News & Events

Human Trafficking Workshop for Core Training Group at Settha Palace, Vientiane, Lao PDR, October 28-31,2008

The workshop will revisit issues associated with human trafficking that were addressed in the series of previous workshops including; the Transnational Organised Crime (TOC) Convention and its accompanying Protocols on Trafficking in Persons, Smuggling of Migrants and Fire Arms, Lao legislation on human trafficking, UN. GIFT, awareness raising to prevent human trafficking, responding appropriately to trafficked victims within the criminal justice system, legal and safe labour practices to prevent illegal labour migrants from becoming victims of trafficking, specialised assistance and support to child victims of human trafficking and good practice interviewing techniques. more...

Conference on Shadow markets crime and its risk to development at Don Chan Palace, Vientiane, Lao PDR. November 18-21,2008

The main focus of the Conference is on organized crime and shadow markets; what is organized crime and why do people engage in criminal activities? The Conference will showcase different aspects of organized crime and shadow markets from international and national perspectives and the importance of fostering effective national policy development to prevent such crime in Lao PDR. more...

UNODC and Bridges Across Borders cooperate to develop the Community Legal Education Program at the National University of Laos Faculty of Law and Political Science. 

The memorandum was signed in presence of Mr. Kiettisack (Vice-Minister of Justice), Ms. Anne Kullman (1st Secretary Embassy of Sweden), Mr. Bruce Lasky (Co-founder and Director, BAB), Mr. Erik Haggqvist (CTA, FLP), Mr. Khamsone ( Dean, FLP), Mr. Viengvilay (Deputy Director, CLE Program), Mr. Leik Boonwaat ( Representative, UNODC), Ms Pascale Claren (Project Coordinator, UNODC), Mr. Richard Philippart (Governance, Human Security, Rule of Law Advisor, UNODC).» more...

Expanding Joint United Nation Assistance From UNODC and UNIDO to Former Opium Poppy Cultivating Farmers in Lao PDR

At the side event to the 51 st Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) meeting held in Vienna from the 10 to 14 March, Minister Soubanh Srithirath, Minister to the President's Office and Chair of the Lao National Commission for Drug Control and Supervisioin, inforned that | more...

Half of former poppy cultivating villages need urgent alternative development assistance

The opium survey of 2005 indicates that about 50 percent of the former opium poppy cultivating villages still need urgent alternative development assistance. Information released in the round table meeting on harmonisation of drug control assistance in Laos showed that the country is close to reach eliminating opium with opium poppy areas reduced by 93 percent and opium addiction by 84 percent. (KPL, 26.10.200) | more...

'Golden triangle' opium crop drops 29 percent

The total area of opium poppy plantations in the 'golden triangle' of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar declined by 29 percent this year, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Representative, Mr Leik Boonwaat. (Vientiane Times, 17.10.2006) | more...

Agreement to bolster fight against human trafficking

A new agreement between the Lao government and the United Nations signed in Vientiane on Tuesday will strengthen the country's legal and law enforcement institutions in an effort to combat human trafficking. Girls aged between 12 and 18 are most likely to be the victims of trafficking in Laos, making up 60 percent of all cases. Of all victims, 35 percent end up in forced prostitution (Vientiane Times, 12.10.2006). | more...

Workshop for HIV/AIDS prevention field workers

Laos needs more counselling services and greater access to health care centres to cater for patients suffering from HIV/AIDS, as well as those people in high-risk groups, including sex workers, homosexual men and intravenous drug users. (KPL 06.09.2006) | more...

Laos Admits Substandard Implementation of Counter-Human Trafficking Measures

Lao authorities admit substandard implementation of counter-human trafficking measures due to shortage of skilled personnel and budget. (Voa news, 30.08.2006) | more...

Action plan for post opium scenario

Statement by Leik Boonwaat, Representative, UNODC Lao PDR
The Lao Government is launching a new action plan to address the issues arising in the post opium setting. It targets communities living in some 1000 villages in the north of Laos. These communities have been identified as being the poorest of the poor from former opium producing villages that are considered as still requiring assistance. Providing urgent assistance is essential in the critical transitional period of 3-4 years to allow former farmers to adopt non opium based alternative livelihoods. (25.08.2006) | more...

Laos still producing opium

The area under opium cultivation was estimated at 2,500 hectares in 2006 compared with 1,800 hectares in 2005, according to the UNODC's latest international report on the world's illicit drug industry. (Bangkok Post, 27.06.2006) | more...

International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 26 June, 2006

Statement by United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi A. Anan
Message from UNODC Executive Director, Antonio Maria Costa
Laos on target to achieve goal of becoming opium-free, UNODC survey shows

Laos needs aid to fight drugs

In the past eight years of concerted and coordinated effort, Lao authorities have ended pretty well all the major production of opium, heroin and big-time drug dealing. The achievements are recognised across the board and no longer in dispute even among sceptics. But success remains uncertain, because the poor farmers who are willing to turn away from growing poppies still need sustainable crops and markets. Otherwise, like a street addict without opportunity, they will return to growing opium. (Bangkok Post, 14.04.2006) | more...

Laos battles new foe in war on drugs

Poverty-stricken Laos has some way to go to catch up with its more developed neighbors, but it has still managed to import the same problems facing far richer countries. Fresh from declaring victory in its "war on opium," Laos' communist rulers now face the threat of growing methamphetamine use among its youth. (Reuters, 13.05.2006) | more...

UNODC, ADB to extend cooperation against drugs and corruption

Under an agreement signed recently in Manila by UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa and ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda, both sides agreed to work together with their partner countries in education on drug abuse, illicit crop monitoring and border controls. (VNA, 03.05.2006) | more...

Opium cultivation down but cocaine use is up

U.N. Says Global Opium Cultivation Fell 22 Percent in 2005, but Cocaine Use Up in Western Europe (ABC news, 26.06.2006) | more...

Golden Triangle's opium output eradicated

Opium poppy cultivation has been almost eradicated in Asia's Golden Triangle, the border zone between Burma, Thailand and Laos that was once the world's most prolific supplier of opium, according to a report published by the United Nations on Monday. (The Guardian Unlimited, 28.06.2006) | more...

Laos declares opium poppies thing of the past

10 years ago, declared itself free of opium poppies. 'Tuesday is a very important day for the people and government of Laos, as we are declaring to the world the eradication of opium poppy cultivation,' Prime Minister Bounnhang Vorachit told a conference in Vientiane. (Reuters, 14.02.2006) | more...