An ASEAN seminar to promote the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) took place in Hanoi on August 29.

Co-hosted by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), the Asia-Pacific Development Centre on Disability (APCD) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the event was held to enhance the involvement of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the ASEAN Community.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Trong Dam said Vietnam has nearly 6.7 million people living with disabilities, making up 7.8 percent of the national population. The figure is forecast to rise in the coming years, he added.

Vietnam signed the CRPD and is actively working to realise the Millennium Development Goal for PWDs, he said, adding that the country is also perfecting laws and policies to promote their rights and building a roadmap to enter the CRPD.

Dam, however, said that though social welfare projects for millions of PWDs are underway, limited resources reduce their impact.

Lotta Sylwander, UNICEF chief representative in Vietnam, said 155 nations signed the CRPD, 90 inked its optional protocol, 127 ratified the convention and 76 approved and joined the optional protocol.

Discussions at the event revolved around ASEAN’s activities to promote the CPRD, as well as relevant achievements, challenges and recommendations.

On the occasion, the MoLISA and the APCD also signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation.-VNA