Officials from the Lao National Commission for the Advancement of Women (LNCAW) have discussed improving national policy plans with the aim of more fully protecting the rights and interests of women.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a Consultation Workshop on the 2nd National Strategy for the Advancement of Women in 2011-15, President of the Lao Women's Union, Ms Sisay Leudedmounsone, said yesterday the meeting was meaningful for the promotion of women's rights in the years to come.

“This meeting indicates the close attention that the government and international officials pay to women's advancement. We hope the meeting will help more effective information to be added to policy for the full benefit of women,” said Ms Sisay, who is also Vice President and standing member of the LNCAW.

The meeting translated the directive of the Party and government on women, including within the Lao constitution, laws warranting equality between women and men, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), UN Millennium Development Goals and other international regulations promoting gender equality.

Ms Sisay said that today's discussion aimed at making the National Strategy for the Advancement of Women in 2011-15 complete in detail, coinciding with Party policy, the 7th national socio-economic development plan for 2011-15, CEDAW and other international conventions involving the rights of women.

The two-day meeting would focus on studying each aspect of the plan, and goals and measures to implement various activities to achieve the objectives that have already been set, she said.

“Practical implementation must work through raising public awareness, defining clear measures and budget; these are still the important basic issues,” Ms Sisay said.

She added that the attention of the government and efforts of LNCAW at all levels joined the demands of society and women and domestic and international cooperation, especially development p artners, in helping the gradual achievement of gender equality and elimination of all forms of discrimination against women .

The United Nations Population Fund, UN Women, World Bank and Asian Development Bank provided funds to organise the consultation.