Civic space in Laos remains rated as ‘closed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor in the People Power Under Attack report published in December 2024. The fundamental freedoms of association, expression and peaceful assembly remain severely restricted while impunity persists in cases of enforced disappearance, attacks and extrajudicial killings of human rights defenders and activists. Additionally, laws criminalising expression and media freedom create a climate of fear and self-censorship.
On 10th October 2024, FORUM-ASIA, CIVICUS and Amnesty International jointly submitted a report for the fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Laos. The report focuses on civic space concerns including arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, attacks and killings of human rights defenders, civil society activists and journalists, and restrictions on the media and access to information.
In recent months, a UN expert was concerned about restrictions faced by ethnic cultural groups while the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women raised concerns about undue restriction on NGOs and women activists. Woman human rights defender Muay is being monitored following her release and it’s been 12 years since the disappearance of human rights defender Sombath Somphone with no one held to account. Media restrictions were imposed during the ASEAN summit while the authorities intensify monitoring of online commentary.
Association
UN expert concerned on civic space restrictions faced by ethnic cultural groups
Following a visit to Laos on 19th-29th November 2024, UN Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights Alexandra Xanthaki raised concerns about the right to association of ethnic cultural groups.
In her preliminary observations statement she highlighted concerns about policies aimed at assimilating ethnic minorities and indigenous peoples into the dominant Lao ethnic group. She also raised the issue that the authorities prohibit the association of ethnic cultural groups promoting ethnic cultures, and exhibitions about cultural expressions of groups other than ethnic Lao and their subgroups are not encouraged. She also learned that artists, particularly contemporary artists more likely to be addressing social issues, do not have the space to create and express themselves.
Xanthaki highlighted that the limited civic space, including restrictions on free speech, assembly, and association in the country, tight control over civil society organisations, accompanied by harsh reprisals, including enforced disappearances against human rights defenders or individuals who become too critical of the Government’s policies, lead to self-censorship and fear.
She stated that the situation has not improved since the previous visit of the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty in 2019. The Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights visited the Lao People’s Democratic Republic from 19th-29th November 2024.
On 5th December 2024, Radio Free Asia reported that a Lao social activist in the province of Luang Prabang told them that Laotian civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and international organisations that met with the UN Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights during her visit in November 2024, have been closely monitored by Lao authorities.
UN committee raises concerns about undue restriction on NGOs and women activists
On 30th October 2024, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) released its concluding observations on women’s rights and gender equality in Laos. The committee expressed concern over the undue restrictions on NGOs and women activists to undertake their activities, as well as cases of reprisals against them.
The CEDAW committee recommended that the Lao authorities ensure all women can freely exercise their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, in line with international law.
It also recommended that the government review the registration requirements for civil society and NGOs, to ensure that organisations, in particular women’s rights organisations, are able to undertake their activities without undue restrictions and investigate and punish acts of reprisal against women human rights defenders and other activists.
Woman human rights defender monitored following her release
#Laos: Government critic Houayheuang Xayabouly aka Mouay released after five years of arbitrary imprisonment https://t.co/pesIacLi3K
— AG (@ag_fidh) September 12, 2024
On 30th October 2024, in an interview with Radio Free Asia, the president of the Alliance for Democracy in Laos, a network of Lao political opposition and advocates, said that Houayheuang Xayabouly, also known as Muay, an environmental human rights defender, is still being monitored following her release from prison in September 2024. Various charges are also being pursued as a pretext to imprison her again.
As previously documented, Muay was released after five years of imprisonment for using Facebook to criticise the Lao government, from instances of corruption to the mishandling of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy dam collapse in Attapeu Province. She was arrested in September 2019 on defamation charges after condemning on Facebook the slow response of authorities in Laos’ flooded southern Champassak and Salavan provinces.
12 years since disappearance of human rights defender Sombath Somphone
On December 15, 2012, Sombath Somphone, a key Lao civil society leader, was abducted at a police checkpoint. Despite CCTV evidence and ongoing demands, his fate remains unknown after 11 years, with the Lao government showing little transparency or progress. #JusticeNow pic.twitter.com/7Q187gjrPn
— Manushya Foundation (@ManushyaFdn) August 30, 2024
15th December 2024 marked the 12th year since the enforced disappearance of human rights defender Sombath Somphone. Civil society organisations, including FORUM-ASIA and CIVICUS, called on UN member states to ensure truth and accountability over Sombath’s unresolved case.
The groups urged member states to press the Lao government to take comprehensive and effective measures to determine the fate or whereabouts of Sombath and all other victims of enforced disappearances in the upcoming Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Laos in April-May 2025. The signatories expressed concerns that Lao authorities have failed to provide any concrete evidence of progress in the investigation. Instead, the government has engaged in misinformation and cover-ups regarding Sombath’s disappearance.
As previously documented, Sombath was abducted in December 2012 after he criticised the government on land deals which risked leaving thousands homeless in Laos. Sombath was last seen at a police checkpoint in Vientiane on the evening of 15th December 2012. Footage from a traffic CCTV camera showed police officers standing by as unknown individuals forced Sombath into a vehicle while another drove Sombath’s vehicle away.
Expression
Media restrictions imposed during ASEAN summit
During the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summit from 6th-11th October 2024 in Vientiane, international media and reporters faced strict reporting restrictions. The authorities prevented media members from speaking to people on the streets. The media coverage manual said the press must report only from the National Convention Center hosting the summit or the Media Center a few kilometres away. Permission to report in the field was not available.
The state maintains absolute control over the media in Laos, including TV, radio and printed publications, limiting press freedom and independent reporting. According to the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders, Laos ranks 153rd out of 180 countries, placing it near the bottom. The state maintains strict control over the media, limiting press freedom and independent reporting.
Authorities intensify monitoring of online commentary
In December 2024, the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party established the Lao-China Information and Information Analysis Operations Center to monitor online commentary related to the relations and cooperation between Laos and China.
They claimed the centre was necessary as Western media had hostile intentions towards socialist countries and that Laos has over 150 legally registered social media platforms, but many channels were spreading information that the authorities cannot control.
Previously the political bureau of the ruling Lao People’s Revolutionary Party issued an order to party organisations and all sectors to closely monitor, inspect and counter any information aimed at undermining the Party and the government, including content perceived as undermining the government's role as ASEAN chair. Furthermore, online media platforms are being tightly monitored and controlled by the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. A 2019 government directive mandates that social media users disseminating information to the public must register their accounts with the ministry under the Media Law. A 2020 directive reinforced this requirement and prohibited publishing information on social media without state approval.