On 26 September 2025, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) delivered a statement at the 60th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council’s for the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Laos. The statement, prepared with the Lao Movement for Human Rights (LMHR), decried the Lao government’s failure to accept key UPR recommendations and urged UN member states to actively monitor the government’s progress in the implementation of the UPR recommendations it accepted. Read the statement below.
UN Human Rights Council – 60th Session
Item 6: Adoption of the UPR outcome of the Lao PDR
Mister Vice-President,
FIDH and the Lao Movement for Human Rights regret the Lao government’s insincere approach to the UPR.
Despite its attempts to present a rosy picture of the human rights situation in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), the country remains an extremely dangerous place for independent civil society. The rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association continue to be heavily restricted and criminalized. Numerous cases of enforced disappearances, often involving transnational repression against human rights defenders, remain unaddressed.
While we welcome the government’s acceptance of all 11 recommendations on the ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance (ICPPED), we note that the Lao PDR signed the ICPPED 17 years ago, and the lack of a specific timeframe for its ratification makes such a commitment hollow.
Similarly, the acceptance of recommendations concerning cases of enforced disappearances is tainted by the authorities’ protracted inaction in the investigation of such pending cases and by their failure to determine the fate or whereabouts of the victims. The government’s refusal to accept a recommendation to investigate the enforced disappearance of civil society leader Sombath Somphone is particularly disturbing.
We are disappointed by the government’s failure to accept 22 of the 24 recommendations on the death penalty. While the government falsely claims that capital punishment remains in force for the most serious crimes in accordance with Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), it is an undisputed fact that in the Lao PDR the death penalty is largely imposed for drug-related offenses, which are not considered “the most serious crimes” under the ICCPR.
The refusal to establish an independent human rights institution and to issue a standing invitation to all UN special procedures also reflect the government’s lack of political will to allow independent scrutiny of the human rights situation.
We urge UN member states to actively monitor the government’s progress in the implementation of the UPR recommendations it accepted, and to encourage it to reconsider its position on non-accepted recommendations that are consistent with its international human rights obligations.
Thank you.
