Lao People’s Democratic Republic Launches the First-ever Migration Profile

The launch was co-chaired by Mr. Sthabandith Insisiengmai, Vice Minister of Planning and Investment, Mr. Bakhodir Burkhanov, UN Resident Coordinator Representative to Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Ms. Shareen Tuladhar, IOM Chief of Mission to Lao People’s Democratic Republic. On this occasion, the representatives from line ministries, development partners, embassies, civil society organizations, and migration actors attended the event to mark the first-ever Migration Profile launch. 

Migration Profile is a statistical report on migration situation of the country, compiling insights on the migratory processes, trends, and patterns against the background of existing regulatory systems, policy frameworks and international cooperation initiatives in the country. This report aims at facilitating evidence-based policymaking, policy commitments, inter-agency cooperation and promotes the mainstreaming of migration into broader policy making processes.

Under DRI’s leadership with the technical support from IOM, the development of the Migration Profile is an outcome of extensive consultation meetings, seminars engaging various relevant line ministries and stakeholders through Inter-ministerial Technical Working Group.

Shareen Tuladhar, Chief of Mission, IOM Lao People’s Democratic Republic said, “The Migration Profile supports evidence-based policymaking through the use of accurate and improved disaggregated data as well as strengthened government coordination mechanism. The report will also serve as a reference and capacity building tool to better understand the migration trends and priorities for the country.”

“This first-ever Migration Profile will also serve as a valuable tool for policymakers, researchers, practitioners and will serve as a resource base for capturing the entire scope of migration trends in the country. This initiative has also formed a foundational basis and a framework for the country to develop such reports in the future.” added Shareen Tuladhar, Chief of Mission, IOM Lao People’s Democratic Republic.

Bakhodir Burkhanov, UN Resident Coordinator to Lao People’s Democratic Republic said, “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.”

The report is expected to contribute towards achieving the country’s 9th Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan 2021-2025 results with a particular focus on socioeconomic growth, human capital, and people’s well-being. Additionally, the study supports key strategic priorities of the Government under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022-2026.

Sthabandith Insisiengmai, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, expressed that “Migration should be one of the Government’s priorities in the policymaking, as it contributes to socioeconomic development and poverty reduction in the country. Thus, evidence-based data on migration will be very critical to develop policies and actions to address emerging migration issues and challenges.”

Migration Profile is a flagship report and a capacity building tool developed by IOM Member States to strengthen migration management capacity. Lao People’s Democratic Republic joined IOM as the 171st Member State in June 2018. As a relatively new member, IOM assisted the Government of Lao PDR in development this first-ever national level document through the support of IOM Development Fund (IDF).

With our commitments, IOM will continue to support the country in facilitating orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people.

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For more information, please contact: Ms. Shareen Tuladhar, Chief of Mission, IOM Lao People’s Democratic Republic at Shtuladhar@iom.int