Category: Legal

Last year witnessed 5,576 road accidents with 8,388 people injured, 831 lives claimed and young people sharing 80% of the victims, a meeting was told on Jan 13.

The National Road Safety Committee convened the meeting in Vientiane to review road safety efforts made over the past one year, discuss the draft of the national road safety strategy 2021-2030 and action plan 2021-2025, the enforcement of laws and regulations on road traffic, the implementation of the Stop Accident Fatality rise by EMS development and Road safety (SAFER).

Road safety is among priorities stated in the two national agendas (on addressing economic and financial difficulties and tackling drug issues) which need to be realized,” said Minister of Public Works and Transports Viengsavanh Siphandone.

Statistics show that between 2011 and 2020 deaths caused by road accidents rose in 104 low income counties, including the Lao PDR. Meanwhile, 48 middle and high-income countries recorded a decline in road accident deaths.

Among ASEAN member countries, Laos ranks fourth with low road death rate per 100,000 population following Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines. Meanwhile, Thailand has the highest traffic death density, followed by Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

The average road death rate in ASEAN is 32.7 per 100,000 population.

“Over the past six years, 1,000 people were killed in road accidents every year. Such a death rate represented a road death density of 11 per 100,000 population. This demonstrates that loss and damages caused by road accidents significantly restrains the economic growth of the country,” said Minister of Public Works and Transport Viengsavanh Siphandone.

Source: Lao News Agency

The signing ceremony of the Grant Exchange Programme from the Government of Japan was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vientiane on Dec 20.

The Agreement was signed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Phoxay Khaikhamphitoun and Ambassador of Japan to the Lao PDR Kobayashi Kenichi in the presence of relevant officials of both sides.

This assistance is a non-project grant to provide facilities to the International Airport of Laos, worth 1 billion yen (US$8.77 million).

On this occasion, Deputy Minister Phoxay Khaikhamphitoun represented the Government and the Lao people expressed gratitude and appreciation for the constant support and assistance from the Government and people of Japan to the Lao PDR, which has contributed significantly to the socio-economic development of the Lao PDR.

“We would like to express our gratitude to the relevant parties of Japan for always actively researching and advocating for the assistance of the Government of Japan to the Lao PDR. This is an effective, efficient and in line with the actual needs of the Lao PDR,” said the deputy minister, pledging that the Government of Laos will use this assistance, to the maximum benefit, to contribute to the upgrading of service capacity, ensure readiness at the International Airport and facilitate the implementation of the Lao PDR Regional and Regional Integration Strategy to take even more solid steps.

Ambassador Kobayashi Kenichi expressed his pleasure on behalf of the Government of Japan in signing the Memorandum of Understanding, noting that this will make a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the Lao PDR as well as contribute to the strengthening of the Lao-Japanese bilateral relations and cooperation.

Source: Lao News Agency

The Lao PDR and Australia held the 7th bilateral Human Rights Dialogue on Dec 9 by a videoconference.

The dialogue was co-chaired by Mr Douangmany Gnotsyoudom, Director General of the Department of Treaty and Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR and Mrs. Natasha Smith, First Assistant Secretary, Multilateral Policy Division of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The two sides had an open and constructive discussion on a broad range of human rights issues, including civil and political rights, the rights of people who experience vulnerability, engagement with international human rights mechanisms, as well as bilateral, regional and international cooperation.

The Lao and Australian delegations discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the promotion and protection of human rights and the challenges facing all countries as they respond to, and recover from, the pandemic.

The dialogue noted that COVID-19 had impacted peoples’ livelihoods, freedom of movement and socio-economic development.

They noted that civil society contributed to the national social economic development of the country, including through delivering community projects.

While acknowledging efforts by the Lao PDR to consult and support civil society engagement according to the laws and regulations concerned under the law, Australia identified further scope to facilitate and promote their works, particularly in rural and remote areas.

Both sides underlined the priority as accorded to protecting and promoting the human rights of people who experience vulnerability, including women and children and people with a disability.

