Lao PDR

Students engage in debate about human rights Photo:UNDP/LaoPDR

In a packed classroom on the outskirts of Lao PDR's capital, Vientiane, 68 law students are engaged in fierce debate about the merits of the death penalty. This session is one component of a two week summer course in which students from across the country are learning about the concept of human rights in national and international law.

The training is part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) International Law Project that is implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The programme was initiated in 2001 and is currently in Phase III that runs until the end of 2012.

“It's very important for Lao PDR to build the knowledge of people, starting with law students, about human rights, what they are and how we implement them,” said Phoukong Sisoulath, Project Manager from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Lao PDR has signed 6 out of the 9 core human rights treaties with the government ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the UN Convention against Corruption in September 2009. The International Law Project plays a key role in supporting the Government to realize its obligations under the human rights treaties through a functioning legal framework.

Koyang Vangneng, a 22 year-old, second year student from Vientiane, believes the course will help him to deliver better services to the people when he's older. “Human rights are very important for people. We need laws to give justice to people so they can have a good life. We can open a new era and improve understanding about equity in society,” he said.

The Law Faculty at the National University in Vientiane has recently announced that they are developing the first human rights curriculum to be introduced in 2013. Law schools across the country will eventually follow once the professors are trained and the curriculum is developed.

“Law and human rights are closely linked. In the future when the students work they will use their experiences and knowledge from the training. Human rights talks about the rights of the people and this is the basis of their studies,” said Bounthieng Phommachanh, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, National University of Lao PDR.

The purpose of the training course is not only to build knowledge and awareness among the students but also to encourage debate back home in the participant's communities.

“Human rights is not a new topic but in the Lao context it is. The course is a good starting point to get closer to the topic. Understanding in the village is at an early stage but we will go to village meetings and talk about issues such as gender equality,” said 18 year-old Malayvanh Makaphon. More than half of those attending the course are women.

For more information

Contact: Toby Fricker at UNDP Public Information Unit - Tel: 020 5462 2697 Email: toby.fricker@undp.org