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Tuesday, December 15, 2020 - 4:15am

VIENTIANE, LAO PDR—U.S. Ambassador to Laos Dr. Peter M. Haymond presented scholarships to 18 female law graduates at a ceremony in Vientiane Capital on December 15 to attend a year-long professional legal training course at the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).  The event, held at the NIJ and attended by Vice Minister of Justice Mr. Bounsavath Boupha, Director General of the National Institute of Justice Mr. Bounta S.Phabmixay and more than 50 other representatives from the NIJ, Ministry of Justice, U.S. Embassy, private law firms, and development partners, demonstrates the United States’ continued support to the Lao PDR’s  justice sector and the Lao government’s work to build a rule of law state.

These scholarships, funded through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will provide financial support to help these women complete a year-long professional legal training course at the NIJ, which is a requirement for law graduates to become certified judges, lawyers or prosecutors.  The scholarships are aimed at encouraging more female law graduates to pursue these careers.

USAID and Ministry of Justice Opened the Luang Prabang Legal Aid Office
Monday, November 23, 2020 - 3:45am

With support from the United States through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Ministry of Justice opened a Legal Aid Office in Luang Prabang Province on November 23.  The ceremony was witnessed by Vice Minister of Justice Bounsavath Boupha, Vice Governor of Luang Prabang Vongsavanh Thepphachanh, and U.S. Ambassador to the Lao PDR Dr. Peter M. Haymond and attended by more than 80 representatives from the Government of Laos.

From left to right: Vice Minister of Health Dr. Bounfeng Phoummalaisith receives 50,000 USAID-donated malaria test kits from U.S. Ambassador to the Lao PDR Dr. Peter M. Haymond at a ceremony in Vientiane on November 13.
Friday, November 13, 2020 - 4:15am

Continuing the United States’ longstanding support to the Lao health sector, U.S. Ambassador to Laos Dr. Peter M. Haymond presented 50,000 malaria diagnostic kits to Vice Minister of Health Dr. Bounfeng Phoummalaisith at a ceremony in Vientiane on November 13.  These rapid test kits, provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will be distributed to public health facilities in areas where the number of malaria cases remains high.  This donation is the first part of a larger shipment coming next year that will help the Government of Lao PDR maintain stocks of this important tool in the fight against malaria. 

U.S. Ambassador to the Lao PDR Dr. Peter M. Haymond Delivers Opening Remarks at the Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Vientiane Capital.
Thursday, October 29, 2020 - 4:45am

The Embassy of the United States of America in Vientiane brought together on October 29 senior representatives from government, industry, and the non-profit sector for a major event linked to the 2020 Indo-Pacific Business Forum – which is being held in Hanoi, Vietnam.  The Vientiane event, which included virtual viewing of keynote Business Forum addresses about the Indo-Pacific region and in-person panel discussions focused on the Lao PDR, was chaired by U.S. Ambassador to Laos Dr. Peter M. Haymond.  Participants analyzed trade and foreign investment opportunities post-COVID-19 in the Lao PDR for U.S. and international businesses.

Vice Minister of Justice Bounsavath Boupha, Vice Major of Vientiane Capital Mr. Sihoun Sithiluexay, and U.S. Ambassador to the Lao PDR Dr. Peter M. Haymond Launched the First USAID-supported Legal Aid Support Project
Tuesday, October 13, 2020 - 6:45am

With support of the United States through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Ministry of Justice opened the first-ever Legal Aid Office in the Lao PDR at a ceremony in Vientiane Capital.  The ceremony at Vientiane Capital Department of Justice was witnessed by Vice Minister of Justice Bounsavath Boupha, Vice Major of Vientiane Capital Mr. Sihoun Sithiluexay, and U.S. Ambassador to the Lao PDR Dr. Peter M. Haymond and attended by more than 80 representatives from the Ministry of Justice, lawyers, and development partners.

The Singing Ceremony of the Letter of Grant
Sunday, September 20, 2020 - 12:00am

Today, in a ceremony at the Vientiane Capital Court, the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) Legal Aid Support Program provided a grant of LAK 389,556,000 or equivalent to USD 42,700 to the Lao Bar Association. Deputy USAID Country Representative to Laos, Mr. Patrick Bowers, witnessed the signing of the grant between President of the Lao Bar Association (LBA) Mr Khamsay Soulinthone and the Asia Foundation Country Representative Mr. Todd Wassel. 

United States Hands Over Supplementary Reading Books to the Ministry of Education and Sports
Thursday, September 17, 2020 - 5:45am

Continuing the United States’ ongoing support for education in the Lao PDR, U.S. Ambassador to the Lao PDR Dr. Peter M. Haymond presented supplementary reading materials on behalf of the United States to Dr. Daravone Kittiphanh, Director of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) at Saka Primary School in Phonehong District, Vientiane Province on September 15, 2020.  The event, attended by more than 100 people, including representatives from the Ministry of Education and Sports and teachers and students, commemorated International Literacy Day. 

USAID and MOH Celebrate Key Successes on the Implementation of COVID-19 Activities
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 - 7:30am

The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the United States Embassy celebrated the successful implementation of the Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) COVID-19 Response program funded by the United States through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) at a project learning event and closing ceremony on August 27 in Vientiane Capital. The event, chaired by Dr. Sisavath Southaniraxay, Deputy director of DCDC, and USAID Country Representative to Laos Mr. Michael Ronning, convened representatives from the Government of Laos, the U.S. Embassy, USAID, Save the Children and Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance to share lessons learned and key successes and plan for future actions to combat COVID-19. 

Handover Ceremony of the USAID-funded Hygiene and Recreational Kits
Wednesday, August 26, 2020 - 1:15am

On August 26, the United States Government, the Japanese Government, UNICEF Lao PDR handed over essential hygiene and recreational kits, including soap, bleach, detergent and painting tools for more than 1,000 children in residential care institutions and protection shelters to fight COVID-19. These supplies are provided with funding from the United States Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Japan.

A mother feeding her baby
Thursday, August 6, 2020 - 7:30am

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with UNICEF, has committed to support the Government of Lao PDR to improve the health and nutrition of mothers and children living in the most vulnerable communities and geographically hard-to-reach areas. USAID provided a grant worth USD 2.8 million to UNICEF for a five year-project expected to be launched in September 2020. 

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