Vientiane – On 19 February, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (MoLSW) convened a project closing workshop to mark the completion of IOM’s Asia Regional Migration Programme “Capacity Building, Migrant Assistance and Protection Project Phase X”.

The one-day meeting attracted 34 participants from Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, relevant line ministries, the U.S. Embassy, development partners, and IOM. Participants reviewed the implementation and key achievements over the programme period and provided their inputs for future interventions.

Opening the meeting, Mr. Mixay Sengchanhthavong, the Deputy Director General of the Social Welfare Department (SWD), MoLSW thanked IOM and all participants for their vital efforts towards combatting human trafficking in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. “The collective efforts have effectively contributed to the national socio-economic development while protecting migrants in vulnerable situations.” He added.

Ms Anne Morrison, Social Economic at the U.S. Embassy, expressed gratitude for the long standing “crucial” partnership with IOM and MoLSW. “We are pleased to have supported this project. Preventing human-trafficking is not only about messaging and campaigns, policies are also important to sustain long term efforts” she said.

Over the past ten years, the U.S. Department of State funded programming has helped build government capacity in Lao People’s Democratic Republic on migration management to support the development of robust migrant protection frameworks, to complement government and civil society support. “While this decade long project is ending, our partnership will continue as we support the achievement of SDGs and Lao’s 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan” Ms. Zena Van Bemmel-Faulkner, Programme Officer at IOM added.

IOM presented on the key findings of the research “Analysis of Migration Trends for Lao People’s Democratic Republic in Two Selected Provinces: Savannakhet and Xayaboury”. The study, which was conducted in July to August 2020, highlighted the impacts of migration patterns and the increased drivers of vulnerability that may change the human trafficking landscape amid COVID-19 pandemic.

A presentation on programme activities implemented over the ten phases (2007-2021) was delivered by IOM. Some key achievements and contributions in phase X (2020-2021) include: the rollout of safe migration trainings to 191 (64 women) officials in six Northern provinces, conducting a shelter study tour in three provinces with 24 officials, and supporting eight delegates from the Department of Labour and Social Welfare, MoLSW to attend the National Conference for Child Protection and Assistance Committee.

Since the first phase of the project started in 2007, IOM has worked closely with MoLSW to strengthen the capacities of the Lao Government in managing complex migration flows and better support migrants in vulnerable situations. Activities were implemented under three distinct pillars, namely migration management, partnerships, and crisis response.

The Asian Regional Migration Program successfully concluded in 2021, reaching over 1,300 direct beneficiaries in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, through capacity building activities, direct assistance to migrants, and supporting national and regional multi-stakeholder meetings. The ten-year programme is funded by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration.

For more information, please contact Karen HO at IOM Vientiane. Tel. + 856 (21)267 795. Email: kho@iom.int