Circumstances in Mongolia Oyuntugs Bayaraa Graduate Student University of Arkansas

Population 3,068,243: Mongolia is one of the least densely populated countries in the world, 2 people per km (2018)

Population - Structure Age structure*: 0-14 years: 26.95% (M= 421,675; F= 405,298) 15-24 years: 16.09% (M= 249,805; F= 243,784) 25-54 years: 45.6% (M= 677,679; F= 721,435) 55-64 years: 7.07% (M= 99,099; F= 117,818) 65 years and over: 4.29% (M= 53,364; F= 78,286) *2017 est.

Population - Disability ≈ 115,000 people are living with disabilities from Asia Pacific Development Center on Disability* Prevalence estimated ≈ 4% on 2010 census is probably underestimated.* *Source: Country Profile Mongolia.

Population - Globally World population disability prevalence ≈ 15%* 2-4% experience significant difficulties in functioning. Prevalence in Mongolia & globally has increased from previous WHO estimates. Ex: 1970’s estimate ≈ 10%. *World Health Organization, first global report, 2011.

Legal Environment (LE)

LE: Commitments to Regional and International Instruments Date Description 24.05.1968 First became member of International Labor Organization 03.02.1998 Ratified Convention 159 01.09.2001 Became a signatory to the Proclamation on the Full Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities in the Asian and Pacific Region

LE: Commitments (2) Date Description 2009 Ratified the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities 2014 Ratified Incheon Strategy 2015 Signed into the Marrakesh Treaty* *The translation was executed by the presenter on behalf of the Mongolian National Federation of the Blind and edited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia.

LE: National Disability Legislation Date Description 1992 The constitution 1996 The Labor Law was introduced 1998 – 2004 National Programme on “Improvement of the Situation of Persons with Disabilities” was adopted & implement. This is a key Government of Mongolia document concerning implementation of International Convention 159 on Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment.

LE: National Disability Legislation (2) Date Description 1999 The Labor Law amended 06.2002 Law of Mongolia on Vocational Education and Training was discussed and approved by the Government

LE: Main Objectives improve the quality of life of PWDs build an environment to increase participation and integration of PWDs into society strengthen the material basis of the institutions for training financially support SWD create economic mechanism to provide work placements for PWDs promote persons with disabilities led businesses and the sale of products manufactured by PWDs

LE: Laws of Human Rights of the PWDs of Mongolia 06.2016: Adopted Transition from welfare system to human right-based approach

LE: Copyright Law Only one article states that recreating an intellectual property for the rights of the PWDs is not deemed as violation of copyright law. Example: Re-creating one children’s book in Braille & large print along with pictures while employed at Mongolian National Federation of the Blind.

Education The 4th chapter of the law on the rights of people with disabilities are about providing to people with disabilities with equal opportunities for education and choice of occupation as for ordinary people moreover, the law proclaims on preparing qualified human resources to educate people with disabilities.

Education 20,748* out of total is youth and traditional school age 15.7% of 20,748 children and younger PWDs are told that they frequent the educational settings somehow (2008). Remaining 84.3% are still unable to exercise their right to education on equal basis. Adults of non-traditional age who want to pursue academic career is not specified * Source: Country Profile Mongolia

Vocational Training and Employment 1998: First national program to support vocational training and employment was adopted. 2018: Latest extension was approved. Article 5 on the rights of PWDs includes a provision on labor and government support to the employers of PWDs and fair procedure of hiring a new employee.

Vocational Training and Employment (2) Workplace quotas: In 3% of all jobs (business with >50 employees), less than 20% PWDs have a job even though employment quotas have been established.* The State Social Welfare Office estimates that ≈ 80% of PWD live below the poverty line. *Source: Erdenebat, Oyundari.

Issues The government is noticeably lacking a mechanism to implement its legislations and policies. Immature legal environment requires realistic implementation procedures and mechanisms to meet the real needs of the target population. The national program and the legislations are addressing the issues of opening work places without giving more emphasis on repairing the potential of employees with disabilities.

Issues (2) Comprehensive vocational rehabilitation mechanism must be launched. Educational accessibility services (e.g. reasonable accommodations) are required to be implemented and established through professional center to all levels of education including high schools vocational training centers and universities.

Recommendations & Personal Goals Introduce Introduce the CRC Code of Ethics into the field of rehabilitation. Launch Launch the program of rehabilitant counseling curriculum; Advocate Immediately advocate for launching individualized & comprehensive vocational rehabilitation case management system using the existing work force and experiences; Expand Expand DRC to cover high schools, vocational colleges Establish Establish a disability resources center for post-secondary education access in Mongolia;

References Country profile Mongolia. Retrieved from http://www.apcdfoundation.org/?q=content/mongolia (n.d) Erdenebat, Oyundari. (2016, May 9). People with disabilities: How much support does Mongolia really give them? UB Post http://theubpost.mn/2016/05/09/people-with-disabilities- how-much-support-does-mongolia-really-give-them Handsuren, Oyuntugs. (2015, June 30). One world One line. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JXPBfPbhiE&feature=y outu.be Questionnaire on disability inclusive policies. www.ohchr.org/.../Disability/DisabilityInclusivePolicies/.../NH RI (n.d)