The leaders of 49 ethnic groups gathered at Vientiane's National Cultural Hall for a two day workshop on, ‘Ethnic Groups and Customary Laws: A Human Rights Perspective'.

The event promoted an atmosphere of dialogue between central authorities and ethnic leaders to assess their role in helping Lao DPR meet its human rights obligations among ethnic communities.

Laos is one of South-East Asia's most ethnically diverse countries with ethnic groups split into three categories, the Lao Loum, who occupy the lowland areas, the Lao Theung, the ethnic groups in the middle terrain, and the Lao Sung, who live in the highlands. The smallest groups are the Xeak and Hanyi with less than a thousand people, with the largest being the Lao and Khmu.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Ms Kyoko Yokosuka, the UNDP Resident Representative (a.i.), said, “Together, the 49 ethnic groups of this country provide a rich cultural heritage and help to define the unique character of this country as a land that finds unity in its diversity… The challenge for the Lao PDR is how to maintain and promote the customary laws and heritage of its many ethnic groups in an age of modernity.”

Customary law defines community behavior and the place of the individual as a valued member of his or her community. It is the basis for social intercourse in each community. The customary law survey that was recently conducted is the first of its kind in Lao PDR.

Read Kyoko Yokosuka's (UNDP Resident Representative a.i.) opening remarks

After four and a half years service with the UN in Lao PDR over 200 representatives from the Government, diplomatic corps, UN and development partners gathered to wish Sonam Yangchen Rana well as she leaves to take up a new post in India.

Ms. Rana spoke about the unimaginable transformation of the country that she’s witnessed since 2006 and the challenges that remain, “The infrastructure – cars and buildings – and large scale investments with so many Banks and overall affluence that we see on the one hand and the marginalization and growing inequalities on the other hand.”

She thanked all those who have supported the UN for their commitment to improving the lives of the Lao people and in the goal of achieving the MDGs, “investments in MDGs are an investment in the Lao people,” she said. 

Read more

Ms Kyoko Yokosuka, the new UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, spoke about Ms Rana’s commitment, “to the MDGs, poverty eradication and women’s empowerment.” She told those gathered that Ms Rana would be remembered for her, “total commitment to serve the poor, disadvantaged and the vulnerable as the single most important mission.” 

Read more

Sonam Yangchen Rana, the outgoing United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative in Lao PDR, received the Government’s Medal of Friendship for her selfless efforts in working with the UN to improve the lives of the people of Lao PDR.

Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, presented Ms Rana with the medal at the  Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ms Rana accepted the award on behalf of the United Nations and the work of the UN family in Lao  PDR. In her acceptance speech she highlighted the strong partnership between the UN and Government that has been built over the past 55-years of collaboration.

With just five years left to achieve the MDGs, Ms Rana reaffirmed her belief that Laos has the potential to attain the MDGs and  her hope that, “if the UN hands out medals for MDG attainment, Laos will be among the first to receive one in 2015.”  

Read more

Opening Remarks by Sonam Yangchen Rana, United Nations Resident Coordinator

H.E. Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister (right) and Mr. Ajay Chhibber, Chair of the United Nations Development Group for the Asia-Pacific Region (left) in a joint press conference. Photo: UN Lao PDR/Laophoto

Read full joint press release (PDF. 31.46 kb) 

Read Helen Clark's keynote speech at the Round Table Meeting (PDF, 115.88 kb)

Madame Helen Clark, Chair of the United Nations Development Group and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme meets H.E. Mr. Bouasone Bouphvanh, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR. Photo: UN Lao PDR/Laophoto

The Round Table Meeting is organized every three years, as part of the Round Table Process (RTP). Led by the Government of Lao PDR, the RTP promotes in-depth dialogue with development partners to improve the effectiveness of international assistance in line with the Vientiane Declaration. The aim is to support what matters most for the country's development; improving the health and education of Lao people, expanding their income opportunities and contributing to sustainable development.   

Madame Helen Clark's keynote speech at the Round Table Meeting, October 20th 2010

19 October, at the UN Day evening function

Remarks by Madame Helen Clark, UN Development Group Chair

"With the strong support of the Government of the Lao PDR, our UN Country Team is working to deliver in a more co-ordinated way, to make us a better development partner. 

A strong UN Country Team is important as nations endeavor to address the fallout from the global recession, the impacts of climate change, the lingering effects of the food and fuel crises, and the spread of deadly diseases. The impact of these global challenges threaten development progress, and are felt acutely by the poorest and most vulnerable, people who did the least to cause them."

Read full remarks of Madame Helen Clark 

Read full remarks of Madame Sonam Yangchen Rana, UN Resident Coordinator of Lao PDR (PDF, 23.72 kb)