 UNIFEM IN LAO PDR
Lao People's Democratic Republic is one
of the poorest countries in the world. Only half the population is
literate, and almost one-third of the population has a life expectancy
of only 40 years. Economic
reform has resulted in rapid growth rates, but infrastructure and
communications remain rudimentary.
Although women have formal legal
equality in the Lao PDR, there is a strong need to support women's
participation in the development process. UNIFEM involvement in Lao
spans 13 years, during which time an effective partnership has been
built with the Lao Women's Union.
UNIFEM's first project in Lao was to
support Lao Cotton, the marketing arm for women's cotton and
silk garment producers. UNIFEM then acted to strengthen the LWU's
capacity to advocate for women's issues and influence government
policies and programmes. The most significant result has been the
establishment in early 2002 of the National Commission for the
Advancement of Women in Lao (NCAW Lao). NCAW Lao will be the focal
point for gender mainstreaming in government, and it will also monitor
implementation of CEDAW, the Beijing Platform for Action, and other
government commitments on equal rights between women and men.
For more information on the formation
of NCAW Lao:
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