LAO, People's Democratic Republic: Children's Rights in the UN Special Procedures' Reports
Summary: This report extracts mentions of children's rights issues in the reports of the UN Special Procedures. This does not include reports of child specific Special Procedures, such as the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, which are available as separate reports.
Please note that the language may have been edited in places for the purpose of clarity.
Requests for visits
- (R in 2006) SR on summary executions
- (R in July 2009) SR on adequate housing
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UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Asma Jahangir
(A/HRC/13/40/Add.4)
Country visit: 23 to 30 November 2009
Report published: 27 January 2010
Ms Jahangir identified the following concerns:
- The Committee is concerned that some religious customs and practices perpetuate discrimination against women and girls. (para 9, p.6)
- Christian children faced harassment and were denied access to public schools. (para 40, p.13)
- Members of the Akha ethnic group seem to regard giving birth to twins as a misfortune and believe that twins are demons or ghost children who have to be killed instantly after birth. In a recent case in Phongsaly province in November 2009, new-born twins from the Akha ethnic group were reportedly given up for adoption to foster parent outside the village to prevent any violence being perpetrated on the infants. The Special Rapporteur asserted that while beliefs should be respected in principle, any harmful traditions or cruel practices must be effectively prevented and prosecuted by the relevant authorities. (paras 58, 71, pp. 18, 20-21)
Please note that these reports are hosted by CRIN as a resource for Child Rights campaigners, researchers and other interested parties. Unless otherwise stated, they are not the work of CRIN and their inclusion in our database does not necessarily signify endorsement or agreement with their content by CRIN.
