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The Lao Women’s Union (LWU), together with UNICEF, UNFPA and the Government of Australia, this week celebrated International Women’s Day with a focus on empowering girls and women to contribute to national development.
Ms Aly Vongnobountham, President of the Lao Women’s Union
Ms Aly Vongnobountham, President of the Lao Women’s Union, said: “International Women’s Day is a moment to recognise progress, listen to challenges, and work together on practical actions so that women and girls in the Lao PDR can access their rights, protection and opportunities in every community.”
The event, held in Vientiane Capital, brought together approximately 300 participants from ministries, UN agencies, embassies, civil society organisations, academia, the private sector and other stakeholders. Participants discussed progress and remaining challenges in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in the Lao PDR, including efforts to tackle early marriage.
Mr Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani, UNICEF Representative to the Lao PDR
Ms Benita Sommerville, Deputy Ambassador of Australia to the Lao PDR, said: “One important area of our partnership is ending child marriage and forced marriage. These practices limit girls’ education, harm their health and restrict their future opportunities. Every girl deserves the right to choose her own path — to stay in school, to grow up healthy and to make decisions about her own life.”
Discussions focused on practical pathways to accelerate progress, including improving access to justice, education for women and girls, nutrition and health services, women’s entrepreneurship, and other priorities linked to national development and the 2030 Agenda.
Mr Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani, UNICEF Representative to the Lao PDR, said: “Empowering girls and supporting women is both a rights imperative and a development priority. When girls are safe, learning, healthy and able to build skills, the benefits are felt across families, communities and the country’s future.”
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