Lao praised for ratifying UN key human rights treaties

By The Nation

29/09/2009

The United Nations on Tuesday praises Laos for ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC).

By doing so, Laos pledges to work against all forms of discrimination and promote equality before the law. The ratification also commits Laos to the promotion of "individual freedom of belief, speech, association, freedom of press, right to hold assembly and the right to political participation as well as to fight against corruption through prevention, criminalisation, international cooperation and asset recovery."

"By ratifying these treaties, Lao PDR further emphasizes its commitment to - among other actions - enact laws and other measures to improve the lives of those living with disabilities such as victims of cluster munitions, and to protect an individual's physical integrity (against e.g. torture and arbitrary arrest), explained the Office of the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Lao PDR and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in South East Asia," said the UN in a press statement. "This is a significant moment in the evolution of the country's commitment with the promotion and protection of human rights and the UN Country team stands ready to support the Government in the realisation of these conventions," said Serge Verniau, UN Resident Coordinator in Laos.

"These ratifications herald a momentous step by the Lao PDR in its integration into the international legal framework."

Homayoun Alizadeh, Regional Representative of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights said the next step for Laos is to move towards implementation and translate the provision of these conventions into national laws.

With the ratification of ICCPR and CPRD, Laos is now a state party to six out of the nine existing core UN human rights treaties.In South East Asia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam, and now Lao PDR, have ratified the ICCPR. Philippines and Thailand are the only other countries together with Lao now in the region having ratified the CRPD.