Category: Legal

The United Nations (UN) Assistant Secretary-General and Director, Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Ms. Kanni Wignaraja, landed in Vientiane yesterday for her first official visit to the Lao PDR.

Ms. Wignarajal will meet senior government officials to discuss UNDP’s support and contribution to national development priorities, including the 9th National Socio-economic Development Plan-NSEDP and the sustainable development goals.

Deputy Prime Minister, and Ministers of Planning and Investment, Labour and Social Welfare, Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bank of the Lao PDR and the National Assembly will be on hand to welcome Ms. Wignaraja.

She will participate in the launch of a new programme with the National Assembly, called Strengthening Capacity and Effectiveness of People’s Assemblies System in Laos (STEPS), one of UNDP’s largest governance projects in the region, supported by USAID.

Ms. Wignaraja will also meet with representatives of civil society, organizations of persons with disabilities, women leaders, members of the private sector, as well as UNDP beneficiaries, to deepen her understanding of how UNDP can expand its support for key development initiatives.

She will lead a dialogue on the upcoming 6th National Human Development Report on Youth as drivers of sustainable development.

Ms. Wignaraja is slated to visit key UNDP projects, for instance, in Luang Prabang, where she will meet with the Provincial People’s Council to understand some of the challenges they are facing during the economic crisis now engulfing the country. She will also travel to Vang Vieng to visit a tourist site renovated by the local community, through a cash-for-work programme.

Over four decades of partnership with the Lao PDR, UNDP has supported the government in several areas such as socio-economic development, inclusive growth, enhanced livelihoods, building the resilience of communities across the country, and climate action.

Source: Lao News Agency

The high-level Lao delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Padeumphone Sonthany, shared the achievement and challenges of Unexploded Ordnances (UXO) issues at the 10th State Parties Meeting of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) from Aug 31 to Sep 2, 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland.

Delegations from states parties were invited to share their status and progress in UXO survey and clearance, risk reduction education, victim assistance, national implementation measures, international cooperation and assistance, and universalisation of the Convention.

On Aug 31, Mr. Chomyaeng Phengthongsawat, Director General of the National Regulatory Authority of the UXO/Mine Action Sector (NRA) presented the country’s status and progress in clearance and risk reduction education.

Mr. Phengthongsawat introduced best practices and progress made in the Lao PDR on disseminating prioritisation to local authorities, strengthening data management, surveys to explore suspicious hazard area and identify confirmed hazard area and clearance. “The UXO Sector carried out the Non-Technical Survey in 396 villages, Technical Survey in 554 villages identifying 32,493 ha of CHAS and cleared land 7,500 hectares including 407 hectares of development areas and 7,097 hectares of farmlands,” said Mr Phengthongsawat.

Despite ongoing Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) there remain challenges to reducing casualties.

He informed that in 2021, the Lao PDR experienced higher number of casualties, 63, compared to 24, 25, 33 in previous years from 2018 to 2020 respectively, despite the highest clearance record in 2021.

Nevertheless, sharing the UXO Sector’s plan to launch national prioritization in 2023, revising national standard by the end of 2022 and plan for conducting Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Study for at-risk populations, he reaffirmed the Lao PDR will continue to overcome challenges and obstacles of UXO issues.

He emphasized that such endeavour would not be possible without close cooperation with international organisations and development partners and requested continued support to the UXO sector in the Lao PDR to comply the international obligations of the CCM.

Reminding the participants of the fact that Lao people continue to bear the legacy of cluster munitions long after the second Indochina war ended in 1973, the Lao delegations encouraged all parties to fulfil their obligations under the convention and called for world free from cluster munitions.

Source: Lao News Agency

Lao and Vietnamese Public Security Ministries organized a photo exhibition to strengthen friendly relation and comprehensive cooperation between two ministries in Vientiane on August 25.

The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong and Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam, senior leaders, relevant officials of the two ministries.

The exhibition is a part of celebration of the two historical days of Laos-Vietnam, the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation and the 60th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations (September 5, 1962-2022) .

