Lao PDR Gender Profile - World Bank

1 Lao PDR Gender Profile Gender Resource Information & Development Center (GRID) With the Support of the World Bank November 2005 Lao PDR Gender Profile 2 The Report Team The Gender Resource Information and Development Centre (GRID) authored this Gender Profile . GRID is a capacity building project of the Lao Women s Union. Report Writing Mr. Phothong Siliphong, GRID Project Advisor (Lead Author) Dr. Outhaki Khampoui, GRID Gender Specialist Ms. Zuki Mihyo, SNV Gender Advisor to GRID GRID Management and Technical Support Ms. Bundith Prathoumvanh, National Project Director Ms. Bouachanh Syhanath, Project Manager Ms.

2 Doungsamone Daravong, Project Assistant Manager Mr. Thatsaphone Songbandith Ms. Vanthida Meungkhampeng, Information Communication Specialist Ms. Khamsang Vongkhamsao, Accounting staff Ms. Vanhmany, Librarian Mr. Phonesavanh Latmany Mr. Lumphong Final Editors Mr. Phothong Siliphong, GRID Project Advisor Ms. Zuki Mihyo, SNV Gender Advisor to GRID Ms. Laila Al-Hamad, World Bank Ms. Gillian Brown, World Bank Ms. Nalinthone Phonyaphanh, World Bank Lao PDR Gender Profile 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS AND 5 MAP OF LAO PDR .. 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .. 7 PREFACE .. 9 Gender CONCEPTS & DEFINITIONS .. 11 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .. 12 Chapter 1: Social, Political, Economic and Cultural Context .. 16 16 Historical Context.

3 17 Political 18 Cultural 18 Poverty and 21 Chapter 2 .. 25 The Enabling Environment for Gender Equality: Legal, Institutional, & Policy 25 25 Legal Framework .. 25 Institutional 28 Policy 30 Chapter 3 .. 37 Gender , Agriculture, and Rural 37 37 Agricultural Work and Income-generating Activities .. 37 Access to Land .. 41 Access to Infrastructure and Markets .. 42 Access to Financial Resources and Credit .. 43 Natural Resources and the 46 Chapter 4 .. 48 Economic Participation .. 48 48 Labour Force Participation .. 48 Informal Sector .. 49 Formal 51 Migrant Labor .. 52 Chapter 5 .. 54 Access to Education .. 54 54 Literacy ..54 School attendance .. 56 Obstacles to 57 Government 61 Chapter 6.

4 63 Access to Health Care .. 63 63 Lao PDR Gender Profile 4 Reproductive and Child 63 Access to Health Care Services .. 65 National Health Priorities .. 68 Chapter 7: .. 69 Special Vulnerabilities .. 69 69 Migration and Trafficking in persons .. 69 HIV/AIDS .. 70 Violence against Women .. 71 Drug Abuse .. 73 Chapter 8 .. 74 Participation in 74 74 in the National Assembly .. 74 Women in 76 Chapter 9 .. 78 Conclusions & Recommendations .. 78 78 78 References .. 84 Lao PDR Gender Profile 5 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ADB Asian Development Bank ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nations CPI Committee for Planning and Investment DOF Department of Forestry FOMACOP Forest Management and Conservation Project GOL Government of Lao people s Democratic Republic GRID Gender Resource Information & Development Center ILO International Labor Organization INGO International Non-governmental Organization LECS Lao Expenditure and Consumption Survey LFNC Lao Front for National Construction LWU Lao Women s Union LYO Lao Youth Union MAF Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry MOC Ministry of Commerce MOE Ministry of

5 Education MOF Ministry of Finance MRC Mekong River Commission NGPES National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy NSEDP National Socio-economic Development Plan NSC National Statistics Center NTFP Non-Timber Forest Products PAFES Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Extension Service PAFO Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office PMO Prime Ministerial Order PPA Participatory Poverty Assessment PRA Participatory Rural Appraisal RRA Rapid Rural Assessment SFM Sustainable Forestry Management SUFORD Sustainable Forestry and Rural Development Project SIDA Swedish International Development Agency STEA Science, Technology and Environment Agency THB Thai baht UNDP United Nations Development Program VFA Village Forest Association VFC Village Forestry Committee VRF Village Revolving Fund WB World Bank Rate of Exchange (2004): USD = 10,700 kip Lao PDR Gender Profile 6 MAP OF LAO PDR Lao PDR Gender Profile 7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We would like to acknowledge the contribution of various people , whose guidance and cooperation shaped this report.

