Digital transformation is reshaping daily life across Lao PDR. Today, digital technology is not only used for work and communication; it processes data instantly, supports decision-making, reduces errors and offers 24-hour access to essential services. Connectivity is expanding, new platforms are emerging and opportunities for learning, business and communication are multiplying. Nearly five million people now navigate online spaces daily— schoolchildren joining virtual classes, women entrepreneurs expanding markets and young people discovering communities beyond their immediate surroundings. This change brings hope, but it also introduces vulnerabilities that barely existed a decade ago.

As we observe the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we are reminded that technology, while opening doors, also creates risks—especially for women and girls. This year’s theme, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls,” reflects a growing reality: gender-based violence has moved rapidly into digital spaces, often outpacing efforts to protect those most affected.

Research by UNFPA and the National University of Laos highlights the human cost behind the data. Each testimony reflects a young woman or girl facing fear or humiliation. One teenager avoids reporting abusive messages because the sender “knows her name and where she lives.” A young transgender person stopped posting online after their photos were distorted and circulated, leaving them exposed to their entire village. These experiences mirror global patterns and show that digital harm has physical, emotional and psychological consequences. A screen may seem distant, but the harm it enables is real and lasting.

Digital spaces were not built with the safety of girls in mind. Algorithms reward attention, not protection. Misogyny, impersonation and gender bias spread quickly—often faster than families, teachers or authorities can respond. As young people spend more of their social and emotional lives online, the impacts deepen: declining mental wellbeing, loss of confidence, reduced school engagement and withdrawal from opportunities they once enjoyed because online abuse has eroded their sense of safety.

Meanwhile, Lao PDR is advancing rapidly in digital transformation. Digital IDs, online services, e-learning platforms and mobile payments are becoming part of daily life. These innovations can reduce inequalities, bring services closer to remote communities and create new pathways for women, young people and persons with disabilities. But every step forward can also introduce new vulnerabilities if governance, digital literacy and protection systems do not keep pace. What will define the next decade is not the speed of digitization, but the safety, equity and inclusiveness of that transformation.

Recent national action reflects this understanding. The Government has adopted key laws and policies to address emerging risks, including the Penal Code; the Law on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Children; the Law on Preventing and Combating Cybercrime; the Law on Anti-Human Trafficking; and the Decree on Internet-Based Information Control. Most recently, Lao PDR’s decision to sign the UN Convention against Cybercrime marks an important milestone. These frameworks reaffirm the country’s recognition of both digital opportunities and digital risks, and its commitment to safeguarding the rights and wellbeing of all people.

What happens online affects real families and shapes the confidence and safety of people who deserve to feel protected—regardless of gender, age or background.

The task ahead is to ensure digital progress benefits everyone, especially those most vulnerable. Girls should be able to open their phones without fear of harassment. Young people with disabilities should engage online without being targeted. Women entrepreneurs should grow their businesses without being impersonated or exploited. LGBTQI+ youth should participate without intimidation. And families should feel they can trust the information they receive instead of navigating a landscape where false identities and harmful content proliferate.

Achieving this vision requires a whole-of-society approach. No institution can confront digital violence alone. Government ministries, civil society, schools, youth groups, technology companies, community leaders and development partners all have a role to play.

Several sectors are already taking action. The Ministry of Technology and Communications monitors online systems, gathers evidence of digital violence, collaborates with police on investigations and removes harmful content when necessary. The Public Security Sector assists with cases related to physical safety, human trafficking and forced sex work through hotline 1300. The Lao Women’s Union provides counseling, legal advice, case management and safe shelter through hotline 1362.

Families also shape how young people understand digital risks. Conversations at home, in classrooms and in village centers are as important as national policies.

Prevention is therefore a shared responsibility. It means recognizing risks early, ensuring survivors receive compassionate support and justice, and strengthening digital literacy so that children, adolescents, parents and teachers can identify and respond to online threats. When young women and girls face issues, they should know they can access mental health and psychosocial support through established hotlines. Protecting rights in the digital era requires informed and coordinated action.

This year also marks 70 years of Lao PDR’s membership in the United Nations. For seven decades, the country and the UN have worked together to advance peace, development and human rights. The commitment to ending digital violence is part of this ongoing partnership—a continuation of efforts to ensure that no one is left behind, whether offline or online.

Looking ahead, the question is not whether technology will shape the lives of young people in Lao PDR—it will. The question is what kind of digital future they will inherit. We can choose to build an online environment where every woman and girl can learn, speak and participate without fear; where persons with disabilities find new ways to connect; where innovation supports wellbeing; and where dignity, safety and respect guide every interaction.

By acting now—together—Lao PDR can build a digital landscape where every person feels safe, valued and empowered.