The photos have featured the close cooperation in exchanging information and sharing experience between two Ministries of Public Security in the past until now, including the exchange of mutual visits by senior leaders of the two ministries, the exchange of mutual knowledge, mutual experiences.

In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong said The photo exhibition of traditional cooperation between the two ministries Laos and Vietnamese. The first time was held in 2017. This photo exhibition aims to make the society understanding on comprehensive cooperation between the police force of the two countries over the last six decades.

At the same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security of Laos Gen. Vilay Lakhamphong and his Vietnamese counterpart Gen. To Lam attended a groundbreaking ceremony for buildings of the Lao People’s Public Security Political Academy, the gift of Vietnam for Laos, as part of Gen. To Lam’s working visit to the neighbouring country, according to VNA.

Source: Lao News Agency

The Government Delegation, led by Mr. Padeumphone Sonthany, Vice Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, departs Wattay International Airport bound for Geneva, Switzerland, to participate in the first-time review of the situation of persons with disabilities in Lao PDR by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), scheduled for 29-30 August 2022.

The Lao PDR was the third country in ASEAN to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2009. Under the Convention, the Government of the Lao PDR is required to undergo regular reviews by the Committee of 18 international experts at the UN in Geneva on the implementation of the Convention.

Under the first-time review of the Lao PDR, the UN Expert Committee will conduct a dialogue with the Government Delegation on a range of issues, including the participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making, their access to education, health, employment, and justice, as well as protection from discrimination and violence. The dialogue will be based on information provided in the Government Report (bit.ly/LaoGovt-CRPDReport), together with the Parallel Reports by a network of national disability organizations (bit.ly/LaoOPDs-CRPD Report) and the UN in the Lao PDR (bit.ly/LaoUNCT-CRPDReport).

The Government Delegation will be represented by the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, National Regulatory Authority for UXO, National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers, and Children, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Lao PDR’s participation in the review was supported by UNDP, UNICEF, OHCHR, Australia, Ireland, Humanity and Inclusion, and Christian Blind Mission (CBM Global).

“The Lao PDR is committed to promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. With support from donors, a delegation of key ministries will participate in the review by the UN Expert Committee to discuss the progress and challenges in disability inclusion,” noted Mr. Padeumphone Sonthany. “Following the review, we will continue to coordinate across Government to mainstream disability in the implementation of the National Socio-Economic Development Plan.”

Following the review, the UN Expert Committee will issue observations and recommendations for the Government of the Lao PDR to implement before the next review in four years. To support the implementation of recommendations, UNDP will work with key ministries and disability organizations to develop a CRPD National Plan of Action.

Source: Lao News Agency

Over one hundred Government representatives from 18 provinces joined international organizations and development partners for a Consultation on the first ever Legal Aid Action Plan for the Lao PDR on August 23.

The Action Plan will cover the period 2023-2026, aims to establish a clear blueprint for the provision of legal assistance and representation in Lao PDR, in particular for vulnerable groups, such as survivors of gender based violence or trafficking, persons with disabilities and children.

The Ministry of Justice, with technical support from UNDP, have led the drafting of the Action Plan to both increase access and improve quality of legal aid. Following the passing into law of Decree on Legal Aid in 2019, the Ministry of Justice have been working to establish legal aid offices in all provinces and train legal aid service providers in assisting citizens with their legal queries and challenges, with support from development partners.

The Government has set an ambitious targets related to legal aid under the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan, including: by 2025 the Lao legal aid system shall reach 200,000 people and the number of legal professionals shall be increased to 500.

Despite these efforts and plans, many people who need legal support still cannot access it, so an analysis was conducted in 2021 to deep dive into the challenges facing the legal aid system.

The Ministry of Justice consulted with key legal aid actors, including legal aid officers, lawyers, government staff, prosecutors, CSOs, development partners, and legal academics to find out what the problems were, and what actions might be taken to improve the system.

Co-Chair of the meeting Mr. BounsoungThavisak, Deputy Director General of Administration of Judicial Promotion, Ministry of Justice, emphasized that “the need for the improvement of Lao legal aid system is significant, to increase level of public awareness on legal aid, improve service quality and strengthen partners’ cooperation”, he added that the “Ministry of Justice will need a clear action plan on legal aid work to meet these needs.”

