The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has handed over contributions consisting of hygiene and dignity items as well as essential food supplies for use by women and girls during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Donated items were presented to Vice-President of the Lao Women’s Union, Bandith Prathoumvanh, by Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA representative to Laos, on June 2 in the presence of ministry officials and other invited guests.
The supplies were provided under UNFPA’s partnership with the private sector, with the support of Banque Franco-Lao (BFL) and the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
The items bolster Laos’ response to the Covid-19 outbreak, with a particular focus on the special needs of women and girls.
While Laos has managed to contain the outbreak, the government wished to ensure that women and girls received the necessary support during the Covid-19 response and mitigation period, said Bandith.
She added that the effect of the outbreak on people’s health, security, the environment and the economy was profound, with women and girls amongst those most heavily impacted.
UNFPA has been working actively in support of government partners as well as expanding alliances and partnerships with the private sector to collaborate for improvements in women’s reproductive health and in particular for the prevention of violence against women and girls.
The partnerships focus on common sustainable development values and support to the Noi framework, which highlights the need to protect women and girls from violence and harmful practices such as child marriage, while ensuring that basic rights such as adequate nutrition and education are met.
But the gains achieved in recent years are at risk of being rolled back when it comes to maternal health, sexual and reproductive health rights for adolescents, and gender-based violence, she said.
Heightened vulnerabilities and limited access to specific health and counselling services are being observed, she said.
Preliminary data from the Protection Centre for Women and Children run by the Lao Women’s Union indicates that, compared to 2019, there is an increase in domestic violence and child sexual abuse, a decrease in access to balanced nutrition, and an increase in the burden of care and unpaid household work for women and girls.
During the handover of supplies, Khan said the partnership with the private sector is essential for the accelerated delivery of common goals and for the protection of the rights of women and girls. — Vientiane Times/ANN
Donated items were presented to Vice-President of the Lao Women’s Union, Bandith Prathoumvanh, by Mariam A. Khan, UNFPA representative to Laos, on June 2 in the presence of ministry officials and other invited guests.
The supplies were provided under UNFPA’s partnership with the private sector, with the support of Banque Franco-Lao (BFL) and the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
The items bolster Laos’ response to the Covid-19 outbreak, with a particular focus on the special needs of women and girls.
While Laos has managed to contain the outbreak, the government wished to ensure that women and girls received the necessary support during the Covid-19 response and mitigation period, said Bandith.
She added that the effect of the outbreak on people’s health, security, the environment and the economy was profound, with women and girls amongst those most heavily impacted.
UNFPA has been working actively in support of government partners as well as expanding alliances and partnerships with the private sector to collaborate for improvements in women’s reproductive health and in particular for the prevention of violence against women and girls.
The partnerships focus on common sustainable development values and support to the Noi framework, which highlights the need to protect women and girls from violence and harmful practices such as child marriage, while ensuring that basic rights such as adequate nutrition and education are met.
But the gains achieved in recent years are at risk of being rolled back when it comes to maternal health, sexual and reproductive health rights for adolescents, and gender-based violence, she said.
Heightened vulnerabilities and limited access to specific health and counselling services are being observed, she said.
Preliminary data from the Protection Centre for Women and Children run by the Lao Women’s Union indicates that, compared to 2019, there is an increase in domestic violence and child sexual abuse, a decrease in access to balanced nutrition, and an increase in the burden of care and unpaid household work for women and girls.
During the handover of supplies, Khan said the partnership with the private sector is essential for the accelerated delivery of common goals and for the protection of the rights of women and girls. — Vientiane Times/ANN
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