Vientiane capital: The Lao Women’s Union (LWU), in collaboration with UNICEF, UNFPA, and the Government of Australia, this week commemorated International Women’s Day, emphasizing the empowerment of girls and women to contribute to national development.
According to Lao News Agency, Ms Aly Vongnobountham, President of the Lao Women’s Union, highlighted the importance of this day as an opportunity to recognize progress, address challenges, and collaborate on actionable measures to ensure that women and girls in the Lao PDR can access their rights, protection, and opportunities in every community.
The event convened approximately 300 participants, including representatives from ministries, UN agencies, embassies, civil society organizations, academia, the private sector, and other stakeholders. They engaged in discussions about the progress and ongoing challenges in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in the Lao PDR, with a particular focus on addressing early marriage.
Ms Benita Sommerville, Deputy Ambassador of Australia to the Lao PDR, emphasized the significance of their partnership in ending child and forced marriages, which impede girls’ education, harm their health, and limit their future opportunities. She stated that every girl should have the right to choose her own path, remain in school, and make decisions about her life.
The discussions centered on practical pathways to accelerate progress, including enhancing access to justice, education for women and girls, nutrition and health services, women’s entrepreneurship, and other priorities aligned with national development and the 2030 Agenda.
Mr Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani, UNICEF Representative to the Lao PDR, underscored that empowering girls and supporting women is both a rights imperative and a development priority. He noted that when girls are safe, educated, healthy, and able to build skills, the benefits extend to families, communities, and the country’s future.