Experts of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Welcome Plans to Enhance the Economy in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Raise Concerns about Due Diligence for Infrastructure Projects and Informal Employment
The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today concluded its review of the initial report of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, with Committee Experts welcoming development plans that enhanced the national economy, and asking about due diligence measures for large infrastructure projects and the high level of informal employment in the State.
Asraf Ally Caunhye, Committee Expert and Leader of the Taskforce for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, said the implementation of national socio-economic development plans over the last decade had substantially enhanced the national economy. What measures had the State party taken to eradicate poverty?
Mr. Caunhye asked about steps taken by the State party to ensure business entities exercised human rights due diligence, including by conducting impact assessments prior to implementing large infrastructure projects. What measures were taken to fully compensate the victims of the Xe-Pian Xe Namnoy dam collapse, which led to the death of 71 persons and the displacement of thousands?
Joo-Young Lee, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, expressed concern about the lack of opportunities for decent work. More than 80 per cent of total employment was informal employment. What measures were in place to promote access to formal work?
Anouparb Vongnorkeo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee on Human Rights and head of the delegation, introducing the report, said the national socio-economic development plan had yielded notable achievements, enabling the Lao people to better enjoy their economic, social and cultural rights. The national poverty rate had declined dramatically from 46 per cent in 1993 to 16.8 per cent in 2024.
The State party was pursuing projects promoting responsible business conduct related to infrastructure projects, the delegation said. Leaders of large-scale projects needed to conduct impact assessments before starting projects and provide remedial measures such as compensation to persons affected by them.
The delegation reported that a central committee had been appointed to pay compensation to the victims of the Xe-Pian Xe Namnoy dam collapse. The State had constructed 120 houses and paid compensation to affected schools. The total amount of compensation paid exceeded 55 million United States dollars.
To address the high level of informal employment, the delegation said, the Government had adopted a law that aimed to enhance employment opportunities and safeguard workers, and was investing in vocational training for informal sector workers. It had a programme that supported informal sector workers to access social security.
In concluding remarks, Mr. Caunhye said the enlightening dialogue had shown the broad range of challenges that confronted the State party in the implementation of the Covenant. The discussions would inform the Committee’s concluding observations.
Mr. Vongnorkeo, in concluding remarks, said the State party would take note of the Committee’s recommendations, which would inform efforts to implement the Covenant. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic was preparing to graduate from the “least developed country” status. It looked forward to continuing to cooperate with the Committee in its efforts to promote its citizens’ economic, social and cultural rights.
Preeti Saran, Committee Chair, in concluding remarks, welcomed the enthusiastic spirit with which the State party had participated in its first dialogue with the Committee. She expressed hope that international partners would support the Lao People’s Democratic Republic in its development efforts.
The delegation of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic was comprised of representatives from the National Committee on Human Rights; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Public Security; Ministry of Justice; People's Supreme Court; Ministry of Agriculture and Environment; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare; National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children; Ministry of Finance; Prime Minister's Office; Ministry of Education and Sports; and the Permanent Mission of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee’s seventy-eighth session is being held until 26 September 2025. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here, and meetings summaries can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, 26 September to close its seventy-eighth session.
Report
The Committee has before it the initial report of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (E/C.12/LAO/1).
Presentation of Report
ANOUPARB VONGNORKEO, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee on Human Rights and head of the delegation, said this year, 2025, the Lao People's Democratic Republic was commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of its establishment. In March 2025, the Government undertook significant reform programmes, reducing the number of ministries and strengthening local administration to better respond to evolving socio-economic development needs. Soon after, the National Assembly approved amendments to the Constitution, designed to regulate State affairs more effectively, enhance people’s democracy and the rule of law, while upholding the principles of national ownership and self-mastery of the Lao multi-ethnic people.
The Government was in the final year of implementing the ninth national socio-economic development plan for 2021–2025, while concurrently preparing the tenth plan for 2026–2030. These endeavours had yielded notable achievements, enabling the Lao people to better enjoy their economic, social and cultural rights. Progress had also been made in the efforts to graduate from least developed country status by 2026. The State recently adopted a policy framework to build a resilient and self-reliant economy, aimed at enhancing domestic production and consumption capacity, promoting the use of local resources, ensuring food and energy security, and reducing over-reliance on external markets and imports.
