En bref: République démocratique populaire lao

Histoires vécues

Laotian youth have their say as UNICEF celebrates 30 years in Laos

Performing in front of a crowd the included high-level officials, ambassadors and heads of international organisations, young people from 14 youth associations in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) put on a show. The children spoke about the issues that concern them through songs and plays they created themselves.

The performances in Vientiane, the nation's capital, drew laughter, cheers and applause. The crowd had also gathered to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of UNICEF's Lao PDR country programme in October.

UNICEF actually began cooperation with Lao PDR in 1952, delivering health services to women and children to help them ward off infectious and life-threatening diseases.
By 1973, however, the country had been at war for a decade, leading to a major breakdown in infrastructure and delivery of services. 

Rural areas were particularly affected. About 85 per cent of young children were underweight.  Most villages had no access to potable water. Only 40 per cent of children were officially enrolled in primary school. UNICEF's assistance focused on poverty alleviation and immediately improving children's access to sanitation and basic education.

Investing in youth

There has been much progress. Polio has been eradicated in Lao PDR and salt has been completely iodized, helping reduce birth defects. The infant mortality and under-five mortality rates have dropped considerably. Children's basic education has progressively developed and the enrolment rate has increased yearly. The National Commission for Mothers and Children was set up in 1991 to oversee child-related affairs on education, well-being and protection. In the same year the Lao PDR ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

At the ceremonies, deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad opened proceedings by thanking UNICEF for its support and assistance. He also reaffirmed the government's commitment to building legal rights for Lao children in line with CRC recommendations. 

UNICEF representative Inese Zalitis emphasized that successes in improving the health of Laotian children were achievements of the Lao people and government, and that UNICEF would continue to provide support to these efforts as best it could. She called on the leaders in the audience to listen to young people, saying, "Investing in youth is the best investment a government can make."

Heard and understood

The floor was then given to young artists from groups including the Vientiane Children's Cultural Centre and the Lao Youth Union, who communicated the challenges facing young people. Lively traditional music was used to back songs with a modern message about children's rights. The words were written by young artists from Bokeo province and the Donkoi Children's Development Centre in Vientiane.

A poignant drama about a boy whose parents find him taking yaa maa, a methamphetamine, sent the message that parents need to spend time with their children if they are to guide them. A comedy skit about the benefits of breastfeeding left the audience hooting with laughter - and better informed. After some dancing backed by a Laotian khene, a reed instrument, the young actors left the departing audience with these words:

"Our hopes are to be heard and understood, to teach and to be taught, to support ourselves and those around us, to respect and to be respected, to be given opportunities and a chance to see them through."