VIENTIANE, Oct 25 (NNN-KPL) – The Lao government is committed to achieving zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet needs for family planning, and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices.
Laos’ Deputy Prime Minister, Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune, made the remarks at the National Conference on Population and Development, held in Lao capital, Vientiane, from Monday to yesterday, attended by UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative, Bakhtiyor Kadyrov, according to the Socio-Economic News report, today.
At the meeting, Kikeo said, the Lao government is committed to establishing a national coordination committee on population and development, and developing a multi-sectoral roadmap to accelerate the implementation of the National Population and Development Policy, the National Plan of Action on Violence against Women and Violence against Children, and the National Adolescent and Youth Development Strategy, applying a whole-of-government approach.
“We commit ourselves to strengthening the population data governance system, and national monitoring frameworks for socio-economic development, by prioritising and ensuring the use of the 2025 Population and Housing Census and Lao Social Indicator Survey III, to inform the 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) for 2026-2030,” he said.
The government strongly reaffirms the commitments, with other countries, to fully implement the existing national and sub-national population development plans, policies and strategies that align with the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD PoA) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“We are truly encouraged by the country’s leadership commitment and the headways in adopting progressive policies, strategies and programmes for accelerating the implementation of the ICPD PoA and achieving progress towards SDGs, which also require concerted efforts and support from all development partners to scale up,” Kadyrov said.– NNN-KPL