Thanks to the State’s strong economic performance during the pre-COVID period, the national poverty rate had declined dramatically from 46 per cent in 1993 to 16.8 per cent in 2024. From 2021 to 2025, national economic growth was projected to average 4.24 per cent, with gross domestic product per capita reaching 1,996 United States dollars in 2024 and expected to increase to 2,085 dollars in 2025.
In the health sector, the Government had implemented the universal health coverage policy and made substantial investments to strengthen healthcare development. This included expanding and upgrading infrastructure, improving medical equipment, and enhancing the quality of healthcare services. The national health insurance system now covered 94.5 per cent of the population, while the health protection scheme had been extended to all provinces, ensuring that poor mothers and children had access to free healthcare services.
In education, progress had been made in expanding the early childhood education network and increasing enrolment rates for five-year-old children and first grade students, while the dropout rate for those students had gradually decreased. Further advancements included providing hygiene facilities, school lunches, and scholarships for children from disadvantaged families.
The Government had strengthened its policy and legal frameworks to promote and protect labour rights, notably through the reform and amendment of the labour law in 2013. Over the years, significant progress had been achieved in safeguarding workers’ rights, expanding employment opportunities, enhancing social protection, promoting skills development, increasing women’s participation in the workforce, and improving workplace safety, among other areas.
In terms of cultural rights, the Constitution guaranteed equal rights for all 50 officially recognised ethnic groups and safeguarded their rich cultural heritage, practices and traditions. The Government placed great importance on preserving, promoting and showcasing the cultural heritage of the Lao multi-ethnic people, while encouraging their active participation in social and cultural life. These efforts were supported through national museums, provincial cultural centres, as well as various media and publications.
Despite laudable progress, significant challenges remained, namely the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, climate change, global financial crises, and economic uncertainties, combined with the war legacy that left behind high contamination of unexploded ordnances. The Government remained firmly committed to addressing these challenges through continued policy reforms, economic support packages, and social protection extensions, increasing investment in social sectors, awareness and capacity building initiatives, optimising public expenditure efficiency, exploring innovative financing mechanisms, and strengthening partnerships with the international community.
The State remained committed to constructively engaging and cooperating with international and regional human rights mechanisms. It had participated in interactive dialogues with the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, and had submitted its seventh periodic report under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its two Optional Protocols. It hosted the first-ever visit to the country by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights in June and November 2024, respectively. Last year, the State successfully assumed the Chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations; it also chaired the Association’s Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic had made important contributions to enhancing the Association’s cooperation framework on the promotion and protection of human rights in the region.
Questions by a Committee Expert
ASRAF ALLY CAUNHYE, Committee Expert and Leader of the Taskforce for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, congratulated the State on its fiftieth anniversary. He asked for information on measures taken to incorporate the provisions of the Covenant into the domestic legal system and to grant it primacy over domestic legislation. What judicial remedies were available for citizens for protection of their Covenant rights? Were there recent examples of citizens obtaining remedial action in court? How was the State party raising awareness and training public officials, including judges and prosecutors, on Covenant rights? Was the State party considering ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Covenant?
The State party did not have a national human rights institution that was fully compliant with the Paris Principles. What steps had been taken to set up such an institution with adequate resources to function independently?
The Government reportedly exerted significant influence over the judiciary, impinging on its independence. What measures were in place to ensure the separation of powers between the judiciary and the executive? How were judges appointed and how was their security of tenure and independence ensured?
There were various reports of severe reprisals and intimidation, harassment, arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as cases of enforced disappearances and killings of human rights defenders and activists. What measures were in place to prevent such violations? Would the State party adopt a legal framework and an independent investigative mechanism to protect human rights defenders and sanction those who violated their rights?
What steps had been taken to ensure business entities exercised human rights due diligence, including by conducting impact assessments prior to implementing major mining, hydropower and other large infrastructure projects? What mechanism protected and provided redress for victims of human rights violations by business entities? How was the State party addressing deforestation and environmental degradation caused by large-scale infrastructure projects?
The State was particularly vulnerable to the adverse impact of climate change. What progress had been achieved in meeting nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement and reducing per capita greenhouse gas emissions? What disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation measures had been adopted, including to protect vulnerable population segments?
