Mr. President,
Madam Executive Director,
1. I would like to begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, and the Bureau on your election, and express my appreciation to the Executive Director for her comprehensive review of UNICEF’s work, including updates on UN80 reforms, humanitarian action, and the evaluation of country programme documents, among others.
2. The Lao PDR values its strong partnership with UNICEF, which continues to deliver tangible results for children and strengthen national systems. The country programme’s priorities align well with our 10th National Socio Economic Development Plan (NSEDP), focusing on the first 1,000 days of life, learning and skills development, adolescent empowerment, and ensuring children and families live in safe, clean, and sustainable environments.
3. We appreciate UNICEF’s focus on early childhood development and education, recognizing the importance of integrated and evidence-based approaches for building long-term human capital. We also support its efforts to prevent violence against children, aligning with our development of a 5 year National Plan of Action on this issue. Additionally, we welcome UNICEF’s emphasis on addressing climate-related shocks by linking humanitarian actions with preparedness and resilient national systems.
Mr. President,
Madam Executive Director,
4. With a sharp decline in Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2025 and further reductions projected for 2026, critical health, nutrition, and education programmes in the Lao PDR are under strain as we also prepare for LDC graduation this year.
5. In connection with the UN80 Initiative, while aiming at enhancing collaboration and efficiency and navigating current financial constraints, we need to ensure that reforms do not compromise effectiveness in delivery on the ground for children in need.
6. In light of this, we stress the importance of predictable and flexible resources and sustained technical support to protect core services for children and safeguard progress in education and protection as well as to strengthen resilience against climate and disaster risks.
7. To conclude, my delegation reaffirms its commitment to working closely with UNICEF and partners to advance children’s rights and well-being, creating a brighter, more equitable future for all.
Thank you.