Laos ignites prevention, response efforts to end violence against women, girls

Officials from the Lao government, UNFPA, UNDP and the German Embassy gathered together all partners and stakeholders to reiterate their shared commitment to ending gender-based violence by 2030 and to take stock of the 16 Days of Activism campaign that took place in Laos from November 25 to December 10.
The annual 16-day campaign was launched in Vientiane to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 24, with a high-level advocacy event during which Vientiane’s iconic landmark, the Patuxay monument, and many buildings around the city were lit up in orange.
At the launch ceremony at Patuxay, a video message from Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone was broadcast, which included the nation’s high-level commitment to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, with the subsequent dissemination of the statement in national broadcast and print media.
The Prime Minister declared that “the time has come for us to invest more in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls” and included 10 key actions to end the abuse of women and girls.
At the launch, the President of the Lao Women’s Union, Mrs Aly Vongnorbountham, called on all government sectors, development partners and stakeholders to jointly invest in the prevention of and response to violence against women and girls.
In addition, UNFPA Representative Dr Bakhtiyor Kadyrov said “Each one of us, in our own capacities, has the power to effect change. Government sectors, donors and development partners, civil society constituents and the private sector have unique and specific roles to invest in ending violence against women and girls.”
Under the theme “Unite! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls”, the 16 days of activism were not merely an awareness raising campaign, but an opportunity for national and international partners to demonstrate their ownership, engagement and commitment to invest and act on the path to achieving zero gender-based violence.
This year’s commemoration brought together over 50 partners from various government bodies, development partners, civil society organisations, and the private sector.
The campaign was characterised by comprehensive outreach activities and community mobilisation events in more than eight provinces, also involving women from various ethnic groups, women and girls with disabilities and diverse groups in the spirit of reaching the furthest behind first.
Among the activities were a Civil Society Fun Fair, panel discussions on cyberbullying, awareness raising sessions for students in secondary schools, universities, and communities and consultations with academics about the online abuse of women and girls.
Sports and innovative arts, including mini-marathons and art competitions, were used to inform young people about gender equality and increase their awareness of different forms of gender-based violence.   
It is also worth taking note of a south-south cooperation initiative during the 16-day campaign. Thailand’s International Cooperation Agency and UNFPA visited the Provincial Counselling and Protection Centre for Women and Children and Bokeo Hospital Union, when sewing materials were handed over for use by women to help them earn an income.
This is in addition to the opening of new protection shelters for survivors of violence in Borikhamxay and Champassak thanks to a financial contribution by the government of Japan and UNFPA’s technical support in partnership with UN-Habitat.
The functioning and operations of the new shelters and one-stop service centres for survivors of violence will be supported by trained staff and guided by standard operating procedures on health, social and legal support services secured under the ‘Khan Hom’ project, generously funded by the government of the Republic of Korea.
One of the key milestones of the campaign was the launch of the 10th Periodic Report on the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) by the Lao government on November 27.
The report recognises the overall progress made and the need for further actions, policies and legal framework to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment and address gender-based violence in Laos.
With over 50 partners joining hands in the UNFPA-led joint campaign, this year’s 16-day campaign not only succeeded in raising awareness but also reinforced calls for increased investment in the implementation of national policies and action plans to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls.
Source: UNFPA, UNDP, NCAWMC

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update December 12, 2023)