Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for Elevating Gender Equality to the National Level, Raise Questions on the Treatment of Women Human Rights Defenders and on Human Trafficking

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the tenth periodic report of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, with Committee Experts commending the State for elevating the issue of gender equality to the national level, while raising questions on its treatment of women human rights defenders, and how it was combatting human trafficking.

Jie Xia, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the Committee commended the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for elevating the issue of gender equality to the national level through domesticating the Convention, developing a law on gender equality, and developing a national action plan and strategy on gender equality, among other measures.

A Committee Expert said the Committee had received several names of female human rights defenders who had been poorly treated by the Government and the judiciary. Could the State party outline recent efforts to review and amend any existing laws, regulations, or decrees that may unduly restrict freedom of expression to ensure that these legal frameworks complied with international human rights standards, including the Convention? What measures was the State taking to investigate the disappearance, maltreatment and deaths of female human rights activists?

Another Expert said the Lao People’s Democratic Republic continued to be a renowned source of origin for migrant workers as well as increasingly becoming a country of transit and destination for sexual exploitation and human trafficking. What were some of the key policies that the National Steering Committee on Anti-Human Trafficking had introduced and implemented in terms of effective anti-trafficking measures? How was the implementation of the national plan on anti-trafficking carried out? How did the State ensure that the security forces were working effectively to address the prevalence of trafficking within the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone?

The delegation said the Committee operated on reports from non-governmental organizations, which were often exaggerated. It was important to look at the reality in the country, rather than organizations that operated reports, which sometimes fit the category of disinformation. For example, regarding the cases of the so-called female human rights defenders, they were not human rights defenders. They had organised propaganda against the State and had violated criminal law, and were therefore prosecuted and imprisoned.

The delegation said a national commission on human trafficking had been established at the provincial, district and national levels. Focus was directed to the protection of victims. Trainings were conducted for law enforcement staff on how to identify victims of trafficking, how to refer their cases, and how to further protect them. The Women’s Union had expanded the shelter services to six provinces in the country. There was a police headquarters located within the Golden Triangle to prevent violations of human rights. Companies operating in this area were encouraged to ensure their staff received medical examinations.

Introducing the report, Chansoda Phonethip, Vice President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Women’s Union and Vice President of the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children, and head of delegation, said the promotion and protection of women’s rights were at the core of the Government policy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. In 2019, the National Assembly adopted the law on gender equality, which introduced a wide range of measures to address gender disparities across various sectors. Under this law, gender-based discrimination was classified as a criminal offense. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic was dedicated to eliminating child marriage through strengthening legal and administrative frameworks, investing in education, and encouraging communities to collectively address the challenges posed by harmful practices such as early marriage and pregnancy.

In closing remarks, Ms. Phonethip thanked the Committee for the dialogue, which helped the Lao People’s Democratic Republic fulfil its obligations under the Convention. The Committee’s insights were instrumental to advancing the rights of women and girls in the country. The State welcomed any support from the international community to help in meeting its obligations under the Convention.

Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia, Committee Vice Chair, thanked the delegation for the constructive dialogue with the Committee, which helped it to better understand the situation of women and girls in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

The delegation of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic was comprised of representatives from the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Lao Women’s Union; and the Permanent Mission of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s eighty-ninth session is being held from 7 October to 25 October. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 9 October to consider the fifth periodic report of Saudi Arabia (CEDAW/C/SAU/5).

Report

The Committee has before it the tenth periodic report of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (CEDAW/C/LAO/10).

Presentation of Report

CHANSODA PHONETHIP, Vice President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Women’s Union and Vice President of the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children, and head of delegation, said the promotion and protection of women’s rights were at the core of the Government policy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. All citizens, regardless of sex, had equal rights in political, economic, social and family life, in compliance with the principles and norms of the Convention. The Government had implemented supportive measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was a key challenge for the country. These included financial subsidies which particularly targeted unemployed individuals and women factory workers, with a total of 61,511 people benefitting from these initiatives. The Government also introduced two national agendas, one focusing on addressing economic and financial difficulties, and the other on combatting drug trafficking.

In 2019, the National Assembly adopted the law on gender equality, which introduced a wide range of measures to address gender disparities across various sectors. Under this law, gender-based discrimination was classified as a criminal offense. Over 50 laws had been revised and newly adopted over the past five years, including those aimed at improving women’s rights and ensuring gender equality. The Government had made great efforts to provide legal aid free of charge for disadvantaged people, as outlined in the law on lawyers, and the decree on legal aid. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic actively maintained three national mechanisms for promoting gender equality and empowering women. These included the Government, represented by the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children; the mass organization, represented by the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Women’s Union; and the legislature, represented by the National Assembly’s Women’s Caucus.

The Government remained committed to reviewing and strengthening its legal frameworks to further enhance protection from violence, particularly through the law on the protection and development of women and the law on the protection of the rights and interests of children. The State had strengthened its national mechanisms for assisting women and girls who were victims of violence by adopting the "No Wrong Door" approach, ensuring that victims could access essential services, including healthcare, legal aid, and coordinated case management. Counselling and protection centres had also been extended to five provinces.
Awareness raising on gender-based violence was conducted and legal information and resources, such as handouts, posters and brochures on violence were widely distributed.

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic was dedicated to eliminating child marriage through strengthening legal and administrative frameworks, investing in education, and encouraging communities to collectively address the challenges posed by harmful practices such as early marriage and pregnancy. The Government undertook a national study on early marriage and pregnancy, which would guide the formulation of policies and action plans to effectively tackle these issues. The Government was also committed to protecting and supporting children affected by early marriage, ensuring their successful reintegration into society. The State was dedicated to preventing human trafficking, with a strong focus on vulnerable groups, particularly women in border regions and high-risk communities.

Despite advancements made, the representation of female members in the Ninth National Assembly did not meet the set target of 30 per cent. In response, the Government was actively undertaking a comprehensive review to identify the underlying factors contributing to this decline, particularly focusing on the various barriers that women faced in attaining high-ranking positions. The outcomes of this study would serve to address these challenges and promote the participation of women in the upcoming elections for the Tenth National Assembly in 2026. On the other hand, the number of female members of Provincial People’s Assemblies was higher than the set target. Most recently, three women were promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, a historical moment in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic army.

The Government was actively promoting healthier lifestyles by raising awareness about sanitation, nutrition, and comprehensive pre- and post-natal care for women. Recent data reflected a significant decrease in the maternal mortality rate, now at 36.6 per 100,000 live births. Ms. Phonethip said in 2026, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic would celebrate the forty-fifth anniversary of its ratification of the Convention. While significant achievements had been made in more than four decades, there were still challenges to overcome. It was hoped that the constructive dialogue with the Committee would produce meaningful outcomes.

Questions by Committee Experts

JIE XIA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, thanked the State party for sending a high-level delegation. The Committee welcomed positive measures taken by the State party since 2018 to advance the status of women, promote gender equality, and eliminate discrimination against women. The Committee commended the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for elevating the issue of gender equality to the national level through domesticating the Convention, developing a law on gender equality, and developing a national action plan and strategy on gender equality, among other measures.

It was noted that the Criminal Code penalised discriminatory acts based on gender. Had there been any actions taken to directly penalise gender-based discrimination? How many cases had been brought under article 204? The Committee commended the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for domesticating the Convention; what measures had been taken to advance this process? Could the judiciary apply the relevant laws in its rulings? How many trainings had covered the Convention? Could up to date information be provided on efforts made to implement the law on gender equality and the third national strategy on gender equality? Did the State party encourage mediation through legal means? How was it ensured that people did not escape legal sanctions by taking advantage of mediation?

A Committee Expert said the State party had repeatedly declared it was not able to establish a human rights institution in line with the Paris Principles. What obstacles did the State party face in this regard? If a female leader wished to establish a federal liberal party for the upcoming elections, would this be allowed? If not, why not?

There were reports that the Government severely restricted non-governmental organizations. Women rights groups were confined to working through the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Women’s Union, which was a State body. The Penal Code was also used to prosecute activists and restrict freedom of assembly. The Committee had received several names of female human rights defenders who had been poorly treated by the Government and the judiciary? Could the State party outline recent efforts to review and amend any existing laws, regulations, or decrees that may unduly restrict freedom of expression to ensure that these legal frameworks complied with international human rights standards, including the Convention? What measures was the State taking to investigate the disappearance, maltreatment and deaths of female human rights activists? Was there a public site where detailed statistics related to sex and gender were published annually?

Another Expert commended the State party for its initiatives, including training programmes for women in leadership roles. However, the Committee was concerned that the State party had not instituted temporary special measures to improve specific situations for women and girls. What was the State party’s concerns regarding the use of temporary special measures? What steps had been taken to demonstrate the values of temporary special measures and to provide explanations to the general public on the failure to employ these measures? Would the State party consider the adoption of temporary special measures to fulfil the rights of disadvantaged women and ensure their participation in all areas of life? What steps was the State party taking to collaborate with stakeholders, including civil society, to implement temporary special measures?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the Penal Code provided for the criminalisation of discrimination against women, and stated that anyone who discriminated against women due to gender would be punished, including by deprivation of liberty and fines. There had been no cases enacted in the courts so far. The Government paid attention to the functioning of the mediation unit. It was important to prioritise this mechanism to help avoid people going to the courts, which took time. Harmony and non-confrontation were important in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. This was why the Government placed significant importance on the functioning of the village mediation unit. Anyone dissatisfied with the outcome of the mediation unit could escalate it to the courts.

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic was preparing for the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review early next year, and was working hard in this regard. Several recommendations pertained to the Convention, which was a key focus of the Government. The State was also preparing for the forthcoming visit of the Special Rapporteur on cultural rights in November this year. Law dissemination campaigns were conducted to people in the provinces. The budget reflected the implementation of the law on gender equality.

The delegation said the Government recognised the importance of national human rights institutions. The Paris Principles had been studied carefully and research had been conducted on examples of such institutions in different countries. Workshops had been organised, including with Commissioners from India, Indonesia and Myanmar, to learn how their national human rights institutions worked. The State had different mechanisms in place and a new commission would involve increased resources. There were established human rights focal points in each sector and issues could be conveyed through them. Sometimes, taskforces were established to investigate particular human rights issues. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic was trying to strengthen the current mandates of what they had now. Only 118 Member States of the United Nations had established human rights commissions; in Asia, this number was only 15.

The Committee operated on reports from non-governmental organizations, which were often exaggerated. It was important to look at the reality in the country, rather than organizations that operated reports, which sometimes fit the category of disinformation. For example, regarding the cases of the so-called female human rights defenders, they were not human rights defenders. They had organised propaganda against the State and had violated criminal law, and were therefore prosecuted and imprisoned. They used the pretext of freedom of expression to violate the law. Freedom of expression had limits; it was not absolute.

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic planned to conduct an economic survey. From 2017, the State had made efforts to improve existing databases throughout the sectors. The Government had made efforts to mobilise women to take part in elections. Capacity training was provided to women. An action plan was in place to empower women to hold leadership positions in the commerce sector. Women were present in all branches of the economy.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert was pleased to hear that the Lao People’s Democratic Republic was considering establishing a human rights institution; how long would this process take? How many cases related to gender-based discrimination were conducted in the State party before the courts in the last five years, and how did they end? It was sad to hear about the State’s general position regarding human rights defenders. However, it was pleasing to hear the Criminal Code was being reviewed to enhance freedom of expression; how long would this review process take?

Another Expert asked what were the concerns and challenges the State faced in regard to using temporary special measures to advance the rights of women in the country? Could these measures be used to reallocate resources to women?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said it was not practical for the State to provide a timeline on establishing a national human rights institution, as they were learning from other countries and strengthening existing mechanisms. In some cases, people misused and abused human rights treaties, using freedom of expression as a pretext. In the case of one woman in prison, she had used propaganda to distort information and criticise the Government. Every 10 years, the Government amended the Constitution and focused on articles which were relevant. Next year, the Government would organise a population Census which would be gender disaggregated. This would be used to prepare the next five-year development plan.

There were plans to increase the number of women in Government by 2026. A survey would be conducted to determine why there were decreasing numbers of female parliamentarians. Regarding temporary special measures, there were challenges in human and financial resources, as well as changing the mindsets of some people who still discriminated against women. There were few cases of gender discrimination in the courts due to the use of the peaceful mediation resolution, which prevented cases from going to the courts.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert said the Lao People’s Democratic Republic had yet to promulgate a national action plan for women, peace and security, in accordance with the Committee’s recommendations. Would the State consider including the rise of artificial intelligence and its impact on women’s security in the plan? Would the impact of militarisation be addressed? What was being done to address harmful stereotypes of women and girls, particularly in rural areas? Would the law on domestic violence be revised to address cybercrime against women and scams against impoverished women? It was concerning that there was no specific law against spousal rape. Would affirmative consent be included as an essential component of rape? Economic turmoil had led to an increase in domestic violence and child marriage. How would economic policies take the most vulnerable into account? What steps had been taken to assess the impact of the economic crisis on women?

