12 February 2010, the ground-breaking Summit on Adolescent & Youth Health Development was convened at Don Chan Palace in Vientiane with the theme “Young People’s Health in the Lao PDR: Why Worry?” The meeting was cordially co-chaired by H.E Dr. Bounkhouang Phichith, Vice Minister of Health and Mr. Serge Verniau, UNRC a.i to Lao PDR.

More than 150 top level participants were in attendance including representatives from National Assembly, government ministries, mass organizations, INGOs, Development Partners, journalists and young people. The meeting was jointly facilitated and supported by Ministry of Health and four UN agencies: UNFPA, UNICEF, UNODC and WHO. [Read more]

On 25 September 2009, the Government of the Lao PDR deposited the instrument of ratification of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) with the Secretary-General of the United Nations in New York. 

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Lao PDR together commended the Government of the Lao PDR for taking this vital step towards combating the devastating effects of corruption.

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Vientiane, July 21st 2009 - The Government of Australia and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) entered into an agreement to support HIV prevention through effective harm reduction approaches under the HIV/AIDS Asia Regional Program (HAARP). Australian Ambassador to the Lao PDR, Dr Michele Forster, and UNODC Representative, Mr Leik Boonwaat signed the agreement on July 21, 2009 which signalled a close partnership commitment to ultimately reduce the harms associated with drug use and thus preventing the rise of HIV in the country.

Although Laos is considered a low HIV prevalence nation, there is a great risk of escalation. Given the reported increase in injecting drug use, drug users have been identified as one group extremely vulnerable to HIV infection. HAARP in Lao PDR will contribute to achieving development priorities stated in the National Strategy and Action Plan on HIV/AIDS/STIs and the National Drug Control Masterplan.  It is funded by the Government of Australia with a total budget of AUS $4,000,000 over six years and executed by UNODC, in close cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Government of the Lao PDR.

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A Global Report on Trafficking in Persons launched today by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) provides new information on a crime that shames us all.

Based on data gathered from 155 countries, it offers the first global assessment of the scope of human trafficking and what is being done to fight it. It includes: an overview of trafficking patterns; legal steps taken in response; and country-specific information on reported cases of trafficking in persons, victims, and prosecutions.

Read more (UNODC main site).

Vientiane: Signing ceremony for Joint United Nations Programme: Support to an Effective National Assembly (SELNA)

On Monday 24 November Ms. Sonam Yangchen Rana, the UN ResidentCoordinator & UNDP Resident Representative welcomed H.E. Mr.Soulivong Daravong, Minister of Planning and Investment, Madame PanyYathotou Vice-President of the National Assembly, Dr. Ajay Chhibber, UNAssistant Secretary-General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Directorof the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific and other distinguishedguests to the signing ceremony in the UN House, Vientiane, for theJoint Programme in support of the National Assembly. 

Read the press release

Read the programme document and overview.