Aly Vongnobountham and other members of the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children at the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. - Vientiane Times/ANN
VIENTIANE: The Lao government is providing more support for poverty eradication and strengthening institutions to achieve gender equality through financing with a gender perspective.
The government’s stance on gender equality was made clear by the President of the Lao Women’s Union and Vice Standing President of the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children, Aly Vongnobountham, when speaking on Tuesday (May 28) at the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women.
The meeting, which was hosted by the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children, reiterated the government’s desire to fulfil the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) so that women and girls are not left behind.
Aly said the government has worked hard to advance the National Plan of Action by allocating an adequate budget to promote gender equality, setting up poverty reduction and SME funds, and offering low interest rate loans and other financial services and advice for female entrepreneurs.
At the grassroots level, Women’s Saving Groups and Village Development Funds have been established to increase the participation of women in business.
Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls has been placed at the core of policy planning and efforts to achieve the key targets under SDG 1 and SDG 5, as well as meeting the objectives of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and other regional instruments to promote gender equality and the advancement of women.
Aly said that since the early 1990s, the government has made a great effort to address poverty by investing in basic infrastructure, health and education, and promoting income generation by increasing employment opportunities, especially for poor rural families, in order to improve the well-being of the rural population and women in particular.
The Global Gender Gap Index 2023 ranked Laos fifth in economic participation and opportunity as well as women’s empowerment in the workplace.
The government has prioritised the advancement of women, ending gender-based violence, women’s participation in politics and policy making bodies, inclusive social and economic development, strengthening women’s entrepreneurial skills and their leading role in Small and Medium Enterprises, among others, in its development policies, as is clearly reflected in the current National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2021-2025.
“We are of the view that enhancing women’s economic participation, investing in social protection schemes, healthcare and education remain crucial and will significantly contribute to ending women’s poverty, early child marriage, and gender-based violence and improve the overall well-being of women and girls across the country,” Aly said. - Vientiane Times/ANN
