The Asia Population and Development Association (APDA) and Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD), together with the Lao Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (LAPPD), organized a workshop on “Harnessing Demographic Dividend through Roadmap to 2030 for Lao PDR” in Vangvieng, Lao PDR, on 25-26 March. This workshop covered the following four topics with the aim of strengthening the oversight role and capacity of parliamentarians in the implementation of the National Plans and other commitments in line with the ICPD and SDGs:

1) SDGs and ICPD PoA implementation and key priorities toward 2030;
2) Demographic changes in Lao PDR, opportunities, challenges and policy levers to achieve demographic dividends;
3) Gender equality, women’s empowerment, and prevention and response to GBV and harmful practices through the National Action Plans;
4) Health and future of young population (particularly resolutions for social issues they are facing such as drugs, school dropout, early marriage and adolescent pregnancy).

The 2-day event was attended by a total of 47 participants, including 36 Members of the National Assembly, as well as representatives of government and related organizations. Representatives from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Lao PDR, Promotion of Family Welfare Association (PFHA), which is a Member Association of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), and others equipped parliamentarians with the knowledge and information they need to take policy and legislative action on the abovementioned issues. This programme, which is intended to promote activities of National Committees on Population and Development, is implemented in various countries with the support of UNFPA and Japan Trust Fund (JTF) and in cooperation with IPPF.

■Inter Press Service (IPS)
Lao PDR Lawmakers Meet to Further ICPD25 Programme of Action