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Vientiane Capital, 25/11/2020. The second day of consultation organized by the National Commission for the Advancement of Women and Mother-Children and UNFPA concluded with strong commitments by vice governors and development partners to work together towards advancing women’s rights and the sustainable development goal N°5. Participants agreed on a set of actions that cover many SDGs directly impacting the situation of women and girls. 

One year ago, Lao PDR committed during the International Conference on population and Development ICPD25 to strengthen the statue of women by investing: i) on health particularly family planning commodities and maternal safety; ii) education including comprehensive sexuality education and iii) combating harmful practices focusing on early marriage. 

The national commitments and the main activities engaged over the last 12 months were presented by UNFPA during the workshop that coincide with the celebration of the International Day on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the 16 Days of Activism: symbol of a multisectoral collaboration and renewed promises to protect women and girls in all their diversities in Lao PDR. 

Amongst the key discussions, ESP: the essential services package for victims of violence was at the centre of the attention. This mechanism in process of implementation will guarantee a coordinated response to the needs of women covering health, social services, police and justice. It will bring all stakeholders together to harmonize the efforts, rationalize the resources and draw a joint comprehensive standardized assistance to victims of violence based on the existing mechanisms in Lao PDR.  

Participants discussed also other key interventions with great impact on women and girls such as training of health service providers, establishment of adolescents and youth friendly services, engaging chiefs of villages to promote girls education and raising awareness on the legal age of work. 

“The Essential service package is one of the best tools to provide prevention and survivor centered response for GenderBased Violence. For optimal protection and response, with the limited funding available, it is critical that all partners working on GBV prevention and response collaborate around the Essential Service Packages and standardised referral pathways that women and girls can access.”Said by Ms. Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA Representative, Lao PDR.

 

“The distribution of power between men and women has longly imbedded inequalities leading to harmful practices and violence that women face, no matter their ethnicity, education or statue. Today, and everyday, we must continue implementing protective measures to reduce the vulnerabilities of women and girls with men shoulder by shoulder, standing up for their positive role to build respect and harmony.”Said by Ms. Inlavanh Keobounphanh, President of the Lao Women’s Union.

 

For more information, please contact:

 

Ms. Sisouvanh Vorabouth, Programme Gender Analyst

 

Email: vorabouth@unfpa.org

 

 

Miss Phetmany Viyadeth, National Communication Consultant UNFPA Lao PDR

Email: viyadeth@unfpa.org

 

 

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UNFPA, the UN's sexual and reproductive health agency, works in over 150 countries including Lao PDR, to achieve zero maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices towards women and girls.