Country report MONGOLIA By Ms. M.Baljmaa, MSWL Ts.Nyamkhuu, ICTPA

Country overview Area: 1.5 mln. sq. km Population: 2.7 mln. (2004), In Ulaanbaatar (capital city): 1 million Geography: Between Russian Federation and P.R of China, mountains, forest, steppe, desert GDP per capita: 1600 USD by 2008, 1000 USD by 2006 Life expectancy: 67.2 years, Human dev/index: 0.691, 116th place among 175 countries, Poverty rate: over 30 percent of total population Population trend: 52% is women, 28.1% is children under 15 years. 4.1% is people above 65 years, annual pop/growth is 1.7%.

Fiber-optic backbone network

Number of disabled persons by disability type According to the sample survey by MSWL of Mongolia in 2008: 4.2% population or 115,000 people were persons with disabilities. 20,900 of them have mental problems, 8,800-speaking or hearing problems, 7,500-blind, 28,000-limb handicap, 49,800 were persons with disabilities for other reasons.

Number of disabled persons by disability type And 80 thousand persons with disabilities receive monthly benefit from social insurance and social welfare funds.

Number of disabled persons by disability type As a research made by the Ministry of Education: 8% or 34,000 children of school age were persons with disabilities. 5.8% of 34 thousand children were covered in special schools or special centers of vocational training, 21% were attending ordinary secondary schools, and rest were dropped out.

Summary of Policies on Disability In Mongolia, legal environment to ensure equal rights of PWDs, which about involving them in social life, ensuring their employment and rehabilitation, and providing social security of the PWDs has been created basically. The Government policy for PWDs is formulated by Ministry of Social Welfare and Labor, and implemented by Local labor and social welfare offices.

Summary of Policies on Disability State policy on PWDs of Mongolia is being implemented basing on internationally agreed main principles by UN conferences and high level meetings. State policies and resolutions on the PWDs and issues concerning their involvement in social life and provision of life security are reflected in the “Constitution of Mongolia”, and other relevant laws.

Summary of Policies on Disability “National programme on advancement of livelihood of the people with disabilities” has been renewed by the Government in 2008, National programme on preventing from accidents and injuries” has been extended up to 2012 year.

Summary of Policies on Disability Manufacturing, importing and selling of the special equipments for PWDs is exempted from VAT tax. Special equipments for PWDs, equipments and raw materials required for producing special equipments for PWDs, and goods are imported through humanitarian and grant aids are exempted from customs tax.

Summary of Policies on Disability By law on education, Education in Mongolia should be humane, democratic, continuous, and available and accessible for all, as well as citizens have equal rights to get education. By law on higher education, exempting PWDs from tuition fees through state grant and loan is legislated.

Summary of Policies on Disability In the labor law, revised in May, 1999, labor related issues of PWDs and dwarf people were emphasized. According to this law, 3 percent of total vacancies must be granted for people with disabled and dwarfs for the organizations and entities, which have 25 or more employees, if it does not affect the nature of activities of those entities.

Summary of Policies on Disability UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities has been ratified by Parliament of Mongolia in Dec, 2008. As follow up activities for ratification, the Government has planned some legal reforms and put forward goals in its Action plan to ensure the rights of people with disabilities.

Summary of Policies on Disability Following major actions have been undertaken: National committee on supporting the citizens with disabilities has been set up by decree of the Minister for Social welfare and Labor in July, 2009. Ministry has started the study checking consistency of national laws and legislations with UN convention.

Challenges To ensure for new buildings having special entrances, paths and stages for blind people and people with wheelchair. To amend/revise laws and regulations related to social security and employment (to widen the scope of social protection measurements, to increase pensions and assistances, to improve the accessibility to care services for PWDs)

Challenges To reduce poverty among PWDs through promoting getting education, providing vocational training, increasing employment opportunities for PWDs, and developing ability to live independently. To ensure rehabilitation of the PWDs by improving supply of prosthesis and orthopedic equipments, and providing information. To establish the Internet and IT training center for PWDs at the National rehabilitation center,

Some more challenges In the framework for implementing UN Conventions on rights of persons with disabilities, we are undertaking following goals: To create access to infrastructure in order to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities, To conduct IT training for persons with disabilities, To conduct English training in order to improve accessibility for modern IT,

Some more challenges For example: WIDEX Bravissimo BV-CIC, Flash FL-CIC, Inteo IN-CIC and other digital hearing apparatus for deaf instead of old analogy technology apparatus, To need to increase quantity and types of prosthesis and orthopedic equipments and other rehabilitation tools for blind, To take measurements for establishing minimum standard for persons with disabilities, and standard price of prosthesis and orthopedic equipments has been renewed and price increased 10 times compare to previous years.

MS. M.Baljmaa, MSWL Ts.Nyamkhuu, ICTPA Thanks for attention! MS. M.Baljmaa, MSWL Ts.Nyamkhuu, ICTPA