The implementation of national socio-economic development plans over the last decade had substantially enhanced the national economy. Could the State party provide disaggregated data on the proportion of the population below the poverty line? What measures had the State party taken to eradicate poverty and increase financial assistance for marginalised groups? What proportion of the public budget was allocated to social spending? How had the State worked to rationalise taxation, set up a progressive tax base, and address tax evasion by corporations and the richest segments of the population?
Various reports indicated that corruption was a widespread problem in the State, perpetuated by political patronage and bribery. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic ranked 114 out of 180 countries in Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index. What concrete measures had been adopted to effectively combat corruption in all sectors, strengthen anti-corruption laws, and set up independent anti-corruption bodies? Could the State party provide examples of cases in which public officials had been sentenced for corruption? What mechanisms were in place for the protection of whistleblowers and anti-corruption activists?
Ethnic minority groups and indigenous people, including the Hmong people, were reportedly subjected to systematic discrimination. Non-Lao Tai groups had been adversely affected by relocation and separation from ancestral lands and traditional ways of life. What steps had been taken to adopt a comprehensive anti-discrimination law in line with the Covenant? Why were indigenous groups denied self-recognition rights? What measures were in place to protect and provide effective remedial action against all forms of discrimination to which marginalised groups were subjected?
Despite efforts by the State, women were still confronted with numerous barriers which adversely affected their enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights. How had the State party worked to effectively implement gender equality legislation in the public and private sectors? How was it tackling the gender wage gap and reducing the overrepresentation of women in the low-paid and informal sectors of the economy? What measures were in place to address gender-based violence, trafficking in persons, and early marriages and pregnancies? What was being done to combat traditional gender norms and stereotypes and improve women’s representation in Government and high-income sectors?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said all international human rights treaties to which the Lao People’s Democratic Republic was a party needed to be domesticated. The State did not have a specific law on discrimination, but almost all laws addressed the prohibition of discrimination. There were specific laws preventing discrimination against women and children. Before adopting a law, the State party conducted public consultations and published draft laws online, calling for public input. The State party had organised training for public officials, including judges and prosecutors, related to human rights conventions prior to their domestication.
The law on civil proceedings stated that individuals had the right to lodge appeals related to violations of their rights. Several laws defined the independence of judges. All trainee judges needed to undergo judicial training and pass an examination before they could become judges. The National Assembly was responsible for appointing and dismissing judges.
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic recognised the importance of national human rights institutions, but considering the existing mechanisms and lack of available resources, the State did not envisage establishing such an institution at this stage. The National Committee on Human Rights and complementary mechanisms were mandated to oversee the ratification and implementation of international human rights conventions. The State party was studying international human rights institution models and considering domestic establishment.
Laws on land use, natural resources and other laws regulated large-scale infrastructure projects. Project leaders needed to conduct environmental and social impact assessments before starting projects and provide remedial measures such as compensation to persons affected by them. The Government organised meetings on proposed projects with affected persons, seeking their views.
A national climate adaption strategy and action plan to 2030 had been devised, and laws on green technologies and natural disaster responses had been adopted. The State was assessing the vulnerability of different regions to climate change.
The State party’s ranking in the corruption perception index had increased to 114 in 2024, compared to 164 in 2023. The State was working to prosecute corruption cases, having prosecuted 56 cases thus far. There were 208 corruption cases still pending trial and 440 suspected cases under investigation. Several high-level officials had been prosecuted for corruption crimes.
The State party had implemented measures to improve the representation of women in Government. Around 20 per cent of ministers and parliamentarians were women, and 35 per cent of provincial government representatives were women. The Government aimed to increase the share of women in the National Assembly to 35 per cent.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on measures to fully compensate the victims of the Xe-Pian Xe Namnoy dam collapse, which led to the death of 71 persons, the displacement of thousands, and the flooding and destruction of homes; whether the State party was reviewing legislation that carried the death penalty, including drug-related legislation; the timeline for establishing a national human rights institution in line with the Paris Principles; how the State party was addressing its debt level, which was higher than its gross domestic product; the extent to which the victims of infrastructure project incidents could claim redress; plans to ratify the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance; measures to allocate adequate resources to the realisation of Covenant rights and safeguards to ensure sufficient spending on health and education; measures to ensure that transparent negotiations with major external creditors were transparent; and plans to review royalty rates for the exploitation of natural resources.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance had been translated into Lao language and disseminated widely. The Government was considering the ratification of this Convention, but its efforts in this regard had been constrained by a lack of resources, and it was not ready to ratify it in the near future.
