UNICEF Representative to Lao PDR Pia Rebello Britto today paid a courtesy visit toMinister of Information, Culture and Tourism Suanesavanh Vignaket. During the visit, participants discussed the new UNICEF country programme and priority areas of cooperation between UNICEF and MICT in the next five years.
Both parties reaffirmed their working partnership and committed to further strengthen cooperation in the areas related to the media, youth participation, the promotion of women and children’s wellbeing, the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in the Lao PDR, alongside the country’s COVID-19 response.
Minister Suanesavanh Vignaket warmly received Dr. Pia Rebello Britto at MICT on Friday afternoon and expressed her deepest gratitude for UNICEF’s assistance to the Government of Lao PDR.
“UNICEF’s assistance to MICT has been vital in disseminating key information related to the well-being of women and children, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, whether it be through television, newspapers, the radio or social media. We look forward to continuing working with UNICEF in the future and to reach out to more Lao women and children, particularly those living in remote areas,” said Ms. Suanesavanh Vignaket.
In addition, the minister also expressed her appreciation for the successful cooperation between MICT and UNICEF in the campaign to prevent and control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
UNICEF Representative to Lao PDR Pia Rebello Britto congratulated Minister Suanesavanh Vignaket on her appointment as the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Lao PDR and on the 71st anniversary of the Lao Mass Media and Publishing Day (1950-2021).
“UNICEF has a long working history with MICT. UNICEF would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm our partnership with MICT and will continue working closely together with the ministry to better promote the well-being of Lao women and children and support the Lao Generation 2030,” said Dr. Pia Rebello Britto.
Dr. Britto also praised the Lao PDR’s COVID-19 response and the country’s overall progress in improving the well-being of Lao women and children.
“I am confident that through the strong partnership with the Government of the Lao PDR, particularly the MICT, and close cooperation with other partners, the objectives of the new country programme will be achieved,” Dr. Britto added.
The partnership between MICT and UNICEF have seen them previously working to enhance the capacity of journalists by organising various trainings and collaborating in areas such as data collection, online news production and digital media and in the establishment of child-friendly television programmes and the Youth Radio initiative. More recently, MICT and UNICEF have also been actively working together to produce and disseminate key messages on COVID-19 prevention and control measures in the Lao PDR.
Source: Lao News Agency