PM voices support for ending violence against women

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has delivered a speech to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, which this year takes the theme “Unite! Invest to Prevent and Respond to Violence against Women and Girls”.
People in Laos and many other countries mark this day, when governments reaffirm their commitment to preventing and responding to violence against women and girls.
Around the world, women are experiencing increasing violence, in various environments.

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

The physical and mental abuse of women has both economic and social consequences, for individuals, families and communities, as well as hindering the achievement of sustainable development goals.
The PM Sonexay said eradication of violence can be successful only through the prevention of the use of violence, especially the coordination of many parties, the commitment of leadership in promoting such work, the implementation of laws and policies that promote gender equality, investing in women’s organisations, allocating resources to prevent and respond to discrimination in many forms that women are facing every day, empowering women and girls in all areas of society, ensuring services to help survivors of violence; create a safe environment for women and girls, reduce poverty by starting with women’s economic empowerment or the family economy.
All over the world, women have experienced increasing violence in various environments, including in the workplace and remotely via the internet. The use of violence against women also has extensive socio-economic consequences for individuals, families, communities and society, as well as hindering the achievement of sustainable development goals.
Globally, it is estimated that US$1.5 billion has been spent to heal the minds of and repair the damage caused by violence against women.
According to the 2014 Laos survey, 15.3 percent of women were physically, sexually and mentally abused by their husbands and women over the age of 15 were subjected to physical violence 5.1 percent and 5.3 percent of sexual violence. It is estimated that the cost of aid needed in the next three years is about US$14 million.
“I represent the Lao government together with the international community around the world in commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in 2023 under the theme “Unite! Invest to Prevention and Respond to Violence against Women and Girls” from now on,” the PM said.
“Today, November 25th, Laos and the whole world together commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which is the day when the world community shows its commitment to prevent and combat violence against women and girls. This year’s campaign theme is: “Unite! Invest to Prevent and Respond to Violence against Women and Girls”.”
The PM said the time has come for us to invest heavily in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls. “I call on all parties from the government, development partners, the private sector and ethnic groups to meet their responsibilities and work together to prevent and respond to violence by showing the strong position as the government, participating in various activities and events to mobilise all generations throughout society to prevent violence against women and girls, and have awareness and understanding about violence against women and girls,” he said.
In the past year, the government has worked together with various relevant parties to focus on preventing and solving violence against women and girls in Laos to achieve consistency  good results, the most notable is the completion of tools to help the victims by successfully implementing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), coordination management and referral of women and girls who are survivors of violence; The Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for health care facilities; The SOP for protection and social assistance services and the SOP for assistance in the justice process as well as training to give awareness about the aforementioned tools to various units involved in helping survivors by assisting them in a total of 158 cases. Most of them are sexual violence, which requires assistance in counseling, medical examination and treatment, shelter and prosecution.
At the same time, there was a campaign to raise awareness about combating and preventing the use of violence against women through online social media, training seminars and distributing documents to change behavior, culture, customs, beliefs and attitudes that are harmful, discriminating against women and girls, especially for women to know their own rights, including engagement of men and boys in combating violence against women and girls.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update November 28, 2023)