Local children at a river in Southern Laos. Laos has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting reproductive health and sustainable development. - Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent
VIENTIANE: Laos reaffirmed its commitment to promoting reproductive health and sustainable development at the 58th session of the Commission on Population and Development at New York in the United States, according to a press release from the Lao delegation attending the session.
The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Laos to the United Nations, Anouparb Vongnorkeo, led the Lao delegation to the session held during April 7-11. The delegation included officials from the Ministries of Planning and Investment and Health.
The session was held under the theme “Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages”.
Speaking at the session, Anouparb reaffirmed Laos’ commitment to the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development, first adopted in 1994, and to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
He outlined key progress made in Laos, including actions following the first National Conference on Population and Development held in October 2023. The conference produced 14 recommendations that now guide national priorities on health, gender equality and youth development.
The government is integrating sexual and reproductive health into the 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2026–2030), while new commitments under Family Planning 2030 aim to ensure universal access to reproductive healthcare.
Anouparb said Laos is preparing for its first fully digital Population and Housing Census in 2025 and will soon establish a Population Policy Coordination Committee to oversee national and international efforts.
To strengthen health services, the government is developing a midwifery strategy for 2026–2030 and new strategies on maternal, child and adolescent health, civil registration and gender-based violence prevention.
Laos is also drawing up a demographic dividend roadmap to maximise the benefits of its young population, and is working to end child marriage and early pregnancy.
Anouparb said Laos will continue to strengthen partnerships with Asean countries to share good practices and support shared development goals.
“We remain committed to advancing reproductive health strategies, improving civil registration systems for universal legal identity documentation, combating harmful practices like child marriage, and leveraging Asean partnerships to uphold International Conference on Population and Development priorities regionally,” the Ambassador was quoted as saying.
Anouparb thanked the United Nations Population Fund and other partners for their support in improving sexual and reproductive health and tackling gender-based violence. - Vientiane Times/ANN
