Held at ITECC in Vientiane on October 11, the joint event symbolized a collective national commitment to promoting girls’ leadership, health, and bodily autonomy. The occasion also marked the 19th birthday of Noi, the emblematic figure representing over 700,000 adolescent girls in the Lao PDR.

These commemorations reaffirm the Government’s commitment to the Noi 2030 Framework and FP2030, underscoring that access to education, healthcare, and family planning is central to empowering girls and achieving the demographic dividend.

Despite progress, many girls and young women in the Lao PDR still face significant barriers to exercising their reproductive rights. Challenges such as limited access to accurate sexual and reproductive health information, early and unintended pregnancies, and child marriage persist—particularly in rural and marginalized communities.

The recent Pathways to Adolescent Pregnancy brief by UNFPA and UNICEF highlights that many adolescent girls enter relationships without adequate knowledge of contraception or reproductive health, often relying on peers rather than trusted adults or professionals for information. In some cases, girls experience pressure or coercion in sexual relationships, with male partners influencing decisions about contraceptive use.

Cultural and community norms continue to reinforce early unions and marriages as acceptable responses to adolescent pregnancy, contributing to high school dropout rates and limiting future opportunities for girls. These issues reflect not only health concerns but deeper social inequalities around gender, power, and access to rights.

Dr. Phaivanh Keopaseuth, Deputy Minister of Health, emphasized the Government’s commitment:“The Government of the Lao PDR reaffirms that family planning is a fundamental right. Ensuring that every woman and adolescent girl can access quality information and services empowers them to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures. Our goal is clear: every pregnancy should be by choice—supporting health, dignity, and autonomy.”

Ms. Carol Mortensen, Country Director of Plan International Laos, stressed the urgency of action:“Child marriage and child unions are human rights issues. They deny girls education, limit their choices, and increase their vulnerability. We must turn this cycle of vulnerability into one of empowerment—by keeping girls in school, preventing adolescent pregnancies, and providing life skills and protective services that support girls to choose their own futures.”

Dr. Bakhtiyor Kadyrov, UNFPA Representative to Lao PDR, highlighted the national benefit of investing in girls:“Empowering adolescent girls strengthens human capital, fuels economic growth, and builds more inclusive societies. Investing in girls is not just the right thing to do—it is the smart thing to do.”

The celebration brought together youth networks, student clubs, and organizations for persons with disabilities—reinforcing that inclusion is key to true empowerment. As Noi turns 19, stakeholders across Lao PDR reaffirm their commitment to ensuring that every girl grows up healthy, educated, and empowered to lead—free from coercion, discrimination, and violence.

KPL