President of the Lao Women’s Union, Mrs Aly Vongnobountham.

Laos marks International Women’s Day with focus on girls’ empowerment

The Lao Women’s Union (LWU), in partnership with UNICEF, UNFPA and the Government of Australia, this week marked International Women’s Day 2026 with a renewed call to empower women and girls to play a stronger role in national development.
Speaking at an event in Vientiane, President of the Lao Women’s Union Mrs Aly Vongnobountham said the occasion provides an opportunity to recognise progress, reflect on ongoing challenges, and strengthen collective action to ensure that women and girls in Laos can fully access their rights, protection and opportunities.
“This is a moment to recognise achievements, listen to the voices of women and girls, and work together on practical actions so that they can access opportunities in every community,” she said.
The event brought together approximately 300 participants from ministries, United Nations agencies, embassies, civil society organisations, academia, the private sector and other stakeholders to discuss progress and remaining challenges in advancing gender equality in Laos, including efforts to address early marriage.
Deputy Ambassador of Australia to Laos Ms Benita Sommerville highlighted the importance of tackling child and forced marriage, noting that such practices limit girls’ education, harm their health, and restrict their future opportunities.
“Every girl deserves the right to choose her own path – to stay in school, to grow up healthy and to make decisions about her own life,” she said.
Participants also discussed practical pathways to accelerate progress in areas such as access to justice, education for women and girls, nutrition and health services, women’s entrepreneurship, and other priorities linked to national development and the 2030 Agenda.
UNICEF Representative to Laos Mr Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani said empowering girls and supporting women is both a fundamental human rights issue and a development priority.
“When girls are safe, learning and healthy, and have opportunities to build skills, the benefits are felt across families, communities, and the country’s future,” he said.
International Women’s Day is observed annually on March 8 to celebrate the achievements of women and promote gender equality worldwide.
The day was officially recognised by the United Nations in 1977, although its origins date back to labour movements in the early 20th century that advocated for women’s rights and equal opportunities.
Today, International Women’s Day is observed in many countries as both a celebration of women’s social, economic, cultural and political achievements and a call to accelerate progress towards gender equality.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update March 10, 2026 )