People with disabilities are one of the most disadvantaged groups with limited social protection support, and are often exposed to many risks in terms of sexual and reproductive health, as well as physical, mental and sexual violence. A recent estimate shows that about 80% of people with disabilities (PWDs) have never visited health workers for SRH services. About 50% reported stigma and discrimination against their disability status. Young people are particularly vulnerable, as the unmet need for modern contraceptives is high. And older people accounts for almost 80% of people with disabilities in Viet Nam.
With its core resources, UNFPA Viet Nam supports the Vietnamese government to fulfill its national commitment to a comprehensive SRH intervention in line with the principles of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The ICPD Program of Action explicitly calls for governments at all levels to consider the needs and rights of persons with disabilities and to eliminate discrimination against persons with disabilities with regard to reproductive rights and household and family formation.
Late June 2021, UNFPA Viet Nam in collaboration with UNDP, UNICEF and Hanoi Association of People with Disabilities co-organized a consultation workshop on sexual reproductive health and rights of people with disabilities. The participants discussed needs for sexual and reproductive health information and care of persons with disabilities, especially young people with disabilities, analyzed barriers to realization of their rights, including the right to be protected from violence and abuse, and proposed strategic interventions to support reproductive health/sexual health care for people with disabilities, especially young people with disabilities.
This is an activity in the series of UNFPA’s work to promote the rights of PWDs and ensure social protection for PWDs. In this light of work, UNFPA together with ILO, UNDP, UNICEF has provided technical support for the government to develop the new Decree 20 on Social Assistance.
Decree 20 will become effective on the 1st July 2021 with standard benefit level of cash transfer be increased from VND270,000 to VND360,000, and the coverage was extended to older persons aged 75-80 who are poor/near poor people living along without support from family in poor communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas.
“When Decree 20 become effective in the 1st July 2021, millions of people will receive more benefit, and more older people, especially older people with disability, will become beneficiaries. The coverage expansion is still limited, especially there are new forms of vulnerability in the context of COVID-19. Thus we would highly appreciate further support from the UN to further expanding the coverage of social protection for the most vulnerable groups.” Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Toan, Deputy Director of Social Protection Department, MOLISA.
Some more information relating to our workshop can be found on our FaceBook page.