Seán O’Connell, Assistant Resident Representative, UNDP, and Co-Chair for the meeting highlighted that “these difficult times we are going through put already vulnerable people in even more difficult circumstances, and for these people, legal aid is an important lifeline to protect themselves from further harm and injustice.” He added that “the Ministry of Justice should be commended for moving quickly to develop the plan and taking action, and we as UNDP look forward to continue supporting the Government to get the Plan finalized and endorsed.”

The draft Plan was shared at the Consultation meeting and highlighted four focused aims, namely: accessibility of legal aid; cooperation between legal aid providers and partners; quality of legal aid, and; sustainability of the legal aid system. The Plan is expected to be submitted for official approval by the Ministry of Justice by the end of 2022, with further consultations expected with key government agencies and development partners.

Source: Lao News Agency

AFGHANISTAN

Flash floods have impacted central and eastern regions of Afghanistan since 11 August. Flash floods affected thousands of families in different areas of Nangarhar, Kunar and Lagman provinces, killing more than 10 people, damaging and destroying houses, shops and school areas, and contaminating water points. Twenty-two inter-agency teams will be deployed to the three affected provinces to conduct needs assessments. Flash floods have also reportedly killed 11 people and injured 12 others in Sia Gird and Shinwari districts of Parwan Province on 14 August, as well as killed 20 people, injured five others and affected 1,050 families (8,050 people) in provinces in the Central Region and Southeastern Region on 11 August. Some of these areas were already struck by flooding at the end of July, and access remains hindered due to flooded roads and highways.

Joint assessments and response teams have been mobilized in the affected provinces.

MYANMAR

Fighting continues in several states and regions across Myanmar, resulting in civilian casualties and displacement. Of particular concern is the escalation in fighting between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the allied forces of the Myanmar Armed Forces (MAF) and the Shanni Nationalities Army (SNA) in Hpakant township, Kachin State, since the end of July. On 9 August, the combined MAF/SNA forces reportedly launched airstrikes on Se Zin village in Kachin.

Consequently, there were reports of civilian casualties and the burning of at least 300 houses affecting an estimated 500 households. So far, more than 2,000 people from Se Zin village have fled their homes, seeking refuge in six displacement sites in Tar Ma Hkan and Haung Pa villages in Hpakant township. However, this number is expected to increase as many others could not leave and were trapped inside the village.

OCHA has been engaging with the relevant stakeholders to ensure humanitarian access and delivery of assistance to the newly displaced people in Hpakant township, with some support already reaching those in need through local partners. Some 1,249,600 people are now displaced nationwide according to UN figures as of 8 August, including 903,000 who remain displaced as a result of conflict and insecurity since the February 2021 military takeover.

PHILIPPINES

Heavy rainfall and multiple weather systems since 9 August caused widespread flooding in low-lying areas of Maguindanao, Cotabato City and Special Geographic Areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The floods reportedly affected 484,375 individuals in 227 villages as of 14 August, with over 1,100 hectares of agricultural land also affected. The regional, provincial and local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Councils have provided emergency food and non-food items to affected people. The Mindanao Humanitarian Team is monitoring the situation. While floodwaters have started to recede, the southwest monsoon (or habagat) is forecast to bring further scattered rains to the area.

VIET NAM, LAOS, THAILAND

From 10 to 15 August, tropical storm Mulan (later weakened to a tropical depression) brought heavy rains to southern parts of China and northern parts of Viet Nam, Laos and Thailand. In Viet Nam, six deaths caused by rains and floods were confirmed in the northern and the north-central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An.

Flooding was also reported in the capital city, Hanoi. In Laos, heavy flooding and damage to homes and livestock were reported in parts of Xayaburi, Houaphan, Savannakhet and Luang Prabang provinces. In Thailand, 35 districts in 11 provinces in the north and northeast were partially inundated. Monsoon season in Viet Nam, Laos and Thailand typically runs from May to November.

Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs