Consultation with Lao youth from across the country was organised by National Commission for the Advancement of Women and Mothers-Children (NCAWMC) and UNICEF as part of World Children’s Day 2023 celebrations.

Director General of NCAWMC Manivone Luangsombath (R) and  UNICEF Representative to the Lao PDR Pia Rebello Britto at the nationwide consultation in Vientiane on Nov 18

(KPL) Over the span of three days, youth from across all 18 provinces of the Lao PDR gathered in the capital of Vientiane to discuss the most pressing issues affecting them and propose solutions to addressing those issues.

The nationwide consultation was organised from 18 to 20 November by UNICEF and National Commission for the Advancement of Women and Mothers-Children (NCAWMC) as part of this year’s World Children’s Day celebrations, as well as the celebration of 50 years of cooperation between the Government of the Lao PDR and UNICEF.

During the event, youth participants discussed the issue of child marriage, online safety and climate change, which have been identified as some of the most pressing issues affecting young people in the Lao PDR today. They also heard from experts in each field about the latest developments around each issue to help inform their discussions.

“Youth today face a host of unique challenges that affect their way of life and their future, from the risks associated with the use of online media and the persistence of child marriage, to increased vulnerability to natural disasters due to effects of climate change. To address these issues, we need to hear directly from those who are most affected by them,” remarked Director General of NCAWMC Manivone Luangsombath.

The consultation was also attended by representatives from the Australian Embassy in the Lao PDR and KOICA, who have been steadfast supporters of UNICEF’s work to help address some of the key issues identified for this consultation, namely online safety and climate change.

“Children and young people’s right to be heard is enshrined in the Convention of the Rights of the Child, which the Lao PDR became a signatory of in 1991. As such, this consultation is an important moment for us to collectively uphold our commitment to child rights,” explained UNICEF Representative to the Lao PDR Pia Rebello Britto.

As part of the consultation, the young people also participated in a series of creative leadership workshops to help them express their voice through audiovisual media. The workshop was led by Steve Arounsack, a Lao-American professor and filmmaker who served as the lead cultural advisor in “Raya and the Last Dragon”, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ first animated feature film inspired by the cultures of Southeast Asia. Arounsack will also be travelling to Pakse, with support of the US Embassy and USAID, to help young leaders and health workers develop innovative communication skills to boost understanding around health and other issues impacting young people.

KPL