"Even if one path closes, there are many other doors waiting to be opened. You just have to keep trying and give it your absolute best."

These inspiring words encapsulate the journey of Mr. Phongsavath Manithong—warmly known as Peter—an executive board member of the Association for Persons with Disabilities and Underprivileged Association (PUA). Speaking in an interview with the media on the sidelines of the Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), Peter shared his remarkable transformation from an unexploded ordnance (UXO) survivor in rural Laos to a national advocate and champion for disability rights.

A Platform for Global Advocacy

Representing the PUA alongside the association’s exhibition of handmade artwork and products, Peter highlighted ongoing efforts to elevate support for survivors on the international stage.

The media engagement coincided with a dedicated PUA-organized side event structured around three key pillars - survivor-led advocacy, cultural campaigning, high-level addresses - keynote remarks from the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) for UXO/Mine Action in Laos and the Embassy of Luxembourg in Vientiane.

Peter emphasized that true progress in victim assistance requires disabled people's organizations (DPOs) and local NGOs to be meaningfully included from project planning to evaluation, aligning with the spirit of the Vientiane Action Plan.

Overcoming Tragedy

Peter’s path to advocacy is rooted in profound personal hardship. In 2008, just a month before his 16th birthday in Phonthong village, Vangvieng district, Vientiane Province, a UXO device detonated while he was playing with friends.

Facing severe financial constraints as the son of subsistence farmers, Peter’s recovery demanded immense personal resilience. Within months, he taught himself independent daily living skills, refusing to let his injuries define his future.

Rising Up as a Voice for the Voiceless

Moving to Vientiane, Peter spent five years as a volunteer UXO awareness campaigner with Handicap International. He later secured a scholarship to study English and completed specialized training in peer counseling and psychological support.

Over the past decade, Peter has counseled nearly 300 UXO survivors and individuals with disabilities. As a co-founder of the PUA, he continues to champion vocational training—ranging from agriculture to woodcarving—to help survivors achieve sustainable livelihoods.

"I saw a light at the end of the tunnel, and that gave me the strength to stand up and fight back without giving up," Peter reflected during his media interview.

KPL