALL EVENT. 
 
¶7.  COMMENT:  VIETNAM HAS MADE VERY SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS IN SERVING A DISABLED 
POPULATION ESTIMATED AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MILLION PEOPLE. 
WITH ASSISTANCE FROM THE U.S., THE GVN HAS PASSED A 
NATIONAL DISABILITIES LAW (MODELLED AFTER THE U.S. 
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT), ESTABLISHED A NATIONAL 
COORDINATING COMMITTEE, WRITTEN A BARRIER-FREE CODE FOR 
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, AND MADE A PROMISING 
COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVE EDUCATION FOR DISABLED CHILDREN. 
MUCH GREATER ATTENTION IS STILL NEEDED FROM THE GVN, 
HOWEVER, TO EMPOWER DISABLED GROUPS TO ORGANIZE PROGRAMS 
FOR THEMSELVES, TO PROVIDE THEM GREATER ACCESS TO 
TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT, AND FULLY TO IMPLEMENT ITS 
COMMITMENTS TO PHYSICAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC PLACES BY PEOPLE 
WITH DISABILITIES AND EXPANDED EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES 
FOR DISABLED CHILDREN. 
PORTER 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED