Op-ed By Santisouk Simmalavong, Vice-Minister of Technology and Communications, Bakhodir Burkhanov, UN Resident Coordinator in Lao PDR and Bakhtiyor Kadyrov, UNFPA Representative in Lao PDR 

Connectivity is expanding, new platforms are emerging and opportunities for learning, business and communication are multiplying. Approximately 4.97 million people now navigate online spaces daily, schoolchildren joining virtual classes, women entrepreneurs expanding markets and young people discovering communities outside their own. This change brings new opportunities, but it also exposes vulnerabilities that were almost unimaginable  a decade ago.

As we mark the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we are reminded that technology, while opening new doors, also brings new risks, especially for women and girls. This year’s theme, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” reflects an urgent reality: gender-based violence is rapidly expanding into digital spaces, often outpacing our collective ability to prevent it and protect those most affected.

Research by UNFPA and the National University of Laos h reminds us that behind every statistic is a human story.  Each testimony represents a young woman or girl confronting fear, shame or intimidation. One teenager avoids reporting abusive messages because the sender “knows her name and where she lives.” A young transgender person stopped posting online after their photos were distorted and circulated, exposing them  to their entire village. These stories  reflect global patterns and show that digital abuse  has physical, emotional and psychological consequences. The  screen may seem digital , but the harm is real, immediate and lasting.

What happens online affects real families, shaping the confidence and safety of people who deserve protection, regardless of gender, age or background.

Digital platforms were not originally designed with the safety and wellbeing of girls and young women at the centre. Many are built to maximize engagement rather than protection, allowing harmful content, misogyny, impersonation or gender-biased narratives, to spread quickly and unpredictably, often faster than families, teachers or institutions can respond.

 As young people spend more of their social and emotional lives online, exposure increases, and so do the consequences. Online abuse erodes their sense of safety, leading to declining mental wellbeing, loss of confidence, reduced engagement in school, and withdrawal from opportunities they once enjoyed.

Meanwhile, the Lao PDR is advancing rapidly in digital transformation. Digital IDs, online services, e-learning platforms and mobile payments are becoming part of daily life. These innovations can reduce inequalities, bring services closer to remote communities and create new pathways for women, young people and persons with disabilities. But every step forward can also introduce new vulnerabilities if governance, digital literacy and protection systems do not keep pace. What will define the next decade is not the speed of digitization, but the safety, equity and inclusiveness of that transformation.

Recent national action reflects this understanding. The Government has adopted key laws and policies to respond to emerging risks, including the Penal Code; the Law on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Children; the Law on Preventing and Combating Cybercrime; the Law on Anti-Human Trafficking; and the Decree on Internet-Based Information Control. Most recently, the Lao PDR’s decision to sign the UN Convention against Cybercrime marks another important milestone. Together, these frameworks demonstrate the country’s recognition of both the opportunities and risks of digital development, and its commitment to protecting the rights and wellbeing of all people.

The task ahead is to ensure that digital progress benefits everyone, especially those who are most vulnerable. Girls should be able to open their phones without fear of harassment. Young people with disabilities should be able to participate online without being singled out or attacked. Women entrepreneurs should be able to build their businesses without the risk of impersonation or exploitation. LGBTQI+ youth should be able to express themselves and belong without intimidation. And families should feel confident that the information they receive is trustworthy, rather than navigating a space where false identities and harmful content spread easily.

Achieving this vision requires a whole-of-society approach. No single institution can confront digital violence alone. Government ministries, civil society, schools, youth groups, technology companies, community leaders and development partners all have a role to play. As Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone stated on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women this year, “It is time for us to work together to prevent and address the online abuse of women and children, and to consider it a shared responsibility among all sectors of society.”

Several sectors are already taking action. The Ministry of Technology and Communications monitors online systems, collects evidence of digital violence, collaborates with police on investigations and removes harmful content  to protect users. The Public Security Sector assists with cases related to physical safety, human trafficking and forced sex work through hotline 1300. The Lao Women’s Union provides counseling, legal advice, case management and safe shelter through hotline 1362.

Families can also shape how young people understand digital risks. Conversations at home, in classrooms and in village centers are as important as national policies.

Prevention is therefore a shared responsibility. It means recognizing risks early, ensuring survivors receive compassionate support and justice, and strengthening digital literacy so that children, adolescents, parents and teachers can identify and respond to online threats. When young women and girls face issues, they should know they can access mental health and psychosocial support through established hotlines. Protecting rights in the digital era requires informed and coordinated action.

This year also marks 70 years of the Lao PDR’s membership in the United Nations. For seven decades, the country and the UN have worked together to advance peace, development and human rights. The commitment to ending digital violence is part of this ongoing partnership, a continuation of efforts to ensure that no one is left behind, whether offline or online.

Looking ahead, the question is not whether technology will shape the lives of young people in the Lao PDR, it already is. The real question is what kind of digital future they will inherit. We have the opportunity to build an online environment where every woman and girl can learn, speak and participate without fear; where persons with disabilities can connect and contribute; where innovation strengthens wellbeing; and where dignity, safety and respect guide every interaction.

By acting now, together we can help shape a digital landscape in the Lao PDR where every person feels safe, valued and empowered.

KPL