1. Analysis of gaps in Legislation on Gender-Based Violence and Violence against Women and Girls in Lao PDR
January 18, 2017

2. Introduction
The objective of the analysis was to identify gaps in research on GBV/VAWG in Lao PDR and in the Law on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Children, and in the National Action Plan on Preventing and Eliminating Violence against Women and Violence against Children for potential areas of advocacy.

3. Methodology
The analysis is based on interviews with members form the GBV/VAWG Taskforce:
GDA, UN Women, ChildFund, Helvetas, UNFPA, Save the Children, UNICEF, ADWLE, World Concern, and Somsouk Sananikhone
The interviews had four focuses
The organizations work in relation to GBV and VAWG
Gaps in research on GBV and VAWG
Gaps in and recommendations for the Law on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Children
Gaps in and recommendations for the National Action Plan on Preventing and Eliminating Violence against Women and Violence against Children

4. Methodology
All findings presented are based on the opinions of the informants !

5. Organizations Areas of Work
Research on GBV/VAWG
Four organizations are doing research on GBV/VAWG
study on women´s lives to understand and document the gendered division of labour within households
sexual harassment to map out the extend of sexual harassment in the workplace
women’s experience on violence
qualitative research to document what factors pushes people, to migrate, to drink alcohol, do drugs, or to do violence

6. Organizations Areas of Work
Policies and Legislation
Two organizations have activities related to GBV/VAWG policies and legislation
Support to a ministry in developing a gender equality strategy as well as a pilot project on crisis centres in hospitals
Activities related to the Law on development and protection for women (2004) amongst other things, providing technical support on and information about gender

7. Organizations Areas of Work
Prevention of GBV/VAWG
Most the organizations have work related to revention
EVAW Campaign - 16 Days of Activism.
Training activities
training in basic understanding of gender,
women’s rights and policy related to women’s advancement,
training on protection women
capacity building of women, trainers, law enforcement, etc.

8. Organizations Areas of Work
Responding
Only one organization have response related activities
Legal clinic for vulnerable women

9. Key Gaps in Research on GBV/VAWG
Customary Practices
Violence in ethnic communities
Community context
Frequency of violence at community level
Causes of violence
Migration
The relationship between resource development, economic migration including forced relocation, and the effect on the prevalence of GBV/VAWG
Migration in remote areas
Trafficking

10. Key Gaps in Research on GBV/VAWG
Climate and Environmental Changes
link between GBV/VAWG and the changes in income, livelihoods, workloads, and family structures because of climate and environmental changes.
Sexual Harassment at the Workplace

11. Gaps in the Law on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Children
The role of the village mediation unit
Objectivity of the VMU
Every compliant should be brought directly to the police
And that violence should not be allowed to be mediated
Information and knowledge about the Law
Lack of access to information about the law
Implementation of the Law
Difficulties for the to access services due to corruption
Limited services for women and children affected by violence

12. Gaps in the National Action Plan on Preventing and Eliminating Violence against Women and Violence against Children
Definition of Gender-based Violence and exclusion of LGBTQ+
Implementation of the Action Plan
No guideline on how the action plan should be carried out
NCAW are the focal points, but now it is merging with LWU – so what happens then
Limited budget for allocation to implementing the Action Plan
No clear budget
No budget to create services to help victims of violence

13. Recommendations for Addressing Gaps in the Law
More awareness raising of the Law and capacity building of the main stakeholders
The VMU should be removed as a legal institution for judging cases of violence
Advocacy to ensure monitoring takes place
Allocation of budget to strengthen and build response services to help victims of violence as well as creating referral mechanisms
Make sure that legal judgement is being followed through

14. Recommendations for Addressing Gaps in the National Action Plan
Awareness raising on GBV/VAWG should be broaden to a provincial, district, and community level
Education on gender equality in primary schools
Capacity building of line ministries on incorporation the Action Plan into their own plan of action
Larger focus on addressing women´s role on a decision making level in the Action Plan

15. Recommendations for Addressing Gaps in the National Action Plan
Develop costed plans for the implementation of the Action Plan
Allocation of budget to implements activities on awareness raising on GBV/VAWG
Create a real strategy for the implementation of the Action Plan, or start with a pilot project
Build response services to help victims of violence

16. Thank you for your help!