Empowering Access: Legal Assistance as a Safeguard for the Right to Justice of Persons with Disabilities in Vietnam

This chapter explores the critical role of legal assistance in ensuring that persons with disabilities (PwDs) can fully exercise their right to justice within the Vietnamese legal framework. The analysis delves into the successes achieved through the implementation of the 2017 Law on Legal Aid, which provides a comprehensive framework for offering legal services to PwDs. Despite these advancements, significant challenges remain, including restrictive eligibility criteria, inadequate awareness and communication strategies, and uneven quality and geographic reach of legal aid services. The paper proposes strategic solutions to overcome these obstacles, emphasizing the need for revisions to the legal framework, improved infrastructure, and better coordination with disability organizations. By addressing these challenges, Vietnam can strengthen its commitment to empowering PwDs, ensuring that legal assistance functions as an effective safeguard for their rights and access to justice.