Australia welcomed the Lao PDR’s adoption of a National Action Plan to coordinate implementation of the Lao PDR’s commitments under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

During the dialogue they discussed their respective policies and approaches to LGBTI rights. Australia encouraged the Government of Laos to recognise and include people in this community and consider inviting them to stakeholder consultation processes as active participants.

The Lao PDR provided an update on statistics for death sentences and the Government’s wide consultation on the issue of the death penalty in the process of drafting the penal code. Australia encouraged the Lao PDR to abolish the death penalty and consider a formal moratorium.

Australia raised individual cases of concern and requested an update on the implementation of the Lao PDR’s international commitments with respect to human rights. Australia stressed the importance of freedom of expression, freedom of association and assembly and freedom of religion or belief.

The Lao PDR maintains that these rights and freedom are guaranteed to Lao citizens by the constitution and laws in accordance with human right treaties to which it is party.

Both Delegations welcomed bilateral cooperation through the Australia-Lao PDR Human Rights Technical Cooperation Programme, delivered by the Australian Human Rights Commission, including to support civil society engagement in the Lao PDR’s UN Universal Periodic Review. Australia committed to continuing to support the Lao PDR to advance human rights under this programme, including offering to work with the Lao PDR on mechanisms for meaningful consultations with, and equitable compensation for, communities impacted by land acquisitions.

the Lao PDR and Australia acknowledged the importance of the dialogue to their longstanding bilateral relationship, and the value in sharing experiences and lessons with each other to address human rights challenges in both countries.

The delegation of Australia was led by Ms. Natasha Smith, First Assistant Secretary, Multilateral Policy Division, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Delegation of the Lao PDR was led by Mr. Douangmany Gnotsyoudom, Director General, Department of Treaty and Law, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The meeting was attended by representatives from line ministries and institutions concerned of the Lao PDR, DFAT, AHRC, and the Embassy of Australia in Vientiane.

The next meeting of the Lao PDR and Australia Human Right Dialogue will be held in 2023.

Source: Lao News Agency

Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health, Dr Sisavath Soutthanilaxay has urged the public to ignore fake news going viral on social media which falsely claims that authorities have imposed ban on administering Covid-19 booster.

“Everyone should analyse the information they have received before forwarding it. They must take into account whether it is true or false,” said today Dr Sisavath Soutthanilaxay.

“All members of the public are highly recommended to get information from the official website of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control, the Facebook page of the Centre of Information and Education for Health of the Ministry of Health, Lao National TV, Lao National Radio, and newspapers,” he added.

Over 7.6 million people have been vaccinated against Covid-19 with over 4.29 million people (58.4% of population) vaccinated with first dose and over 3.31 million (45.13%) given all recommended doses, according to the health official.

Meanwhile, the ratio of population, aged between 12-17 and vaccinated against Covid-19, has reached 35.3%.

Source: Lao News Agency

Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) presented the key findings of their recently finalized Joint Submission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD Committee) to the Government, INGOs, United Nations, and other development partners at a Platform Event.

The Lao PDR is one of 184 State-Parties of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD Convention), which commits governments to protect the human rights of persons with disabilities and undertake regular reviews by the CRPD Committee on their progress.

Since ratifying in 2009, the Government of the Lao PDR has made noteworthy achievements in implementing the CRPD Convention, including through the amended 2015 Constitution, Law on Persons with Disabilities, and several other laws and policies on education, healthcare, legal aid, and employment.

In August 2022, the CRPD Committee will review the Lao PDR’s implementation of the CPRD Convention for the first time, together with China, Japan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Republic of Korea.

OPDs play a key role in CRPD Reviews, providing parallel submissions to the CRPD Committee, using data collected by persons with disabilities, and fulfilling the central motto of the CRPD Convention for OPDs: “Nothing about us without us.”

A total of 11 Lao OPDs across 11 provinces contributed to the Joint Submission, representing different disabilities, including persons with sensory impairments, persons with physical difficulties, and those with intellectual disabilities and autism, and their caregivers.

With support from UNDP, the group joined a series of workshops to review national laws, analyze disability data and record the lived experiences of thousands of persons with disabilities on the barriers that continue to exclude them from society.