Another Expert commended the State’s efforts to address trafficking in persons, including through the enactment of the 2016 anti-trafficking law and the inclusion of article 215 in the 2018 Penal Code, which criminalised both sex and labour trafficking. The national plan on anti-trafficking in persons combatting and prevention phase III (2021-2025) and the establishment of the National Steering Committee on Anti-Human Trafficking were positive steps. However, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic continued to be a renowned source of origin for migrant workers as well as increasingly becoming a country of transit and destination for sexual exploitation and human trafficking. What were some of the key policies that the Committee had introduced and implemented in terms of effective anti-trafficking measures? How was the implementation of the national plan on anti-trafficking carried out?

Concerns persisted around the prevalence of trafficking within the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone. Sources reported the sale and trafficking of girls as young as 13 and 14 to China increasingly happening unrestricted through flourishing internet trade. How did the State ensure that the security forces were working effectively to address such challenges? What specific actions were being taken to combat the impunity in the Special Economic Zone? How did the Government plan to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement and judiciary personnel to investigate, prosecute, and secure convictions in trafficking cases?

It was positively noted that under the national plan of action on anti-trafficking in persons, a temporary shelter for victims of trafficking in persons was established. Did the State party have any plans to strengthen survivor services and increase resources as well as expand the capacity of shelters, legal aid services, and vocational training programmes, particularly in provinces with higher trafficking risks and women and girls from rural and ethnic minority communities? Given that many trafficking cases involved border crossings, how was work done with cross-border countries to strengthen the approach against trafficking? Did the State’s COVID-19 response plan address the heightened risk of trafficking?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said that the Lao People’s Democratic Republic was translating the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ women, peace and security plan and would disseminate this. The State’s national plan of action for 2026 to 2030 was being drafted, and women, peace and security would be integrated into this. Workshop seminars were organised to look at the traditional practice. To ensure gender equality, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Women’s Union had made efforts to develop guidelines for domestic violence and promote the reproductive health of women. Projects had been piloted in six provinces in the country.

A national commission on human trafficking had been established at the provincial, district and national levels. Focus was directed to the protection of victims. The Government focused on preventing trafficking in persons, particularly for women working in factories and those living in remote villages. The Government also organised anti-human trafficking days in July each year, at the central and local levels. Trainings were conducted for law enforcement staff on how to identify victims of trafficking, how to refer their cases, and how to further protect them.

The Women’s Union had expanded the shelter services to six provinces in the country. After being rescued, victims were referred to the Union and were provided with shelter and mental and physical support, and they were then reintegrated back into society. Work was done with the Ministry of Justice to ensure victims could receive justice and the traffickers could be prosecuted. From June 2024, professional training had been provided for more than 600 people in the area of human trafficking. There was a police headquarters located within the Golden Triangle to prevent violations of human rights. Companies operating in this area were encouraged to ensure their staff received medical examinations. The Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic had developed a legal framework on human trafficking.

Rape was clarified within the Penal Code; however, the element of affirmative consent was not present. The State needed to explore this option and conduct studies in this regard. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic had made efforts to cooperate within the multilateral framework and on bilateral mechanisms with neighbouring countries.

In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, more than 200,000 people had been infected by COVID-19. More than 60,000 had died of the virus. The country still faced the continuing impact of COVID-19, and was in the process of recovering. The country had been faced with economic and financial difficulties, as well as natural disasters and climate change. The Government had taken concrete measures to address this situation, including for women, to ensure no one was left behind.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert commended the Lao People’s Democratic Republic for making equality a driver towards peace. The number of women in parliament had improved to 22 per cent, and there was a parliamentary commission, which was positive. However, parity meant 50/50; it needed to be seen as a relevant solution to poverty. In the absence of political pluralism, how could the electoral base be expanded to ensure women had access to political parties and leadership? How could it be ensured that there was a large-scale effort to ensure women had access to voting and being candidates? How could these developments be accelerated? What initiatives could be undertaken to ensure real parity for women in the life of the party and the central congress? What role could the Women’s Union play to train candidates and create momentum? What could be done to support civil society? What initiatives could be taken to help women participate in a more effective way? How was it ensured that ethnic minorities could participate in local development?

