In Vang Vieng on August 20th and 21st, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) co-organized the second national consultation workshop on the Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) implementation following the first one held in March 2024.

The hybrid event was co-chaired by Ms. Moukdavanh Sisoulith, Deputy Director General of International Organizations under MOFA and Ms. Binh Thi LE, Head of Program of IOM Lao PDR. The workshop gathered more than 30 people including technical focal points from different line Ministries, government agencies, UN agencies, and international organizations to discuss the progress of GCM implementation in Lao PDR and look beyond and ahead to gear up for the next reporting cycle of GCM.

In her opening remarks, Ms. Moukdavanh Sisoulith stated: “The Government of Lao PDR, represented by relevant Ministries, have so far used the best of their capacities to implement a comprehensive management of migration according to their specific technical capacities and mandates. This is paramount to have a well-managed and well-implemented migration governance framework, which will contribute to socio-economic development, social order and peace.”.

At the workshop, IOM reiterated the GCM principles and objectives, the link between the GCM and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the importance of strengthening migration governance via the GCM implementation. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration is a holistic and comprehensive UN framework adopted through intergovernmental negotiations to enhance international cooperation in global migration governance. The Government of Lao PDR reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the implementation of the GCM during the 2021 Asia Pacific Regional Review and participated in the GCM regional voluntary review in March 2021.

This workshop represents a significant step forward to the GCM implementation in Lao PDR and reignites the commitment of IOM to support Lao PDR in realizing the GCM. At the workshop, IOM, on behalf of UN agencies, proudly announced the establishment of the UN Network on Migration in July as an important milestone towards the GCM implementation in Lao PDR.

The workshop offered a chance for MOFA as a lead Ministry to reflect on the progress of the GCM implementation and for all participants from different Ministries to listen to the experiences and best practices shared by Cambodia and Viet Nam in their GCM implementation. As the workshop’s aim underscored the need for drawing ways forward to implementing the GCM in Lao PDR, all participants took part in group discussions to take stock of their on-going efforts with the GCM objectives and then identify the GCM’s thematic areas and objectives of priorities for Lao PDR. The workshop resulted in an extensive GCM prioritized objectives identified by all focal points with a commitment to continue the discussion amongst all Ministries to finalize the prioritized objectives and develop a workplan to implement the GCM in Lao PDR. As a co-organizer, MOFA concluded the workshop vowing to follow up with all line Ministries and advocate for a coordination mechanism to higher level.

IOM Head of Program, Ms. Binh Thi LE said, “IOM greatly appreciates the trusted partnership and is proud to cooperate with the government of Lao PDR and relevant Ministries to ensure we are better positioned to address growing challenges faced by migrants, to maximize the benefits of migration, and to unlock potential of human mobility through strengthening migration governance frameworks”.

This workshop was funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration under the “Asia Regional Migration Program.”

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For more information please contact: Phornsamay Siheuangxay, National Counter Trafficking Project Officer at psiheuangsay@iom.int .