VIENTIANE – To mark the International Women's Day, the Lao National Commission for the Advancement of Women (LaoNCAW) and the Lao Women's Union (LWU) organized the seminar "Gender Equality and Its Progress in Lao PDR". Held at the Prime Minister's office, the seminar highlighted the implementation of gender mainstreaming within the work of the Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, and Ministry of Justice. The event moreover presents LaoNCAW’s progress report on the implementation of its strategy for the advancement of women and an update on LWU's development action plan. The Gender Development Group, a network of non-governmental organizations, took part in sharing the challenges and achievements from the civil society sector.

Bounpheng Mounphoxay , Minister to the Government Office and Chairperson of the Public Administration and Civil Service Authority, delivered the opening remarks for the event, followed by a welcome note from Sisay Leudedmounsone, the president of LWU.

Esther Muia, UNFPA Representative for Lao PDR, said, "Women make up half the population of Lao PDR, so their issues and concerns cannot be ignored. It is our responsibility and obligation to ensure that the specific needs of women are integrated into the development agenda as this is critical to national development. When women can make free and informed choices in all spheres of life, including marriage and number and spacing of their children, they can reach their full potential and further contribute to the development of their communities and nations."

The seminar saw the attendance of 170 representatives from various government ministries, UN agencies and civil society organizations.  It was supported by UN Women and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.

For more information, please contact: 
Diego De La Rosa, tel. +856 21 315 547 ext.116, drosa@unfpa.org