During the 2014 Round Table Implementation Meeting held in Vientiane, Laos, on the 14th of November, the EU Delegation issued a statement voicing serious concerns over proposed restrictions on local not-for-profit associations (NPAs) contained in a series of new draft regulations which would seriously curtail their activities.
1 December 2014
During the 2014 Round Table Implementation Meeting held in Vientiane, Laos, on the 14th of November, the EU Delegation issued a statement voicing serious concerns over proposed restrictions on local not-for-profit associations (NPAs) contained in a series of new draft regulations which would seriously curtail their activities.
FIDH and its member organization, the Lao Movement for Human Rights (LMHR) called upon the EDP donors, issuing a press release and letter, to demand government accountability for human rights violations, notably the disappearance of prominent human rights defender Sombath Somphone. FIDH and LMHR also highlighted the increasing restrictions on civil society organisations and international non-governmental organisations. These concerns were clearly reflected in the EU Delegation’s statement that called on Laos to urgently resolve the continued disappearance of Sombath Somphone, adding that non-resolution would reflect badly on Laos’ upcoming Universal Periodic Review and suggesting inviting the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances to look into the case.