Joint Op-Ed by President of Lao Women’s Union Mme. Aly Vongnorbountham and Dr Bakhtiyor Kadyrov, UNFPA Representative in recognition of the 114th International Women’s Day, we have two objectives. The first is to celebrate the resilience, leadership and invaluable contributions of women - in all their diversity and all ethnic groups - to the development of the Lao PDR.
The second is to acknowledge and affirm our commitment to upholding the rights of women and girls in all areas of public life. In this vein, the theme “Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress”, emphasises the pivotal role that women play in driving societal advancement, and aligns with the priority theme for the 68th session of the Commission of the Status of Women.
Laos’ commendable 5th position in the world in women’s economic participation, according to the Global Gender Gap Index 2023, is a testament to significant strides made in gender parity and women’s empowerment over the past decade. This progress owes much to robust laws and policy frameworks aimed at safeguarding and promoting the rights of women and girls. With 10 programmes and 65 projects currently under the Lao Women’s Union Development Plan, including the expansion of the protection and counseling centres from one to six in the last few years, it is evident the Lao PDR is steadfast in its commitment to advancing gender equality.
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone also called for action during last year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, declaring that “The time has come for us to invest more in preventing and responding to violence against women and girls” and gender equality. However, the estimated cost of aid needed for gender-based violence initiatives alone in Laos over the next three years is approximately US$14 million. With global economic pressures potentially impacting funding, it’s crucial to ensure that investments in safeguarding the rights and well-being of women and girls remain a priority.
Investing in women yields far-reaching benefits for society. Girls who avoid early marriage have a greater chance of completing their education and securing employment, leading to economic growth. Increasing women’s participation in the workforce can boost per capita GDP by nearly 20 percent on average. Sustainable development requires equal participation of women and men in all areas, especially in leadership and decision-making roles.When we invest in women and girls, everyone gains.
Despite strides made, stark realities persist. Women in Laos earn only 77 percent of men’s average monthly income, often confined to low-skill and informal jobs while grappling with unpaid family and care responsibilities. The decline in women’s representation in the national Parliament, alongside lingering issues like violence and rising rates of child marriage, underscores the urgency of effective interventions. A number of high-profile cases of violence against women in Laos this year alone reveals how technology can be weaponised against women - investment to stop this emerging trend is needed.
Because the reality is, despite nearly equal participation in the labor force, women in Laos earn only 77 percent of men’s average monthly income. They are often relegated to low-skill and informal jobs, burdened with unpaid family and care work. While women constitute about 30 percent of Provincial Assembly Members, their representation in the national Parliament has declined. Although attitudes towards domestic violence have seen a significant positive shift in the las decade, recent high-profile cases of online violence underscore the urgent need for effective responses to technology-facilitated abuse, alongside increasing rates of child marriage.
This International Women’s Day prompts introspection on the power each of us holds to effect change. Inspired by the Prime Minister’s call to action to invest in gender equality and ending violence against women, let’s commit to concrete measures - from leadership commitment to the implementation of gender-responsive laws and policies, from investing in women’s organisations to empowering women and girls across society, the pathway to change is clear.
The women and girls of Laos are waiting on us to lead, invest in gender measures, and collaborate to help them achieve their aspirations. Together, let’s make their dreams of education, health, economic security, and freedom from violence and early marriage a reality.
Mme Aly Vongnorbountham is the President of Lao Women’s Union
Dr Bakhtiyor Kadyrov is the UNFPA Representative based in the Lao PDR.
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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.
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