New project aims to end violence against women

A four-year project on the prevention and elimination of violence against women was launched on Thursday, which was International Human Rights Day.
The project aims to strengthen national capacity for the effective, systematic and accountable prevention of, and response to, violence against women in Laos.
The Lao Women’s Union will work together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Laos with funding support of US$2.7 million from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), for four years from December 2020 to November 2024.

A project launch and board meeting to address the prevention and elimination of violence against women for mainstreaming gender into the national development agenda in Laos was jointly launched at the UN House on Thursday. As well as being International Human Rights Day, it was the last day of 16 Days of Activism for Elimination of Violence against Women.
The project launch and board meeting were chaired by the Vice President of the Lao Women’s Union, Ms Bouachanh Syhanath, and co-chaired by the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Laos, Ms Catherine Phoung, together with the Deputy Resident Representative of UNFPA in Laos, Mr Victor Valdivieso.
Also in attendance were KOICA staff including Resident Representative Ms Jeonghee Im, and government officials.
There is a growing global consensus recognising gender-based violence against women as a serious violation of basic human rights. The problem is increasingly visible in all sections of society, to which Laos is no exception.
In 2020, the outbreak of Covid-19 has exacerbated existing gender and social inequalities. Eliminating gender-based violence against women is a critical part of the development process.
Ms Phoung said “This project is very timely to address gender-based violence issues given that the Lao government has started the process to develop the 9th NSEDP and the most relevant sectoral plans - the next gender-based violence strategic plan and the Legal Sector Master Plan.”
Ms Bouachanh said “At the national level, the project on the prevention and elimination of violence against women for mainstreaming gender into Laos’ national development agenda will contribute to the implementation of the 8th National Women’s Development Plan, and the National Plan of Action for the Prevention and Elimination of Violence Against Women and Children (2021-2025) which has been integrated into the 9th NSEDP.”
“At the regional level, this project will contribute to the Asean Regional Plan of Action on the Elimination of Violence against Women and at the international level it will directly contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 16. It also supports the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.”
The project aims to draw attention to the critical linkage between gender-based violence and the achievement of the national development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. It will support national authorities to plan cross-sectoral initiatives to address and reduce this form of violence.
Ms Im said “KOICA has been striving to build a support model for survivors of violence against women and girls. All efforts by the UNDP, UNFPA, the Lao Women’s Union and KOICA will mainstream the issue of violence against women as a major agenda for national development, which will end with a time when all women in Laos can be protected from violence.”

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update December 11, 2020)