Vice-Governors and representatives from the National and Provincial Commissions for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Planning and Investment, and Home Affairs gathered on Monday in Savannakhet to assess the progress and gaps in the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goals, and discuss the role of provinces in accelerating progress for every child.
“We commit to make investments in children, adolescents and young people as a key pillar of the 9th Provincial and District Social Economic Development Plan; to work closely with the central government and line ministries in strengthening child protection systems and addressing the CRC concluding observations; to develop the Lao human capital by reducing at least by 30 per cent multi-dimensional child poverty in each province by 2030; to generate evidence, share knowledge and enhance our capacity and working mechanisms at subnational levels for better planning, implementation and monitoring of initiatives to address multi-dimensional poverty among children; and to take an active role in the Lao Generation 2030 Forum,” said Mr. Santiphap Phomvihane, Governor of Savannakhet Province.
“Children of today are the leaders of tomorrow and as such we must work across sectors to make sure every children realize their rights. This consultation comes at the right time, when the 9th NSEDP is being developed. We have a great opportunity ahead of us to position the child rights agenda, help every child in Laos to develop to his or her full potential,” said Mr. Alounkeo Kittikhoun, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office and Vice President of the National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children (NCAWMC)
Despite considerable progress, children in the Lao PDR continue to experience significant levels of deprivation, according to the report ‘SDGs and Children – Measuring Progress on Child Wellbeing in the Lao PDR’. About 71 per cent of children under 18 years of age suffer from two to five simultaneous deprivations in the areas of nutrition, health, education, Early Childhood Development (ECD), child protection, water, sanitation, housing and information.
While the deprivations are serious for each individual concerned, the implications extend beyond the affected children and households. Future economic growth will be jeopardized if many stunted and deprived children are unable to stay at school and learn the skills necessary for the country’s development.
“Understanding children’s vulnerabilities is crucial to ensure a better future for those who will lead the development of the country after graduation from Least Developing Country (LDC). Higher economic growth rates and social development of the Lao PDR will only be realized if productivity is increased significantly. This will require prioritized and sustained investments to unleash the unlimited potential of the generation of Lao children and young people who will grow between now and 2030, when SDGs are to be achieved,” said Dr. Bivol.
20 November 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC30), one of the world’s most-ratified human rights treaty. The Lao PDR ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on 8 May 1991.
Throughout the year, the NCAWMC, PCAWMC, MOFA, MPI and other line ministries along with private sector and civil society organisations and children themselves are organising, with support from UNICEF, a series of public engagement activities to build awareness, support and commitment to action on the implementation of CRC and SDGs.
Source: Lao News Agency
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