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First Shelter For Women And Children In Laos Opens

First Shelter For Women And Children In Laos Opens

Published 01-12-06

Submitted by Asia Foundation, The

SAN FRANCISCO AND VIENTIANE, LAOS - The Asia Foundation, the premier non-profit organization devoted to Asia's development since 1954, today announced the opening of the first safe shelter in the Lao PDR for women and children victims of domestic violence and trafficking. As one of the poorest countries in the world, Laos consistently ranks among the lowest on education, unemployment, infant mortality, and other social and economic indicators. These desperate conditions, along with a lack of resources and public information, create an environment ripe for human trafficking and domestic abuse. In response, The Lao Women's Union and The Asia Foundation planned and constructed a state-of-the-art, multi-use shelter designed to protect and empower Lao women and girls. This shelter is a direct result of groundbreaking Lao legislation to protect these vulnerable populations, and a growing awareness of violence against women.

The new full-service shelter, located near the capital city of Vientiane, features long-term housing for as many as 50 women and children; on-staff counselors and trained women's advocates; and an array of wellness services. In order to maintain a high level of protection for its occupants, the shelter, currently comprised of three buildings, is located in the outskirts of the city and is surrounded by a security wall. Transportation to the shelter is provided by the Lao Women's Union.

"Since 1954, The Asia Foundation has advanced the lives of women and girls in Asia," said Carol Yost, director for The Asia Foundation's Women's Empowerment Program. "The Laos shelter is the culmination of a massive effort in Laos to end violence against women and trafficking crimes and to help women and girls find legitimate, safe jobs."

In 2004, The Asia Foundation and the Lao Women's Union released the first-ever research survey on violence against women in Laos. The findings--an alarming occurrence of violence against women, a lack of resources for victims, and little to no assistance from family members or community groups--immediately triggered the first anti-trafficking and domestic violence legislation in the history of the nation, the Development and Protection of Women Act.

"For the bill to be successful, for women and children to truly be safe and to develop skills that would earn them independence, we knew that shelter, counseling services, and training programs must simultaneously be made available to victims in a secure, supportive environment," adds Yost.

In 2005, as a result of this new legislation and recommendations made by the Lao Women's Union and The Asia Foundation, construction of the new shelter began on the plot of land donated by the Lao government. Through the assistance of Give2Asia, a charity founded by The Asia Foundation to promote private philanthropic giving to Asia, The Asia Foundation provided major support for the planning and construction of the shelter. UNICEF and the Japanese Embassy in Laos funded the construction of two buildings on the premises.

Currently, the fourth building, a vocational training center, is being planned with funds from The Asia Foundation and Give2Asia. This training facility--both for shelter residents and at-risk women and girls--will offer women new job skills, such as handicrafts, sewing, and basic business management. These new skills will empower women to find work, support themselves, and establish their freedom from violence.

For more information about The Asia Foundation, please visit our website: www.asiafoundation.org. To find out how to make a contribution to the Laos shelter or other important projects like it, please visit Give2Asia at www.Give2Asia.org.

ABOUT THE ASIA FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS IN LAOS
The Asia Foundation established its program in the Lao PDR in 1989, managed from its office in Bangkok, to launch programs in areas vital to the social, economic, and intellectual development of Laos. The Foundation previously maintained an office in Vientiane from 1958 to 1975. During that time, the Foundation supported projects in education, culture, and rural development. The Asia Foundation has been a partner of the Lao Women's Union since 1989.

ABOUT THE ASIA FOUNDATION'S WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM
Since 1954, The Asia Foundation's Women's Empowerment Program has worked to reduce violence against women through both the provision of services to victims, such as shelters and counseling, and long-term strategies to address the root causes of violence, such as scholarships and job training.

ABOUT THE ASIA FOUNDATION
The Asia Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific region. The Foundation supports programs in Asia that help improve governance and law, economic reform and development, women's empowerment, and international relations. Drawing on 50 years of experience in Asia, the Foundation collaborates with private and public partners to support leadership and institutional development, exchanges, and policy research.

With a network of 18 offices throughout Asia, an office in Washington, D.C., and its headquarters in San Francisco, the Foundation addresses these issues on both a country and regional level. In 2004, the Foundation provided more than $72 million in program support and distributed almost 800,000 books and educational materials valued at $28 million throughout Asia.

For more information, please visit http://www.asiafoundation.org.

Asia Foundation, The logo

Asia Foundation, The

Asia Foundation, The

About The Asia Foundation

The Asia Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organization committed to the development of a peaceful, prosperous, just, and open Asia-Pacific region. The Foundation supports programs in Asia that help improve governance, law, and civil society; women's empowerment; economic reform and development; and international relations.

Drawing on more than 50 years of experience in Asia, the Foundation collaborates with private and public partners to support leadership and institutional development, exchanges, and policy research.

With offices throughout Asia, an office in Washington, D.C., and its headquarters in San Francisco, the Foundation addresses these issues on both a country and regional level. In 2008, the Foundation provided more than $87 million in program support and distributed over one million books and educational materials valued at $41 million throughout Asia. For more information, visit www.asiafoundation.org.

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