The UNDP Team Leader for Governance, Mr. Seán O’Connell, remarked, “The OPDs’ Joint Submission to the CRPD Committee signifies the important role OPDs play in ensuring that the unique experiences of persons with disabilities fed into building a more inclusive and sustainable Lao PDR. Today marks a great opportunity for us all to listen to persons with disabilities and understand what is working well and where we can collaborate further to improve their lives.”

At the Platform Event, the OPDs presented their findings, which drew from personal accounts, to draft 78 recommendations to the government across six thematic areas, including law, justice and participation; health; education; work and social protection; rights of women and children with disabilities; and access to public information and infrastructure.

President of the Lao Association for the Deaf, Ms. Phanita Maiphone, said, “the drafting experience has been a great learning opportunity for everyone involved. Not only did each OPD gain a deeper understanding of the Convention, but also of each other and the diverse challenges many persons with disabilities face in the Lao PDR. The process improved our skills in research, teamwork, and advocacy, and we are looking forward to continuing to work together in the CRPD processes.”

International participants commended the government and the OPDs for their positive engagement in their first CRPD Review. The government, OPD, and development partners agreed to work closely together to implement the recommendations made to the Lao PDR under the CRPD in the years ahead.

Source: Lao News Agency

With the Indian capital enveloped in a haze of toxic smog, authorities ordered six thermal plants in the city’s vicinity to shut temporarily, closed schools and colleges indefinitely and imposed work-from-home restrictions to control pollution levels that turned severe on several days this month.

A panel of the federal environment ministry has also banned construction activity until the end of the week and barred trucks, except those carrying essential commodities, from entering the city as part of the series of emergency measures.

Environmentalists pointed out that these steps would only marginally mitigate the air pollution crisis that grips New Delhi every winter.

“The emergency action is not a magic bullet that will address the pollution crisis,” said Anumita Rowchowdhury, executive director research and advocacy at New Delhi’s Center for Science and Environment. “It only ensures that it will not worsen the pollution but it will not clean the air.”

The world’s most polluted capital city has recorded levels for dangerous particles known as PM 2.5 that settle deep inside lungs many times higher than the standards set by the World Health Organization.

The haze that covers the city is a mix of fumes, including vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, construction dust, farm fires and fumes caused by the burning of waste in the open. In winter, the pollutants hang over the city due to low wind speeds.

City authorities in Delhi have told the Supreme Court they are considering a weekend lockdown, similar to what was implemented during the pandemic. If so, it would be the first of a kind “pollution” lockdown.

The toxic smog is not restricted to the capital city — skies across much of North India also turn grey at this time of the year leaving millions gasping for air.

But while Delhi has taken some steps to combat the dirty air by shutting down coal-fired power stations and switching most industry and public transport to clean fuel, the same standards have not been imposed by neighboring states, experts point out.

“Air does not respect political boundaries. The time has come to take a regional approach and scale up stringent action in the entire Indo-Gangetic plains,” said Roychowdhury. “For example, Delhi is the only city to have switched industry to natural gas, imposed clean fuel standards for vehicles and shut down coal plants. But the same needs to be done elsewhere. We really need to ramp up our energy transition.”

However, phasing out coal, which still powers 70% of India’s electricity grid, will not be easy. As North India battled its annual air pollution crisis, Indian delegates to the recent climate summit held in Scotland said developing countries were entitled to the responsible use of fossil fuels.

“How can anyone expect that developing countries can make promises about phasing out coal and fossil fuel subsidies?” Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav asked at the summit. “Developing countries have still to deal with their development agendas and poverty eradication.”

India and China were blamed for watering down a commitment to phasing out coal at the summit.

But in India, environmentalists said the country’s concerns were genuine. “The dilemma that India faces is, how quickly can it make the transition from coal?” said Chandra Bhushan, who heads the Delhi-based International Forum for Environment. “While coal does contribute to air pollution and climate change, we cannot shut down coal right away and replace it with renewables in a hurry. This is going to be a process.”

Meanwhile, the severe air pollution has led to a public health emergency with many residents in Delhi and other North Indian cities struggling with respiratory problems and doctors warning it is a serious health hazard.

The dirty air kills more than a million people every year in India according to a report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, a U.S. research group.

Source: Voice of America