The national legal framework made no distinction between ethnic groups based on population size but promoted the principle of equality between ethnic groups. The concept of “indigenous peoples” as defined in international norms was not applicable in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic.
State law did not permit early marriages. The State did not suppress or prohibit relationships between lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, who had the same rights as others under State law.
The State party was aligning national laws with international standards, including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. It was cooperating with international partners to pursue projects promoting responsible business conduct related to infrastructure projects.
A central committee had been appointed to pay compensation to the victims of the Xe-Pian Xe Namnoy dam collapse, including the families of persons who had died, persons who had lost houses, and affected villages. The State had constructed 120 houses and paid compensation to affected schools. The total amount of compensation paid exceeded 55 million United States dollars.
The State party was working to reduce the number of offences that were subject to the death penalty; there were currently 12 such offences. All persons charged with a death penalty offence needed to go through due process and have access to a lawyer. The death penalty was not applied to children or pregnant women.
National economic growth from 2021 to 2025 was 4.24 per cent. The Government aimed to devote a sum worth over 70 per cent of gross domestic product to public expenditure. From 2021 to 2025, the heath sector received around seven per cent of public expenditure, and around 12 per cent of gross domestic product had been invested in education.
Questions by a Committee Expert
JOO-YOUNG LEE, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, said there were labour law provisions promoting employment. However, the Committee was concerned about the lack of opportunities for decent work. More than 80 per cent of total employment was informal employment. What measures were in place to promote access to formal work? How was the State party addressing the underlying factors contributing to high numbers of young people migrating abroad?
An estimated 15 per cent of children aged five to 17 engaged in child labour, the majority in the agricultural sector. Most children who engaged in labour had dropped out of school. What measures had the State party taken to amend the legal framework to bring the minimum age of employment in line with International Labour Organization Convention 138 and to address the root causes of child labour?
The law on labour provided essential protection for formal employees. What measures were in place to ensure that protection measures from workplace discrimination covered persons in the informal sector? The Committee was concerned that the minimum wage did not ensure a decent standard of living, given the high inflation seen in recent years. How was the State party assessing the minimum wage in this context?
The Committee was concerned about reported forced labour in special economic zones. How was the State party protecting workers in these zones from forced labour and coercive working conditions? How could victims of labour trafficking report violations and access redress? The labour inspectorate system was reportedly inadequate, with a lack of trained inspectors. How would the State expand the inspectorate? What was the procedure for submitting a complaint and how did the State party ensure that the inspectorate could operate independently?
Most trade unions were affiliated with the Lao Federation of Unions and there was no genuine possibility to form independent unions. How would the State party facilitate the establishment of independent unions?
Social security coverage remained limited; only 15 per cent of the population had access to social security in 2023. Did social assistance programmes exist, and did they ensure a decent standard of living for individuals? Were there programmes supporting agricultural and domestic workers?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Government recognised the challenges caused by the high level of informal employment. It had adopted a new employment law that aimed to enhance employment opportunities and safeguard workers. The national social protection strategy for 2026-2030 would promote adequate and sustainable social security. The Government was investing in vocational training for informal sector workers, focusing on gender equality and inclusion. It had a programme that supported informal sector workers to access social security, and was encouraging farmers to work in cooperatives so they could benefit from social security schemes.
In the face of inflation and the rising cost of living, the minimum wage had been significantly increased from 1.6 to 2.5 million Lao kip per month. This reflected the Government’s commitment to increasing income security. A technical team had been set up to collect data on workers to inform future adjustments to the minimum wage, which would also consider changes in the consumer price index. The Government was enhancing enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance with the minimum wage and would review its labour law to align it with international labour standards.
The Government was engaged in negotiations with countries in the region to establish agreements protecting the right of Lao nationals to work legally in those countries.
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic had a strong commitment to eliminating child labour. As of 2022, 25 per cent of children in the State were engaging in economic activities and 3.8 per cent in hazardous work. The State party had aligned national laws with the International Labour Organization Conventions 138 and 182 and set the minimum working age at 15, while permitting light work from age 12 to 14. The State also had a national action plan on eliminating child labour for 2025 to 2030, which placed strong emphasis on encouraging children to participate in education. Primary education was compulsory and the enrolment rate in primary education was 98 per cent.
