A/HRC/17/34/Add.1 E. Persons with disabilities 50. In 2006, around 15.3 per cent of the Vietnamese population presented some sort of disability and at least 3.7 per cent presented a severe disability. Government statistics indicate a strong correlation between disability and poverty.51 Persons with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to poverty because of challenges with regard to access to education, health care and work. Despite Government efforts to stimulate employment and education of persons with disabilities, recent assessments indicate the limited capacity of the existing social policies to effect change. 51. Children with disabilities are disproportionately disadvantaged: 52 per cent do not have access to education, the vast majority do not finish primary school52 and 88 per cent of those over 16 have no technical training.53 While the Government has developed policies for inclusive education in line with its obligations under article 23 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, there is a considerable implementation gap. Children with disabilities also face disadvantage outside of the education sector, with only a small number able to access the social assistance to which they are entitled. The Government therefore needs to increase awareness of and ensure access to health care and rehabilitation services for children with disabilities, and improve resources for early detection and intervention. 52. Without access to education, work or income generation, opportunities are very limited for persons with disabilities. Among those who manage to find work, most have unstable self-employed jobs. In this context, the independent expert welcomes legislation stipulating that enterprises either recruit a minimum of two-three per cent of labourers with disabilities, or contribute to a fund to provide assistance to persons with disabilities. The independent expert urges the Government to ensure enforcement of this law.54 53. The independent expert recognizes the efforts made through a Revised Law on Persons with Disabilities, more in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and calls on the Government to ensure the implementation of the law and to ratify the Convention. F. Internal migrants 54. While poverty is particularly prevalent in rural Viet Nam, urban areas are facing new challenges, with signs showing an increase in urban poverty.55 According to recent census data, in the period 2004-2009, roughly 6.6 million people migrated internally in Viet Nam, most of them to growing urban areas.56 However, official statistics only partially reflect the reality; estimates indicate that the number of migrants left “uncounted” by the census could be up to 16 million.57 It has been reported that more than 60 per cent of internal migrants work without a formal contract, and thus have no access to social insurance or health insurance. Migrants also frequently work extra hours and have substantially lower earnings than other city residents, with women even more likely to have 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 14 World Bank, Viet Nam Development Report 2008: Social Protection, p. 30. UNICEF, An Analysis of the Situation of Children in Viet Nam 2010, p. 193. MOLISA, “Social Security Strategy: Period 2011-2020” (2010), p. 8. Idem. United Nations, Internal Migration: Opportunities and challenges for socio-economic development in Viet Nam (2010), p. 11. Ibid., p. 6. United Nations, Internal Migration and Socio Economic Development in Viet Nam, A call to action (2010) p. 5.