Lao PDR

AAT provides a response to vulnerable women, girls, and victims of all forms of sexual exploitation, abuse, forced marriage, illegal surrogacy, and trafficking. AAT is implementing different projects in Thailand such as, Provide Protection to and Prevent Lao Victims from Sexual Exploitation in Laos, Protection of Burmese and Lao from forced marriage in China, Advocacy to Address Forging of Legal Documents with Fake Age in Laos.

Under the MPS, Anti-Trafficking Department (ATD) have been established at the provincial level. Their roles and duties are to implement the strategies, find out and be abreast of situations and the tricks of human traffickers in order to develop measures to prevent, combat human trafficking and rescue the victims and prosecute the trafficker in accordance with the laws.

ADWLE is the first NGO to establish legal aid clinics in Vientiane Capital to provide free legal aid service to women who experienced VAW including victims of trafficking. Many of these women are from the ethnic minority such as Hmong. Its also partners with secondary and law schools in Laos to raise awareness on TIP and safe migration, gender equality under the law, and women’s voices in policy and legal issues.

ARMI aims to contribute to the well-being of all-ethnic groups based on mutual respect, equal opportunities, care for the environment, and the sustainable use of resources, and to build capacities amongst rural communities and the poor and disadvantaged, especially children, youth, women, and people with disabilities (PWDs) to improve their quality of life for their well-being in green and sustainable ways

CARE works closely with some of the most affected marginalised urban women and remote ethnic women in Laos on income generation, sustainable farming, access to safe migration and employment, and disability. Its long term program aims to strengthen health and economic empowerment for ethnic women and girls with strong focus on gender equality and GBV. The Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) component focuses on enabling significant income options for women as well as promoting dignified work. CARE’s programme interventions also focus on strengthening informal system at the community levels as well as build capacities of relevant duty bearers on the grounds.

Community Association for Mobilizing Knowledge in Development (CAMKID):

• Support knowledge and skills to the community on gender, anti-trafficking, child rights protection, Natural resources and environment conservation and promotion of women and children’s health to adapt to the changes happening in the present.
• Promote cultivation and forest conservation, promotion of livestock and home gardens cultivation to provide food and water for household and for income generation
• Restoration and conservation of cultural minorities (dresses are colorful and traditional literature)
• Improve ability of the staff of the association to implement quality activities and services

Community Health and Inclusion Association (CHIAs) is a Lao civil society organization working to promote equal rights, inclusion, and improved well-being for vulnerable populations across Laos. CHIAs implements programmes in public health, HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, WASH, maternal and child health, harm reduction, gender equality, adolescent development, research, and community resilience. The organization also strengthens civil society capacity through partnerships, policy advocacy, CSO networking, and institutional development, contributing to more inclusive and responsive social systems.

Criminal Case Inspection Department of the Office of the Supreme People’s Prosecutor serves as the secretariat to the OSPP on the criminal case inspection, juvenile case throughout the country including the inspection the judgement enforcement.

Criminal Chamber of the People’s Supreme Court Lao adjudicates criminal case including TIP cases as well as consideration for compensation; and cooperate with other organizations.

The Disability Inclusive Development Association (DIDA) is a non-governmental organization, formerly known as the Disability Mainstreaming Advisory Service Center (DMAS Center), is the organization founded and led by persons with disabilities. Its mission is to promote disability inclusion in Laos by advocating for disability rights, improving accessibility, supporting economic empowerment, and fostering the full participation of persons with disabilities in all aspects of life.

GDA advocates for civil society involvement in human rights reporting in relation to gender equality and climate change. It is working on three key issues:(1) Unpaid & Informal Women Workers, (2) Women’s Political Participation, and (3) Child, Early & Forced Marriage. It has presented at the Universal Periodic Review Pre-session for Lao PDR. GDA has a project in the north of Laos to stop child early marriage and fake marriages for the purpose of exploitation.

HI Laos work on these areas: Mine clearance; improve maternal and child health; ensure economic inclusion; support organizations for People with Disabilities; provide rehabilitation care.

