Vientiane: The seminar brings together policymakers, legal experts, UXO clearance specialists, and representatives from States Parties and non-States Parties across the region to strengthen cooperation and technical capacity in addressing the humanitarian impact of cluster munitions.
According to Lao News Agency, the opening ceremony was attended by key figures including Anouparb Vongnorkeo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs representing the National Regulatory Authority for the UXO Sector in Lao PDR (NRA); Elizabet Te; Pamela A. Moraga; and Benita Sommerville. Mr. Anouparb emphasized the Lao PDR's vision as President of the Third Review Conference of the CCM, advocating for stronger regional and international cooperation to transform convention commitments into practical national action plans and promoting peer-to-peer learning among member states.
The seminar's discussions focus on the global implementation status of the CCM, UXO clearance mechanisms, victim assistance, risk education, and regional cooperation frameworks. Delegates highlighted the significance of South-South Cooperation and support for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Participants also listened to testimonies from cluster munition survivors and explored the role of UXO clearance in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, with a particular focus on the Lao PDR's unique Sustainable Development Goal 18 aimed at ensuring safe lives free from UXO threats.
The seminar's programme includes a field visit to Kasi District in Vientiane Province, where delegates will observe humanitarian clearance operations conducted by the Lao People's Army's UXO and Disaster Relief Center (Center 523). This visit aims to offer firsthand insight into contamination surveys, clearance operations, destruction of unexploded ordnance, risk education activities, and community engagement efforts.
Additionally, the seminar supports preparations for the Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which is scheduled to be held in Vientiane Capital from September 14-18, 2026. As a country heavily impacted by unexploded ordnance, the Lao PDR remains a leading proponent of global action against cluster munitions. Laos hosted the First Meeting of States Parties to the CCM in 2010 and continues to prioritize UXO clearance within its national socio-economic development agenda.