6 We therefore take this opportunity to express our appreciation and gratitude to them and their Ministries for their contribution. Special thanks to Mme. Onchanh Thommavong, former President of the Lao Women s Union, Mme. Khemphet Pholsena, and Mme Bouavone Onchanhom, former Vice Presidents of the Lao Women s Union, Mme. for their leadership and support. Below are the names of the people and Ministries that contributed to the production of this report. 1. Ms. Bang On Sayalath, Vice President of Lao Women s Union of Vientiane Capital City, Member of the National Assembly 2. Ms. Singkham Khongsavanh, Deputy Director General, CPI 3. Ms. Khanthaly Siliphongphanh, Deputy Director General of Basic Education Department, Ministry of Education, President of LWU of the Ministry of Education 4.

7 Mr. Sombounmy Phomtavong, Technician of Economic Research Institute 5. Ms. Thilakha Chanhthalanouvong, Statistician, National Statistics Centre 6. Ms. Somchith Boupha, Director of Nursing and Medical Assistant, Ministry of Health, President of the Lao Women s Union of Ministry of Health 7. Ms. Viengkham Vongduen, Director of Planning Division 8. Mr. Nouphanh Mahaphon, President of Vientiane Capital City s Court 9. Ms. Keomanisoth Vorlalath, Judge, Vientiane Capital City s Court 10. Mr. Thongphet Inthavone, Director of Party and Mass Organization 11. Mr. Sorsonephith Phanouvong, Vice Director, Ethnic Research Department, Lao Front for National Construction 12. Ms. Vilaykham Phosalath, President of Lao Women s Union of Ministry of Communication Transport & Construction 13.

8 Ms. Souvanhny Phonevily, Vice President of LWU of Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry 14. Mr. Khamphet Sengchan Oudom, the World Bank Consultant. 15. Ms. Chanhtuem Latmany, Director of the Central LWU Office 16. Ms. Khammanh Thavonglath, Director of the Training Center of the LWU 17. Ms. Vathsady Khotngotha, Director of Culture & Media Department of the LWU 18. Ms. Humphone Duangdavong, Director of the Training & Women Studies Department, LWU 19. Ms. Bouaphone Dalasen, Director Protection of the Women Rights Department, LWU Many thanks also go to the World Bank Country Director, Mr Ian Porter, and Country Manager, Mr. Patchamuthu Illangovan for support. The World Bank Task Team was lead by Ms. Gillian M. Brown, and Nalinthone Phonyaphanh provided guidance and coordination throughout.

9 Ms. Laila al-Hamad, Tansanguanwong, Ms. June-wei Sum, and Ms. Carmen de Paz Nieves provided valuable assistance and the team Lao PDR Gender Profile 8 also benefited from comments and advice provided by Alessandro Magnoli, Kaspar Richter, and Thomas Medley. Lao PDR Gender Profile 9 PREFACE This Gender Profile was developed by the Gender Resource Information and Development Centre (GRID), a capacity building project of the Lao Women s Union with support and assistance from the World Bank. Data was collected from secondary sources as well as interviews and field visits to Government ministries and institutions, international organizations and individuals.

10 Earlier drafts of the Profile were shared with stakeholders for their comments and inputs. The Gender Profile aims at: (1) facilitating the implementation of the National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy (NGPES) by providing sex-disaggregated data and information for planning Gender sensitive programs; (2) providing a baseline document for Government ministries and institutions, donor community and international organizations in their work aimed at reducing poverty and promoting Gender equality and empowerment; and (3) enabling a better understanding of the roles and status of men and women in the Lao PDR in the development process, consequently leading to policies and programs that address Gender imbalances or disparities.