Labour inspection systems had been set up in the State at national and provincial levels, and 153 inspectors had been appointed across the country. Around 80 per cent of issues identified by inspections were solved in the labour dispute committee, while 10 to 15 per cent of cases went to court.
Laws on labour management addressed the role of trade unions, which had the right to appoint representatives and negotiate with employers. Unions needed to be registered with the National Trade Union Federation. The State party promoted collective bargaining and freedom of association.
The Government had adopted a law on protection from trafficking in persons and disseminated the content of the law in trafficking hot spots. It was working to provide aid to victims; from 2021 to 2025, it had supported 400 victims. Several trafficking victims had claimed compensation through court cases. The State had set up shelters for victims in six provinces. It was supporting victims to access credit and training to help them to start income-generating activities.
The Government was funding a school lunch programme, providing allocations to poor students, and supporting students who had dropped out to return to the school system. It called on international partners to mobilise funding to support it to address school dropouts.
Questions by Committee Experts
GUISEPPE PALMISANO, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, said the Lao People’s Democratic Republic had one of the highest rates of child marriage in the region, disproportionately affecting girls. There were several campaigns in place to educate communities about the negative effects of child marriage. Were these having an impact? What penalties were in place for persons who facilitated child marriage?
Some 63 per cent of Lao children reportedly experienced physical or psychological punishment by their caregivers. What measures were in place to address corporal punishment? Was corporal punishment addressed in school curricula and in training for public officials on child protection laws? Were there services assisting child victims of trafficking? What measures were in place to address child malnutrition?
Over the years, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic had taken significant steps to address malnutrition, achieving magnificent results. However, malnutrition rates remained high in the most vulnerable rural areas. How was the Government tackling food insecurity in these regions and protecting them from the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events? There were disparities in access to drinking water and sanitation between urban and rural areas. What measures were in place to support such access in rural areas?
Inflation in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic had increased significantly in recent years and the total Government health budget had lost half of its purchasing power. Had the health budget increased recently in response to inflation? The State party had committed to achieving universal health coverage by 2025. Did the national health scheme cover the entire territory of the State? Had measures been taken to increase awareness of the health coverage scheme in rural areas? Investments in health care had largely been directed to urban areas, while rural areas had been largely neglected. What measures were in place to improve the accessibility and quality of health care in rural areas?
JOO-YOUNG LEE, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, asked follow-up questions on whether State law recognised the right to strike; whether the State party had a social assistance scheme for people living in poverty; steps taken to explicitly prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace and ensure that victims had access to safe and effective support mechanisms and remedies; and measures to ensure that indigenous peoples had access to identification papers and social security.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the State party had been advancing legal instruments on occupational health and safety and had adopted a new law in 2025 on labour inspection, which regulated the duties of inspectors. The State party was working closely with the International Labour Organization to provide training on occupational safety. Officers had been deployed to work with administrators of special economic zones and provide on-site training, including on occupational health and safety.
Workers could lodge complaints of workplace discrimination with labour inspectors, trade unions and reporting hotlines. Inspectors kept complainants’ identity confidential on request. Complaints that were not resolved in dispute committees could be sent to court.
The Government had adopted a national social protection strategy in 2020, which included health care, social insurance and social welfare pillars. Almost 95 per cent of the population had access to health care insurance, but only 12 per cent of enterprises were covered by social insurance. The Government aimed to achieve 50 per cent social insurance coverage by the end of 2030. It was working to simplify employer registration through digital tools and developing incentives for small businesses to register.
The labour law prohibited sexual harassment in the workplace. Victims of such harassment could lodge complaints with courts and labour inspectors and seek compensation. There was a national action plan on prevention of violence against women, which included measures for preventing workplace harassment. The Lao Women’s Union had aided more than 14,000 victims of sexual harassment and was raising awareness of workplace sexual harassment.
The State party had a national action plan for combatting malnutrition in children under five years and had established national and regional committees coordinating activities to monitor and combat child malnutrition. It was providing vitamins and vaccines to children, controlling disease, and promoting health at schools. Under the national policy on clean water and hygiene, the State party was mobilising people to become involved in constructing and restoring water infrastructure.
The Government had allocated a significantly increased portion of the budget to the health sector over the last five years and continued to work to provide health care services to people in rural areas. From 2021 to 2025, it increased the number of hospitals, including maternal hospitals. It had introduced laws on vaccinations and health services, encouraged doctors to work in rural areas, and carried out awareness raising campaigns on disease prevention. National healthcare insurance allowed for treatment to be provided to women and children free of charge; the Government planned to extend the scheme to cover the entire population soon.