IOM Program in Counter Trafficking in Persons has the primary goals are to prevent human trafficking, protect victims, and provide safe reintegration and/or return options to their home countries. IOM’s counter trafficking portfolio includes all elements of the 4Ps paradigm- Prosecution, Protection, Prevention and Partnership. IOM’s approach is furthermore based on three principles that govern all our counter-trafficking activities such as respect for human rights; physical, mental, and social well-being of the individual and their community; and sustainability through institutional capacity building of government and civil society. IOM geographic area covers across Lao PDR.

Justice System Promotion Department of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) considers the application for international adoption of Lao children; to advise and provide legal assistance/legal aid.

LBA provides pro bono and legal aid to the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged people in rural areas, including victims of human trafficking.

Membership-based organisation for people with disabilities advocating disability rights and providing services to members based on their needs.

The Lao Employment Business Association, representing recruitment agencies in Laos was officially launched in Vientiane on June 28, 2024 tasked with playing several key roles in improving recruitment practices: (1) To represent employment agencies in government policy meetings; (2) To promote labour force development; (3) To educate its members to operate in accordance with the Association’s regulations and relevant national laws; (4) To collect and share data on labour market needs domestically and abroad; and (5) To strengthen the capacity of its members through collaboration.

LYU is responsible for conducting campaigns to raise public awareness on trafficking in persons and its consequences to the youths of ethnic groups. It promotes and encourages young people to get education, to have access to employment, and to gain incomes.

LWU is responsible for the provision of safe shelters, physical rehabilitation, basic care services, short-term vocational trainings, counseling, legal advice, protection of legitimate rights and benefits of victims of trafficking, preparing the victims for legal case proceeding, and acting on behalf of victims in legal case proceeding, reintegration services within its areas of responsibilities. It maintains a presence across the country and down to the village level providing direct linkages within institutions, between communities and the capital and to other anti-human trafficking stakeholders.

Law Dissemination Department of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) is responsible to disseminate the laws and relevant legislative documents in relation to anti- trafficking in persons.

MOES is part of the NSC and supports the following areas of the National Plan: prevention, education, vocational training, etc. The Education and Sports sector is responsible to create the enabling conditions for Lao citizens to have access to basic general education in particular for children and women living in remote areas; to supervise, administer, guide, monitor, inspect educational institutions in particular the schools to prevent the school boys and girls, students including the Lao students studying abroad from victimization of trafficking in persons; to incorporate the activities on anti-trafficking in persons into education curriculums; to create favorable conditions for the victims to continue their education in different levels free of charge.

The Education and Sports sector is responsible to create the enabling conditions for Lao citizens to have access to basic general education in particular for children and women living in remote areas; to supervise, administer, guide, monitor, inspect educational institutions in particular the schools to prevent the school boys and girls, students including the Lao students studying abroad from victimization of trafficking in persons; to incorporate the activities on anti-trafficking in persons into education curriculums; to create favorable conditions for the victims to continue their education in different levels free of charge.

MOFA is part of the NSC and coordinates and cooperates with national and international organisation working on CTIP and support bilateal and muti-lateral cooperation on CTIP to verify n of the nationality of victims, facilitating issuance of travel documents, providing necessary assistances, participating in conduct of interviews and collection of primary information on the Lao citizens, foreigners, and stateless persons with permanent residence in the Lao PDR which become the victims of trafficking in persons in foreign countries; coordinating with the foreign countries to exchange information for the purpose of criminal proceedings; handing over and repatriating the victims to their home countries, including supervising international organizations and non-governmental organizations whose activities are related with anti-trafficking in persons.

MOICT is part of the NSC and supports the prevention of TIP.

MOJ is part of the NSC; The justice sector is responsible for collaboration and cooperation with the Ministry of Public Security and other relevant organizations to review, draft and amend the laws, organize and supervise the dissemination of the laws and relevant legislative documents in relation to anti- trafficking in persons; to supervise, consider the application for international adoption of Lao children; to advise and provide legal assistance; to supervise and enforce the court’s decisions in complete, correct, speedy and fair manners.

MOLSW is part of the NSC and supports the prevention of TIP and the protection and assistance of victims. Together with the Lao Women’s Union, it assists with needs for the victims: safe shelters, rehabilitation, counselling, legal, vocational training and returning victims, within its areas of responsibilities.

