Vientiane, Lao PDR - The Ministry of Health (MoH), the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) conducted a one and a half day advocacy workshop on integrating gender into policy making and programming, from 14th - 15th May at Donchan Palace Hotel.

The objectives of the workshop were to strengthen understanding and commitment of decision makers and senior level staff of the government and build capacity of the ten Sector Working Groups (SWGs) on integrating gender into policy analysis and programming, including the planning, budgeting, implementing, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) and reporting stages.

"In line with the international conventions, including the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) which Lao PDR has ratified, it is important to ensure that the gender equality agenda is advanced and gender disparities are reduced in Lao PDR "said Rizvina de Alwis, UNFPA Representative a.i. "As the Government of Lao is now entering the planning stages of the development of the 8th National Social and Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) 2016-2020, it is also an opportune moment to have this dialogue on gender and ensure that gender equality and women's empowerment are at the center of the national development plan, including sectoral plans" she added.

Participants, particularly, Deputy Directors, Senior Technical Staff from MPI, MoH, Ministry of Foreign Affair (MOFA), Ministry of Education and Sports (MoEs) and members of the ten SWGs including: Macro Economic, Education, Health, Infrastructure Sector, Governance Sector, Agriculture and Rural Development, Drug Control Sector, Action Mine (UXO) Sector, Trade and Private Sector, Natural Resources Management and Environment, and donors from UN Agencies and International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) attended the workshop.

The main focus of the workshop was to discuss and share knowledge on the gender situation in Lao PDR and reinforce the importance of integrating gender into the development of the 8th NSEDP.

Throughout the workshop, participants gained a deeper understanding on the concept of gender and expressed a strong commitment to place gender equality and women's empowerment at the center of national development plan, which will be able to influence policy and decision making and improve gender equality throughout the country.

For more Information please contact:
Ms. Vanly Lorkuangming, Communication Associate, UNFPA
Tel: 021 315547, Mobile: 020 77822456, E-mail: lorkuangming@unfpa.org