The Government had implemented many awareness raising campaigns on the prevention of early marriage; the national action plan to prevent early marriage 2026-2030 included measures to strengthen the capacity of staff who worked to prevent the phenomenon.
The State party had revised the law on the protection of women and children to include a specific measure prohibiting corporal punishment. It had also established an authority to provide protection for victims of violence against children. It provided food, clothes, and medical support to the victims of trafficking in persons, and supported the repatriation of victims. From January to May 2025, around 150 victims of trafficking in persons and 26 surrogate mothers had received support, and 57 trafficking victims had been repatriated.
The law on investment promotion of 2024 aimed to attract high quality investments. Investors needed to pay royalties and taxes and respect labour laws. Foreign investments had been effective in supporting development and eliminating poverty in rural areas. A law had been adopted that regulated the trade of minerals, environmental protection, and compensation payments for persons adversely affected by mining activities. Independent experts conducted assessments of the environmental impact of proposed infrastructure projects.
The State party was implementing the land allocation plan, which defined protected forest land, and was working to plant trees in forests and restore their diversity. A notification was issued in 2025 to suspend all mineral exploitation activities for review. If projects did not fulfil their obligations under land use law, their licences would be revoked.
A decree had been adopted that sought to regulate the activities of international non-governmental organizations in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The Government met regularly with these organizations to discuss ongoing issues and cooperation. Legal revisions were underway to improve the efficiency of cooperation between non-governmental organizations and the Government.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
GUISEPPE PALMISANO, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, said the Civil Code did not recognise de facto marriages between men and women. Would legislative measures be adopted to increase awareness and recognition of such marriages? Had actions been taken to clear former conflict areas of land mines? Were there rehabilitation services for child victims of unexploded ordnances? What support was provided to child victims of sexual exploitation? Were there plans to ensure that economic benefits of infrastructure projects extended to vulnerable Lao people? What measures were in place to support farmers and pastoralists affected by climate change?
JOO-YOUNG LEE, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, welcomed that the State party was working to extend health coverage and aiming for universal health coverage. However, health care continued to pose high financial burdens on vulnerable households. How would the State party reduce out-of-pocket payments? The State had high neonatal and maternal mortality rates; how were these being addressed? How could the public access impact assessment reports for infrastructure projects?
Other Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on why there were high rates of child hunger in rural areas; why a large portion of State land had been sold to foreign investors; the number of people who had been resettled due to agricultural policies; plans to achieve full access to safe drinking water and sanitation; the percentage of protected forest land in the State; measures to strengthen the fight against trafficking in persons through regional cooperation; the number of trials and the rate of conviction of traffickers; whether there were sufficient shelters and support services for women and girls who were victims of violence; plans to revise the Civil Code’s prohibition of same-sex marriage; measures to promote equal burden sharing between men and women regarding household tasks; plans to protect food sovereignty in the State party; and whether the poverty eradication strategy included measures other than those aimed at boosting income.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said all ethnic groups could access identification papers on an equal basis. Persons who did not have birth certificates and children born to unmarried parents could still receive protection from the State.
Laws on the prevention of domestic violence and trafficking in persons regulated the provision of support to victims of sexual violence. The Lao Women’s Union supported victims to seek compensation in court and raised awareness of the impacts of trafficking in persons and support mechanisms. Regional agreements on combatting trafficking had been formed.
Families in remote rural areas faced health problems and issues accessing clean water and food. The State party was promoting higher consumption of iodine, and working to implement measures to tackle malnutrition. To address the high maternal and neonatal mortality rate, the Government was working to increase access to family planning and maternal hospitals.
Questions by a Committee Expert
ASLAN ABASHIDZE, Committee Expert and Member of the Taskforce for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, asked about the number of school children who received support to enrol in primary school. What were the reasons for high levels of school dropouts and what results had been achieved by measures to tackle dropouts? There was a shortage of teachers in the State party, due in part to low salaries and non-payment of teachers’ salaries. What had been done to bolster and ensure the payment of salaries? What budget was allocated to construction of educational infrastructure, including sanitation and internet infrastructure in schools? Was there a programme supporting marginalised children’s access to the internet?
