Vientiane: The Lao PDR is set to host the 3rd Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions in 2026. The nation, which ratified the Convention in 2010, is significantly impacted by unexploded ordnance (UXO) and has been instrumental in forwarding the Convention’s objectives.
According to Lao News Agency, this will be the second occasion for Laos to preside over such a prestigious international gathering. The country previously hosted the first Meeting of States Parties to the Convention in 2010, also held in Vientiane Capital.
Minister Thongsavanh reaffirmed the Lao government’s commitment to the Convention, highlighting the staggering number of bombs dropped on Laos during the Indochina War, which included over 270 million cluster munitions. An estimated 80 million of these remain unexploded, posing ongoing risks to communities and hindering socio-economic progress.
“For more than five decades after the war, unexploded ordnance has continued to claim lives and devastate communities across all ethnic groups in Laos, with children suffering the highest casualties,” the Minister stated. “UXO remains a major obstacle to development in multiple sectors.”
He noted that hosting the Review Conference not only elevates Laos’s international stature but also underscores the country’s historical ties to the issue and its resolve in contributing to a cluster munitions-free world.
Minister Thongsavanh also expressed gratitude towards the Philippines for its presidency of the 13th Meeting of States Parties in 2025, acknowledging its leadership and successes.
He emphasized Laos’s dedication to survey and clearance operations, risk education, victim assistance, and its evolution from a UXO victim to a global leader in tackling the issue.
The Foreign Minister called upon member states, development partners, UN agencies, and international organizations to support Laos in the 2026 Review Conference under the theme: “Accelerating Progress Towards a World Free from the Threat of Cluster Munitions.”