21 April 2008
Australian Government and the Lao Disabled People’s Association work together to promote human rights
The Australian Ambassador to Laos, Dr Michele Forster, today handed over a cheque for $149,969 Australian dollars to the Lao Disabled People’s Association under the Australian Government’s Human Rights Small Grants Scheme (HRSGS).
Today’s grant to the Lao Disabled People’s Association will enable the LDPA to implement a two year project to strengthen human and disability rights institutional structures in Laos. This will build on the the association’s recent significant achievements in promoting and advocating human and disability rights, as well as improved opportunities for people with disabilities in Laos through its Project for 2008-2009.
It also builds on the Australian Government’s recent support for the LDPA’s work. In 2007 the Australian Government supported the LDPA to conduct a series of disability rights education and training workshops and to produce related materials, including a series of award winning documentary films created by Lao people with disabilities. The Australian Government has also supported the placement of several Australian volunteers to assist the LDPA, and has funded the purchase of assistive devices for Lao people with disabilities under the Australian Embassy’s Direct Aid Program.
Charge d’Affaires of the Australian Embassy in Laos, Mr Phillip Molloy, said on presenting the grant cheque, ‘This project aims to strengthen Lao institutional structures for the protection and promotion of the human rights of disabled people in Laos. Strong institutions are vital to ensuring human rights are protected and advanced in a sustained manner in every society, particularly among vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities. This project will augment the Lao Government’s efforts to provide disabled people with more opportunities to improve their living conditions and to contribute to Laos’ economic and social development.”
Mr Singkham Takounphak, President of the Lao Disabled People’s Association, agreed, commenting that “The LDPA’s mission is to promote the rights of people with disabilities, empowering them to personal achievement, assisting them to develop their livelihoods and interests, and bringing about their full participation in society.
“We welcome the Australian Government’s support for this project. It will assist us to achieve our mission by working with the Lao government and other stakeholders to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are addressed in all future development policies and activities in Laos.”
The Australian Government has been a long-standing supporter of practical human rights initiatives in Laos and the region. The LDPA is one of 18 grassroots associations in the Asia Pacific region to receive a total of more than $1.1 million dollars in funding from the Australian government under the 2008 (HRSGS).
This year’s HRSGS will also assist local organisations in Vietnam to combat the trafficking of women and children, support work in Papua New Guinea to increase awareness of domestic and sexual violence and improve assistance for victims, and support a non-government organisation in Egypt to help underprivileged women in squatter areas access their basic legal entitlements. These projects will complement the development assistance work of Australia's aid program and give tangible support to Australia's international human rights efforts.