Lao People’s Democratic Republic

In 2023, two clearance teams from The HALO Trust (HALO) continued mine clearance in Savannakhet province. However, the government’s priority continues to be on addressing cluster munition remnants (CMR) and the only other mines found and destroyed by humanitarian operators in 2023 were during explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) spot tasks or occasionally during CMR survey or clearance. Plans were developed for the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) to develop capacity to undertake quality assurance (QA)/quality control (QC) of mine clearance with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and were being implemented in 2024. With a view to strengthening programme coordination, in September 2023, the chairing of the NRA moved from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MoLSW) to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

• The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) should accede to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) as a matter of priority.
• Lao PDR should clear anti-personnel (AP) mines in areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, consonant with its obligations under international human rights law.
• Lao PDR should commission or undertake and publish a detailed assessment of mined areas.
• The NRA should ensure that its Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) database can easily disaggregate AP mines from anti-vehicle (AV) mines and that there is a mechanism which enables humanitarian clearance operators to report mined area in IMSMA.
• In light of the continuing reports by clearance operators of AP mines being encountered during CMR survey and clearance operations and roving tasks, the NRA should consider convening a sector-wide meeting to discuss national standards, accreditation, and procedures for addressing mine contamination.

Click here to download the "Clearing the Mines 2024" report for Lao PDR.