Another Expert underscored the importance of documentation as proof of nationality. The guide to birth registration and other measures were well noted. Was information on birth registration from provinces gathered on an annual basis? What had the percentage increase in registration been? What target had been reached as of today? What were the key challenges and what incentives were being considered for the still unregistered 30 per cent? Was disaggregated data on registrations available? What measures and incentives were taken to improve birth registration and encourage ethnic minority groups and rural women to register births? How was the documentation system used to track the State party’s migrant women population? Could stateless children or children born to immigrant women obtain the nationality of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic? How many had been granted nationality so far?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said female diplomats in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic played an impressive role in the country’s foreign affairs work. In 2024, out of 914 diplomats working in the Ministry, 322 were female diplomats, representing 32.5 per cent. Of 27 ambassador posts, five were women, which was equivalent to 19 per cent. Of three minister posts, one was a woman. When there were opportunities such as scholarships, the policy now stated these should be offered to female diplomats first. This month, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Women’s Union had successfully completed hosting the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Women Entrepreneurs’ Conference 2024.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had carried out many activities to raise awareness of birth registration, including printing, publishing and distributing information. If a child was born to stateless parents who had fully integrated into the Lao People’s Democratic Republic culture, the child could obtain nationality on request. There were several conditions, including speaking the language and respecting the Constitution. These laws aimed to reduce statelessness. There were not many stateless people in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert said the Committee welcomed that the State party was making efforts to increase the enrolment of girls and women in education. However, there was a significant gender gap in non-traditional fields, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics. What concrete measures had been taken to ensure parents understood the importance of sending girls to schools? How was the effectiveness of gender-sensitive curricula ensured in order to change gender stereotypes from an early age? What were the specific measures to increase the access of girls to education?

What were the plans to provide necessary education in native languages? What steps were being taken to improve the infrastructure and resources in schools in remote areas? What steps were being taken to ensure quality access to education for all women and girls with disabilities? How would the State party sustain the school lunch programme in rural and remote areas? How was the issue of child marriage monitored and addressed? Parents needed to understand that education was important for girls; maybe training and awareness raising was needed for the parents.

Another Expert said that since the 1990s, the State party had made efforts to increase women’s participation in the labour market. Yet despite this, women’s participation had steadily declined since 2012. The gender pay gap in the capital showed that 52 per cent of women employed took home only 77 per cent of men’s average wages. What were the legislative measures for ensuring equal pay and equal and just working conditions? What was the State’s assessment of the sharp decrease in women’s participation in the labour market, and what was being done to combat this? How would these plans target women in vulnerable groups? What policies were in place to protect migrant women workers? What were the measures provided under the sexual harassment law?

A Committee Expert said the Lao People’s Democratic Republic had approved a decree to establish health insurance which was positive. One of the key issues recognised by the Government was HIV/AIDS. What were the main results of efforts taken to prevent HIV/AIDS? What steps had been taken to adopt HIV/AID legislation to expand access to services and combat discrimination? Could updated information on rural women be provided, including access to services? What was the main reason for the criminalisation of abortion? What were the main barriers which women and girls in poverty faced when accessing health services? What access did women in detention have to reproductive health services?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said a group of parents had been created in primary schools to enable them to understand the importance of education. Lunch boxes had been created for poor students and those who lived in rural areas, which had seen an increase in school enrolment. A new curriculum had been developed for the schools and teachers had been trained on this. Scholarships were provided to poor students and job training was provided to give students access to the labour market. The law on disability aimed to protect the rights of those with disabilities. Within this law, children with disabilities could access educational facilities, the same as anyone else. Special equipment was provided to help these children receive an education. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic provided tools for developing skills in the labour market.

