Remarks at Launch of “Migration in the Lao PDR: A Country Profile 2023"

Remarks by Bakhodir Burkhanov, UN Resident Coordinator

Friday, 8th December 2023, 09:30 AM

Crown Plaza Hotel, Vientiane Capital

Excellency Sathabandith INSIXIENGMAI, Vice-Minister of Planning and Investment;

Representatives from the Government;

Shareen TULADHAR, Chief of Mission, IOM and UN Colleagues;

Development partners;

Ladies and gentlemen:

It is my privilege to deliver opening remarks at the launch of the Migration Profile for Lao PDR.

At the outset, I want to congratulate the Government, led by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, and the International Organization for Migration in working closely together to develop this excellent country profile. It is rich in data and trends that show how migration is evolving in the region. It is the first time that such a country profile has been developed, and I am sure the report will be a valuable source of information for evidence-based decisions on a range of issues dealing with migration management.

While we all look forward to the presentation of the report’s key messages, let me take this opportunity to highlight why I think the Migration Profile is particularly relevant – and timely:

First, development of the report has been a noteworthy process in and of itself. Migration is a cross-cutting issue, intersecting with public security, socio-economic development, social order and integration, and transboundary and international cooperation. Understanding these different dimensions have brought about greater inter-sectoral and inter-ministerial coordination, which is critical in resolving migrants’ concerns and needs.

Second, the Migration Profile provides a much needed and previously missing baseline for two targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG target 7 under Goal 10 – which is most explicitly and directly related to international migration – calls on countries to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration and mobility of people, including through the implementation of planned and well-managed migration policies; and

• SDG target 18 under Goal 17 – committed the world to enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for LDCs and SIDS, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts.

Third, with the high proportion of female migrants, the data collection and analysis has useful insights that can help tackle a range of issues related to gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Finally, the migration profile provides a solid basis to move the needle on effective migration governance, which is elaborated further in IOM’s Country Strategy, focusing on data collection, analysis, and information sharing in support of planning and implementing national initiatives and regional measures aligned with the national socio-economic development plan.

As Lao PDR takes on the Chair of the ASEAN next year, the United Nations System hopes that this report can frame and deepen the discussion on this important topic, which was already put on the table during Indonesia’s chairmanship this year.

Once again, I would like to thank everyone involved in producing the report, and hope that the Migration Profile will be a frequently consulted document in your line of work.