On 12 December 2013, at the International Convention and Training Center (ICTC) in Vientiane, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Regional Office organized a Workshop on Reporting under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Lao PDR ratified the ICCPR in 2009 and is in the preparatory process for the country’s Initial Report. Attending the Workshop were officials from line ministries and institutions appointed as coordinating persons under the National Steering Committee on Human Rights established since 2012.
The Workshop was chaired by Mr. Phoukhong Sisoulath, Representative of the Lao PDR to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and was facilitated by Ms Yu Kanosue, Human Rights Officer of the OHCHR Regional Office together with Mr Phoukhong.
The Initial Report of State Parties under the ICCPR should cover existing national legal framework giving effect to the rights contained in the covenant, national policies and strategies for their implementation, achievements, mechanisms to monitor, disaggregated data and statistics, factual situation, available remedies, challenges as well as ways forward for better implementation. The Lao PDR intends to submit its Initial Report in the course of 2014.
Mr. Phoukhong said that under AICHR’s 5- Year Work Plan (2009-2014) AICHR will implement activities to share best practices and experience of ASEAN Member States in reporting under international human rights treaties to which they are party. 6 countries in ASEAN are party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.