The delegation said a national action plan had been implemented to combat HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. In addition to reducing the stigma, the 161 HIV/AIDS centres provided counselling services, with 11 centres providing treatment. Testing kits for HIV detection were distributed within the communities. Poor women could give birth in public hospitals free of charge. In each detention centre, there were medical staff on hand to provide healthcare to detainees. Other statistics would be provided in writing.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert commended the State party’s efforts to expand social protection coverage. Despite institutional efforts, feminised poverty persisted, and women continued to face great difficulties in gaining access to economic, social and cultural activities. Could comprehensive data be provided on how women had benefitted from the small and medium enterprise law? What targeted policies and measures existed to increase access to finances for women? What gender-specific outcomes existed to demonstrate effectiveness and uptake in the banking sector?

What steps were being taken to adopt specific legislation on women’s rights to land? How could women’s roles at village and community levels be increased? Could updated information be provided on measures taken to allow women in the informal sector to access benefits? What was the impact of national and international cooperation programmes? What plans existed to develop opportunities for women in sports? How strong was the country’s economic, social and cultural framework on gender commitment?

Another Expert noted the different actions taken by the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to integrate gender equality into different sectors, including in agriculture and fisheries, to benefit rural women and other marginalised groups. However, there were clear gender gaps in the implementation of Government policies. What concrete actions would the State party consider taking to ensure the effective implementation of Government initiatives to benefit vulnerable women? How was gender-responsive climate financing integrated in the national budget? What concrete steps had been taken to increase rural and other vulnerable women’s access to quality social services?

The Committee had received reports of indigenous people evicted from their ancestral land. What steps was the Lao People’s Democratic Republic taking to preserve ancestral land and mitigate the gendered impact of the climate crisis? What concrete steps were being taken to protect the Hmong people from forceful evictions from their land? What concrete steps were being taken to provide compensation to women evicted from their land?

A Committee Expert said the Constitution of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic called for the independence of the judiciary. How was the Supreme Court trained on the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary? Did women human rights defenders have access to free legal counsel? How were the village chiefs who were trained to implement the laws monitored? It was understood that customary laws were part of a traditional system, but these might be outdated in 2024 and could create a stigma for women. Women were often abandoned with their children in a time of profound economic crisis. Would the State consider social security and childcare arrangements?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said a law existed in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic which defined the right for individual or legal entities to use land, without any discrimination on the grounds of gender. These were part of the efforts to promote women’s access to land. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic was in the process of transforming the economy to make it digitalised. The State had joined the international community in the Global Digital Compact. Social protection efforts gave women in vulnerable situations top priority. Women were covered as a target group under the Government policy under the Sustainable Development Goals. The issue of land was very important as many women were engaged in agriculture. For this reason, the Government aimed to ensure women had access to land. The Government had a legislative framework on the law of land.

Within the legal system of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, a foreigner could not own land, but had the right to use the land. The country prioritised the need for foreign investors to protect the environment. Foreign entities did not own 50 per cent of land in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

A committee had been appointed to implement the climate action plan. Human resources were allocated to implement this plan. Trainings on national disasters were provided in the provinces. The national disaster preparedness plan had been piloted. Gender equality was mainstreamed across policies in all sectors. A vaccination campaign was conducted to help prevent communicable disease. Guidelines were developed to help increase the quality of health coverage.

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic Women’s Union was in the process of revising the law on the protection of women. Specific rights had been added, including for the labour market. The Government issued a decree on lifelong learning in 2020 to develop a policy for rural women and girls to have access to education.

Agriculture was the basis of the economy of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. A group of female farmers had been established which provided benefits, including generating income for their families. Currently, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic did not have a specific law on anti-discrimination. However, the Government had adopted the law on gender equality. Civil and criminal proceedings were required to be conducted on the basis that all civilians were equal before the law.

Campaigns were organised around land ownership to ensure all women understood their rights when it came to inheriting land, as well as the importance of putting their name on the land title. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic categorically rejected the allegations of forced evictions. Before being relocated, people were extensively consulted.

Closing Remarks

CHANSODA PHONETHIP, Vice President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Women’s Union and Vice President of the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children and head of delegation, thanked the Committee for the dialogue, which helped the Lao People’s Democratic Republic fulfil its obligations under the Convention. The Committee’s insights were instrumental to advancing the rights of women and girls in the country. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic would address the challenges highlighted by the Committee. The State welcomed any support from the international community to help in meeting its obligations under the Convention.

ESTHER EGHOBAMIEN-MSHELIA, Committee Vice Chair, thanked the delegation for the constructive dialogue with the Committee, which helped it to better understand the situation of women and girls in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.