Lao PDR

United Nation's Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro visits Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Photo: UN Lao PDR/Laophoto

The United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, departed Lao PDR late Tuesday 9 th November after a two day visit. On her first trip to the country, Dr. Migiro addressed delegates from over 120 states, UN agencies, civil society and cluster munition survivors at the opening ceremony of the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

The Government of Lao PDR played a leading role in developing the Convention that entered into force in August 2010 and bans the use, production and stockpiling of cluster munitions. To date the treaty has been signed by 108 states and ratified by 46. Lao PDR will hold the Presidency for the treaties inaugural year.

Dr. Migiro praised the Government and people of Lao PDR for being one of the first countries to ratify the Convention. “Its leaders and citizens alike saw the implications of trying to solve the vast challenges posed by these weapons and meeting the needs of the victims. You saw something else as well: the opportunity afforded by the Convention to advance the disarmament agenda, strike a blow against a terrible weapon, and work with other countries in building a safer, more prosperous nation,” she told the delegates.

Her opening remarks at the meeting reiterated the support of the United Nations in the implementation of the treaty, “We must ensure the Convention is effective. This week you will take important decisions on the Convention's architecture. The United Nations stands ready to work closely with Parties and other stakeholders to help establish an appropriate machinery to support the Convention's implementation.”

In Lao PDR over 50,000 people have been killed or injured by unexploded ordnance (UXO) since 1964. Today 300 people, on average, are still killed or injured annually. UXO impacts the socio-economic development of the country and the nation's attempts at achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

During her stay Dr. Migiro also attended meetings with President, Choummaly Sayasone, Prime Minister, Bouasone Bouphavanh, and Deputy Prime Minister, Thongloun Sisoulith. In addition she addressed delegates at a UN hosted lunch. On a visit to UN House, Dr. Migiro told staff, “The progress that this country has recorded, the statistics that I have been given show that between 1990 and now huge steps have been made in various areas of development thanks to you.”

The Deputy Secretary-General's visit culminated at a spectacular Gala Dinner hosted by the Prime Minister on the opening night of the First Meeting of States Parties.