26 June 2023, Vientiane, Lao PDR - A delegation from Lao Women’s Union (LWU) and Ministry of Health (MOH), supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Lao PDR and UNFPA Mongolia, visited Mongolia to exchange knowledge in combatting gender-based violence (GBV) and establishing comprehensive survivor protection mechanisms.
The delegation of senior officials, led by Mme. Inlavanh Keobounphanh, the president of LWU, exchanged lessons with Mongolian government ministries during a 5-day mission funded under the "Khan Hom" KOICA project, including the police, Ministry of Social Protection, District hospitals and Mongolia’s National Committee on Gender Equality. The Lao Delegation learned valuable lessons on establishing and operationalising One-Stop Service Centres (OSSC) for survivors of violence, and sensitizing key government stakeholders to digitalised GBV administrative data systems–yet to be established in Lao PDR.
Mdm Inlavahan quote "We are honoured to meet with Mongolian Government counterparts to hear of their successes, challenges and lessons learned, and it has been immensely valuable to see these GBV service centres and data systems with our own eyes so that we can successfully adapt to the Lao context as we open 4 new protection shelters this year". 
Site visits to observe OSSCs in different settings, including under police and social sectors, as well as in hospitals in capital city Ulaanbaatar and provincial city Darkhan, provided valuable lessons to the Lao Government on safety, security and ensuring survivor-centred response services. OSSCs aim to provide integrated comprehensive support for GBV, conduct awareness-raising activities to prevent violence through behaviour change, and strengthen multisectoral coordination so that that there is no "wrong door" for a survivor to knock on. The establishment of OSSCs aligns with the Lao 2nd National Plan of Action on Preventing and Elimination of Violence Against Women (2021-2025) (NPAVAW).
Khalid Sharifi, Head of Office of UNFPA Mongolia, said, “We are proud to have supported the Lao Delegation in their visit to Mongolia, exchanging good practices on gender-based violence prevention and response. The establishment of One-Stop Service Centres (OSSCs) and the generation of data to drive policy-making are crucial steps towards addressing gender-based violence effectively. By sharing our experiences and knowledge, we hope to contribute to the development of comprehensive survivor protection mechanisms in Lao PDR and strengthen South-South cooperation in combating this global public health issue.”
The study visit will accelerate results in strengthening social and health services to GBV survivors and ensuring protection shelters and OSSCs meet international standards, sensitise the government to approaches and ownership of a digitalised GBV administrative data system, and foster synergies between Laos and Mongolia through South-South Triangular Cooperation between government counterparts working in GBV response.
“Violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. It knows no social, economic or national boundaries. We are grateful to UNFPA Mongolia and the Mongolia government for working closely with the Lao Delegation to strengthen knowledge sharing through this triangular cooperation” said Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA Representative to Lao PDR.
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UNFPA, the U.N.'s sexual and reproductive health agency, works in over 150 countries, including Lao PDR, to achieve zero maternal deaths, zero unmet family planning needs, and zero gender-based violence.
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