Government guarantees gender equality through quota system

To mark the 108th International Women’s Day on March 8, I, Malayvieng Sakonhninhom, the wife of the Lao Ambassador to India, congratulate the Lao Women’s Union.
Congratulations to the Lao Women’s Union under the elegant and efficient chairmanship of Mrs Inlavanh Keobounphanh, and blessings to every woman in their success in the fight to eliminate sexual discrimination and in defending gender equality with the quota system as the legal guarantee.
In fact, it’s already been recognised that the implementation of gender equality rights will be possible with these three key factors: first, women need to be educated and to a higher level; second, women must be independent, including in financial matters; and third, women must be involved in the nation’s executive administration.

Mrs Malayvieng Sakonhninhom.

If these three factors are not achieved, we will not be able to help women nationwide. There are still many women who work hard from morning to evening to earn a living, people who live in remote areas and still hold on to their original beliefs – development needs to be introduced across the country to allow these women more freedom.
It has been found that violence against women and children exists in four ways:
1. Violence against the body
2. Violence against the mind
3. Sexual violence
4. Violence against property or economically
Over the past few years, the world has found that the instrument that will lead to successful implementation of gender equality is the quota system or the shared system, which the most advanced members of the United Nations have implemented in a bid to achieve gender equality.
The 2030 United Nations strategy documents on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 2030) for women have determined that they should be involved in management in a 50-50 ratio.
From the statistics of 2016, we can see that there are more than 270 national councils across the world and women account for 30 percent of the seats in 68 parliaments (including Laos’ National Assembly and local councils where they account for 30.25 percent) which meets the target set by the government.
Speaking specifically about Laos, the reason why the National Assembly is made up of 30.25 percent women members is because the Party and State attach importance to the role of Lao women.
The State and Party have set out a policy of defining gender equality and promoting the role of women in social and economic development plans and creating various pieces of legislation.
Lao women are hopeful that, one day, the quota system will become another law which will further promote their position in society.
The strategy plan for Lao women from now until 2025 is focused on creating conditions for women to participate in management positions at different levels.
Laos will struggle to meet these targets, which is about 70 percent in villages, 40 percent in districts, 35 percent in Vientiane and 30 percent in the central government. 
I see that women in Laos are very happy and express their admiration, gratitude and loyalty to the Party and State at all times because they look to encourage women throughout Laos.
We see that the Party-State, which was born from the 10th Party Congress, has shown to the people of Laos the concepts, directions, policies and practices of President Kaysone Phomvihane, the beloved leader of the Lao people.
“If senior officials are weak, there is a high chance of having a weak successor. Moreover, the leadership does not want to use those who are better than them to result in a lack of succession.”
Even though women have not been able to achieve all their goals, they cannot deny that they are today able to reach the highest levels of political power such as the Politburo, the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly, and the government, and have become ministers, deputy ministers, provincial governors, district governors and village heads.
In addition, women can be doctors, police officers or military personnel, doctors, teachers and diplomats and, most importantly, can be good role models for their families.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update March 6, 2018)