United Nation's Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro visits Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Photo: UN Lao PDR/Laophoto

The United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, departed Lao PDR late Tuesday 9 th November after a two day visit. On her first trip to the country, Dr. Migiro addressed delegates from over 120 states, UN agencies, civil society and cluster munition survivors at the opening ceremony of the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The Government of Lao PDR played a leading role in developing the Convention that entered into force in August 2010 and bans the use, production and stockpiling of cluster munitions. To date the treaty has been signed by 108 states and ratified by 46. Lao PDR will hold the Presidency for the treaties inaugural year. Read more