Lao PDR

A large audience was following the launch of the First States Parties Meeting and the Cluster Munitions Trust Fund. Photo: UNDP Lao PDR / Phoutsavong Phatsouda

The presence and scale of UXO pose humanitarian challenges and are an impediment to poverty reduction and development in the Lao PDR. 

On July 7th the Government of Lao PDR organised a launching for the upcoming First States Parties Meeting (1MSP) of the Cluster Munitions Convention (CCM). The launch was an official start for the November meeting, which is so far the largest international meeting ever organised in Lao PDR. With this event, the Government and UNDP also officially launched the Cluster Munitions Trust Fund, to encourage strong support for the Convention and the 1MSP. 

Several countries have already contributed to the trust fund, amounting to approximately USD 3 million so far. The trust fund has received contributions from Australia, Canada, Ireland and France. The trust fund will be made available to the operations of the National Regulatory Agency (NRA) and UXO Lao, victim assistance and clearance and risk reduction education.

In her opening remarks, Ms Sonam Yangchen Rana, UNDP Resident Representative acknowledged the leadership of the Government: "By working closely with a small group of countries, international organizations and civil society, the Government of Lao PDR has taken us where we are: 106 countries have signed and 37 countries have ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The Convention will enter into force on 1 August 2010."

Phongsavanh Maniphone also took part in the event, and was introduced to everyone. 18-year old Phongsavanh lost his sight and both hands in a UXO accident in 2008. The accident happened only 500 meters away from his school in Vientiane province. Photo: UNDP Lao PDR / Phoutsavong Phatsouda

The trust fund will support, effectively manage and channel the contributions to the UXO sector in Laos so that the Government of the Lao PDR can effectively implement the Convention based on the framework of the Vientiane Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. "The trust Fund ensures that UXO actions are aligned with other national strategic plans, in particular with the 7th NSEDP", Ms Yangchen Rana continued. 

"The 1MSP is a major milestone but our common goal is to tackle the long lasting consequences of cluster munitions on communities in the Lao PDR and to advocate for the full implementation of the CCM worldwide. We will continue to work together with all of you to mitigate the dreadful humanitarian suffering of those affected by cluster munitions. For that purpose, we call on all States to sign, ratify and implement the Convention without delay", Ms Yangchen Rana concluded.