MPS serves as the Secretariat of the NSC and oversees and coordinates the National Plan on Combating and Preventing Human Trafficking.

NCA works to develop optimal education for children, promote gender equity, and ensure protection from violence against children and women. It works with the Village Child Protection Network, District and Provincial Lao Womens’ Union, district office and provincial department of Justice and Police to assist victims of violence including human trafficking. It also raises awareness of CEDAW and CRC at the local level through the Village Child Protection Network and peer educators.

Duties of the NCMC include research and data collection; proposals to improve policies related to preventing violence against women and children and promoting gender equality; and coordinating with local sectors and foreign countries in regards to preventing and combating violence against women and children.

People’s Prosecution oversees criminal proceedings including TIP case and judgement enforcement; monitoring and inspecting adherence to the court’s absolute decision; cooperate with the investigation organizations and other concerned organizations that are working on prevention and stopping crimes or offenses, and other breaching of laws including the preventing of conditions which might be the causes the offenses.

Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) play a vital role in promoting the rights, inclusion, and participation of persons with disabilities in society. They advocate for policy and legislative reforms that advance disability rights and ensure that the voices of persons with disabilities are represented in decision-making processes. OPDs also raise public awareness to combat stigma, dispel misconceptions, and foster greater understanding of disability issues within communities. In addition, they strengthen the capacity of their members through training, resources, and opportunities for personal and professional development. OPDs often serve as facilitators and partners in development, humanitarian, and disaster preparedness initiatives, helping to ensure that programmes and services are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities.

The press department under the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MOICT) is responsible to conduct propaganda on anti-trafficking in persons; to administrate, monitor, inspect the mass media, electronic media, publications.

First and only LGBT advocacy organisation in Laos. It aims to create a positive environment for young underrepresented people, young girls, and boys, men and women who have diverse sexual orientation & gender identity in Laos to be empowered and valued.

The provincial and Vientiane Capital Anti-Human Trafficking Committees are non-standing bodies which are appointed by provincial governors or Vientiane Capital Mayor. Their roles are to implement the strategic plans, programs, projects and activities with regard to anti-human trafficking, perform a central role for coordination and cooperation with relevant stakeholders within their areas of responsibilities. The provincial and Vientiane Capital Anti-Human Trafficking Committees are under the supervision of the police offices of the provinces or of the Vientiane Capital.

To oversee the recruitment agencies on operating the labor delivery to work aboard, the labor recruitment system implementation in the Lao PDR, especially for sending labor to work abroad, labor have to go through the recruitment agency who were authorized by the MOLSW , which currently has 48 agencies authorized, of which 43 agencies are providing services on labor recruitment for working aboard.

Before 2015, Sengsavang was known as AFESIP. Sengsavang provides protection and assistance to victims and girls at risk of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Laos. It runs a rehabilitation centre which provides legal support including filing complaints against perpetrators and works to ensure compensation for the victims. All of the victims are referred by government agencies such as ATDs, LWU, MOLSW, etc.

Social Development Alliance Association (SODA) is a Lao civil society organization working nationwide to promote social equity, gender equality, and the rights of vulnerable populations. Through research, policy advocacy, capacity building, and community development programmes, SODA supports poverty reduction, social inclusion, women’s empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods. Its work contributes to addressing vulnerabilities associated with unsafe migration and exploitation.

Social Welfare Department under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MOLSW) serves as the secretariat to the MOLSW in the development of social welfare, prevention and reduction of the risk of disaster, prepare and respond to disasters, prevention and assistance to children, vulnerable people and victims of trafficking.

To support both government sectors and target remote rural poor communities to have have opportunities for learning sustainable economic development approaches in line with natural resources and environment conservation, food and nutrition security promote young generation in school, make use of local knowledge for production inincrease productivity and self-sufficiency, build climate resiliency without negative impacts on the health and to acknowledge and adopt government legislation.

