Ensuring full, equal engagement of PwDs in social life to not leave anyone behind: UN official
In order to realise the commitment of not leaving anyone behind, it is necessary to ensure the full and equal engagement of persons with disabilities (PwD) in all social areas, stated UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis on December 2.
Hanoi (VNA) – In order to realise the commitmentof not leaving anyone behind, it is necessary to ensure the full and equalengagement of persons with disabilities (PwD) in all social areas, stated UN ResidentCoordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis on December 2.
Speaking at a Hanoi conference on the role and contributions of PwDs in the implementation of SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDG), Tamesis noted that 2022 marked the 30th anniversary of the International Day of PwDs (December 3) and the eighth year sinceVietnam joined the Convention on the Rights of PwDs.
She lauded Vietnam’s big strides in promoting therights and social integrations of PwDs, citing data from the latest countryreport submitted to the UN Committee for Rights of PwDs as showing that in thepast decade, Vietnam exerted great efforts to increase the accessibility forpeople with disabilities.
Many buildings and public transport vehicles have becomemore friendly to PwDs, she noted.
However, she held that Vietnam has still faced manydifficulties in ensuring the rights of PwDs, as 17.8% of those people are living inpoor families, while many schools, especially in the rural areas, arecountering a lack of teachers specialising in caring for children with specialneeds, and many companies have yet to equipped themselves with theinfrastructure and technologies that enable them to employ PwDs.
The employment of PwDs should not be considered as charity,nor as a privilege, but as a guarantee of the right to work which benefitseveryone, she stated.
This year, the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities(UNPRPD) project has played an important role in changing the attitude andimproving capacity for policy influencers and service providers, whileproviding legal and policy through consultations, and raising communityawareness about inclusion and equality for PwDs, she said.
Meanwhile, UNFPA Representative in Vietnam Naomi Kitahara underlined that youngpeople with disabilities should enjoy sexual and reproductive health rights and body autonomy, and a life free from discrimination or violence. The UN inVietnam is committed to supporting people with disabilities towards accessibilityand equality in the country and the whole world, she said.
Conference participants highly valued the active andresilient participation and important contributions of PwD community in thedevelopment of their country and the globe./.
The National Assembly (NA) will strengthen its supervision of the enforcement of laws and policies regarding children with disabilities, said Chairman of the NA’s Committee for Culture and Education Nguyen Dac Vinh.
As many as 50 young people with disabilities who are outstanding role models across the country were honoured at a ceremony in Hanoi on September 29 within the framework of the programme "Toa sang nghi luc Viet".
There is a serious shortage of data on specific groups of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Vietnam, especially those who are most marginalised, including persons with hearing and learning difficulties.
Over the years, ensuring rights for people with disabilities has received great attention from the Party and State. There are now numerous policies and legal regulations providing favourable conditions for them to enjoy equal rights to politic, economic, cultural and social activities, stablise their lives, and integrate into the community.
The embassy advises Vietnamese citizens travelling in Greece that they should avoid standing close to cliff edges, boat sides, and refrain from going out to sea during storms to prevent unfortunate incidents.
Hanoi is advancing green transportation as part of its sustainability goals but faces challenges like limited charging infrastructure, inconsistent regulations, and high electric vehicle costs.
Vietnam has over 4.8 million people exposed to AO/dioxin, including hundreds of thousands in the second, third, and even fourth generations. Many live with severe disabilities, facing high medical costs and loss of earning capacity.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed that amnesty is a humanitarian policy of the Party and State, reflecting the Vietnamese tradition of compassion and winning attention and high praise both domestically and internationally.
Vietnam officially grants limited-term visa-free entry to high-profile foreigners whose presence is deemed beneficial to the country’s socio-economic development.
With support from the Vietnamese Association in Ufa, Vietnamese language classes for children have been offered for many years. Currently, 60 children of various ages are attending two classes taught by Duc Anh, free of charge.
Vietnam ranked among the top four countries and territories at the 2025 International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), reaffirming its strong position in international academic competitions.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
The Ministry of Construction (MoC) plans to open to traffic 208km of expressways of six key projects by August 19, bringing the country’s total expressway network to 2,476km.
As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A 21-year-old Indian tourist was successfully resuscitated and treated by doctors at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital after a near-drowning incident left him in critical condition. After three days of intensive care, the man was discharged from the hospital and has since returned to India.
Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) 