What control mechanisms existed to eliminate corporal punishment in schools, which remained prevalent despite the ban? How was the State’s cultural diversity reflected in cultural and linguistic education in schools? Why did the State maintain boarding schools for minorities? Were there informal fees for attending public schools? Did private schools meet national education standards?
The Government had recognised “cultural centres”; did these receive benefits from the State? There was a lack of radio and television coverage in rural and remote areas. Was the State party working to expand this coverage and support broadcasting in minority languages? How were the cultural sites of ethnic groups protected?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said in recent years, between 10 to 13 per cent of gross domestic product had been invested in education. The Government was providing incentives to retiring teachers to return to teaching. Allowances were provided to teachers based on their students’ grades. Civil servants and military officers were also encouraged to participate in teaching.
The Government provided school lunches with the help of funding from international organizations to encourage school attendance. Specialised colleges were being established for children who had dropped out to return to the education sector. No fees were charged for primary and secondary education. The Government monitored private schools periodically to ensure that they met national standards.
Around 20 per cent of the national curriculum was taught in ethnic languages and addressed ethnic culture. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic had many mountainous areas, where providing internet coverage was difficult. The Government was working to construct internet infrastructure in these regions. It also provided scholarships to poor families and established ethnic boarding schools to support ethnic minorities to access education.
The Government was promoting the development of “cultural villages”, which helped passing on ethnic cultural heritage across generations. These villages produced cultural items and carried out artistic performances that attracted tourists. “Cultural centres” provided a space for students to learn about ethnic traditions and culture.
The Government had expanded radio and telecommunication networks and set up loudspeaker systems in remote villages to help them to access information. Around 66.5 per cent of the population had access to the mobile network and 70 per cent had access to the internet.
Follow-Up Questions by Committee Experts
Committee Experts asked follow-up questions on measures to address low pay for teachers and illicit payments in schools; whether the deployment of military personnel to schools hindered the civilian nature of education; safeguards to ensure that the “cultural village” system did not encourage ethnic minorities to modify or abandon cultural practices; whether university students who did not receive scholarships needed to pay fees; the number of universities in the State party and the number of Lao students who studied abroad; whether teacher salaries were higher than the minimum wage; whether students in remote areas had access to sexual and reproductive health education; and laws on abortion.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the State party used military staff to teach in primary schools in remote areas, but those staff received training in teaching before being deployed. There were five universities in the State. The State party had reached agreements with many countries on accepting Lao students to undertake studies. There were no cases of non-payment of salaries to teachers. Teachers’ salaries depended on the budgets of provincial authorities.
Sexual and reproductive health education had been incorporated in the national curriculum, and the State party had worked with United Nations agencies to improve this education. Under State law, abortion was permittable in cases where there was a threat to the health of the mother or foetus, and when the pregnancy was the result of rape, the mother was poor or had four or more children.
Closing Remarks
ASRAF ALLY CAUNHYE, Committee Expert and Leader of the Taskforce for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, said the enlightening dialogue had shown the broad range of challenges that confronted the State party in the implementation of the Covenant, and the vital steps needed for the effective implementation. These discussions would inform the Committee’s concluding observations. Mr. Caunhye thanked the delegation and all those who had contributed to the dialogue.
ANOUPARB VONGNORKEO, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Deputy Chairman of the National Committee on Human Rights and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee for the dialogue. The Committee’s comments had addressed important issues. The State party would take note of its recommendations, which would inform efforts to implement the Covenant.
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic had unique historical and cultural specificities, which the State party hoped that the Committee would consider. The legacy of war remained in the State party, particularly in terms of the high number of remaining unexploded ordnances. Last month, one child died due to a mine explosion. The State called for international support in its efforts to clear unexploded ordnances.
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic was preparing to graduate from “least developed country” status. It looked forward to continuing to cooperate with the Committee in its efforts to promote its citizens’ economic, social and cultural rights.
PREETI SARAN, Committee Chair, said this was the first time that the State party had participated in a dialogue with the Committee. She welcomed the enthusiastic spirit with which the State party had participated. Ms. Saran also said she was confident that the Lao People’s Democratic Republic would soon graduate from the “least developed country” status, and expressed hope that international partners would help the country in its development efforts. She thanked the delegation and all those who had contributed to the dialogue, based on which the Committee would devise concluding observations, including three recommendations for immediate follow-up by the State party.
___________
Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.
CESCR25.011E