A week-long workshop on collecting and analysing sex-disaggregated data began in Vientiane on 09 November 2009. The training was opened by Dr. Bounthong Bouahom, Permanent Secretary’s Office, and Mr. Serge Verniau, FAO Representative to Lao PDR.

“National socio-economic development planning must be supported by sound sex-disaggregated data across all policy areas. However, it is important to remember that sex-disaggregated data alone is not enough. We also need to analyze and understand the underlying cultural, economic, social and political factors that are part of the structural reasons for why human development indicators for men and women are not equal” Mr. Verniau said in his opening remarks.

“In many cases, data collection tools do not yet take into account a gender perspective and the methodologies are not standardized. This leads to data that is neither gender sensitive, nor comparable.”

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