IOM in Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Lao People’s Democratic Republic is a landlocked country located in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), sharing a border with Thailand, Cambodia, Viet Nam, China and Myanmar. The country’s geographical location and its move towards greater economic integration with its neighbours has led to the development of large infrastructure projects to increase and improve regional trade. These have also contributed to greater population mobility. This, in turn, has resulted in an increase in irregular and unsafe migration, human trafficking, and the risk of cross-border transmission of diseases.  

Lao People’s Democratic Republic is also prone to various natural disasters, which have impacted the livelihoods of local communities and migrant populations. Migrants and mobile populations, especially women and children, are particularly vulnerable due to their limited access to social services and protection, especially when they are away from their home communities. 

IOM's Work in Lao People’s Democratic Republic  

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is the UN’s leading agency on migration and the leading intergovernmental organization in the field of migration, working closely with its key stakeholders – migrants and Member States – to promote humane, safe, and orderly migration. As recognized in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, human mobility is indivisible from sustainable development. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – and the commitment to leave no one behind and to reach the furthest behind – will not be achieved without due consideration of migration. Additionally, the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration is grounded in the 2030 Agenda and promotes the principles of having a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to address this intrinsic link.  
 
With the mission above, IOM provide services and advice to governments and migrants from an integral and holistic perspective, including links to development, to maximize the benefits and opportunities of migration and reduce its challenges. Established in 1951, IOM now has 174 Member States as of December 2021, offices in over 500 field locations and more than 17,700 staff – 90 per cent of IOM’s staff being deployed in the field. In the Asia-Pacific region, IOM has 40 country offices.    

IOM began working in Lao People’s Democratic Republic since 2001 with various line ministries in the areas of Emergency and Post Crises Response; Immigration and Border Management; Labour Migration and Human Development; Migration, Environment, and Climate Change; Migration Governance; Migration Health and Migrant Protection and Assistance. In recent years, IOM Lao People’s Democratic Republic has achieved significant milestones including the signing of the Cooperation Agreement between the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic and IOM, and IOM Country Strategy for Lao People’s Democratic Republic 2022– 2026.  

IOM and the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic signed the Cooperation Agreement on 1 September 2021 which outlines the Privileges and Immunities for IOM to perform its work in the country as an UN Agency. To build on the success of the Cooperation Agreement, IOM completed the Country Strategy 2022–2026 to define a clear strategic pathway to work within the country and enhance current and future collaborations with the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, to guide its operations and strategic engagement with wider stakeholders in Lao People’s Democratic Republic and in the region.