The report titled Beneath the Silence: Women, Indigenous Peoples, and Corporate Power—Unveiling Human Rights Abuses in Laos is a submission by the Manushya Foundation, Power By Keyboard, and the Lao Youth Network for International Accountability. Released in October 2024, this joint civil society submission to the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR) focuses on human rights violations in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

 

The report outlines pressing issues affecting women, marginalised communities, and Indigenous Peoples in Laos. It highlights significant barriers to gender equality, including cultural discrimination and inconsistent implementation of legal frameworks, which hinder women's access to education, healthcare, and employment. Human trafficking remains a critical issue, with women and children particularly at risk due to economic instability. Despite some government efforts to combat trafficking, support for victims is severely lacking.

 

Marginalised communities, including ethnic minorities and Indigenous Peoples, face systemic discrimination and limited access to essential services, exacerbating their vulnerabilities. The 2018 Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam collapse illustrates the dangers of hydropower projects, resulting in significant loss of life and community displacement. Similarly, the Luang Prabang dam project raises concerns about its impact on local communities and ecosystems, highlighting the need for thorough assessments and community engagement.

 

Indigenous Peoples and ethnic groups parallelly experience ongoing discrimination. Economic and social rights remain unfulfilled, particularly for Indigenous women, who endure compounded discrimination and limited access to opportunities. The report also emphasises the violence faced by Hmong women, exacerbated by state actors, underlining the need for comprehensive legal protections.