TAF in Laos works with local partners and Lao government agencies to strengthen governance and improve access to justice for all Lao citizens, empower women leaders and advance women’s rights and opportunities, help communities manage development and safeguard their natural environment, and increase international cooperation and access to information. It has a Legal Aid Project, Community Based Water Resource Management Project, Disaster Risk Management, Women’s University Scholarships (National University of Laos), and J/TIP.

National Committee on Anti Trafficking in Persons (NCATIP) is a state body with non-standing function appointed by the Prime Minister and serves as the secretariat to the Government to supervise, monitor, inspect and support relevant ministries, organizations, and sectors in the areas of studying and formulation of the policies, strategy plans, laws and regulations related to anti-human trafficking and has duty to organize awareness campaigns, to mobilize financial and technical supports; plays role as the central body to coordinate and cooperate with all relevant sectors nationally and internationally on anti-human trafficking activities.

People’s Court oversees court proceedings; Adjudicate criminal case including consideration for compensation; and cooperate with other organization.

NSC is an inter-agency body, headed by the Ministry of Public Security. It is chaired by the Deputy-Prime Miniseter and has the roles and functions as a coordinating body for the Secretariat for the National Anti-Human Trafficking Committee and as the Centre for coordination and cooperation with relevant domestic and international organizations on anti human trafficking effort in Lao PDR. The NSC is supported by Provincial Steering Committees (PSCs) in all 17 provinces of Laos. The NSC Secretariat is headed by the Deputy Director of the MPS Police Department.

Tourism Promotion Department under the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MOICT) is responsible for awareness raising of sex tourism, monitoring and inspecting the tourism businesses, hotels and entertainment businesses in order to prevent the trafficking in persons and other illegal activities.

UNODC CTIP & SOM Project is supporting authorities in strengthening legislative frameworks and evidence-based policies aligned with international frameworks, enhancing capacities of law enforcement and criminal justice practitioners to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate domestic and cross-border TIP cases, enhancing operational capacities and partnerships between law enforcements and NGOs, CSOs, the LWU, service providers and embassies to identify and protect potential victims of trafficking through awareness-raising and supporting the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Department as the Government’s central coordinating body for combatting TIP to actively facilitate national, regional, and international cooperation in TIP cases.

UNICEF’s Child Protection programme is strengthening policy, legislative and institutional frameworks, and improving access to and delivery of family support and community-based child protection services. The focus is on protecting all children in contact with the law, whether as victims, witnesses or alleged offenders. UNICEF works with the Lao Women’s Union to provide preventive and responsive services to violence against children through parenting education to better respond to the needs of victims of violence and human trafficking.

VFI supports vulnerable young women and children, including victims of trafficking. It operates two shelters in Pakse (Champasak province) and Vientiane Capital for young women and girl survivors of trafficking, mostly from villages in southern Laos. VFI also built and operates a Transit Centre located at the Lao – Thai border checkpoint (Vangtao-Chongmek) in southern Laos. It also organizes the Youth Action Against Trafficking to raise awareness of the issue, create village-level protection networks, and prevent trafficking at the village level.

VDBA promotes the rights, gender equality, and socio-economic inclusion of persons who are blind, with a particular focus on vulnerable individuals. It provides training services, tools, and learning materials to support skills development and vocational training, while also working to establish training centres that enhance employment opportunities and self-reliance for people with visual impairments. Through these efforts, the organization seeks to strengthen the capacity, independence, and livelihoods of blind persons and support their full participation in society.

WWDA’s vision is to be a successful organisation of people with disabilities in Lao P.D.R. and empower people to engage their abilities by accessing education and employment. As a result, people with disabilities will have the knowledge, capacity and a means of gaining employment, generating income, helping themselves and contributing to the development of a sustainable society. The Association’s objectives are divided into two separate yet equally important parts.

The first is to create practical opportunities for people with disabilities through vocational training and life skills training. The Association empowers individuals by facilitating understanding of their abilities and supports them by creating an environment of peer support and liberation.

The second is to be an active advocate for the rights, recognition and equal opportunity of disabled women by promoting awareness and raising the profile of disabled women. The Association works with the Lao P.D.R. government and other partners (such as international governments and NGOs) to achieve this and encourage the understanding and acceptance of people with disability in mainstream society.