Gender bias is undermining our social fabric and devalues all of us. It is not just a human rights issue; it is a tremendous waste of the world’s human potential. By denying women equal rights, we deny half the population a chance to live life at its fullest. Political, economic and social equality for women will benefit all the world’s citizens. Together we can eradicate prejudice and work for equal rights and respect for all.
Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. There has been progress over the last decades: More girls are going to school, fewer girls are forced into early marriage, more women are serving in parliament and positions of leadership, and laws are being reformed to advance gender equality.
Despite these gains, many challenges remain: discriminatory laws and social norms remain pervasive and women continue to be underrepresented at all levels of political leadership. Additionally, gender-based violence continues to hurt women and gender minorities around the world.
Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes nurtures sustainable economies, and helps develop inclusive and sustainable cities.
Discover how UN-Habitat Lao PDR aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 5 through our projects and various interventions on our website.
UN-Habitat Lao PDR has been honored as one of the winners of the prestigious 2025 UN-Habitat Gender Champion Award. This recognition celebrates initiatives that advance gender equality and empower women across the globe. The selection process evaluated 10 outstanding projects against a comprehensive set of criteria, such as direct impact on women, active participation of women and girls, gender-disaggregated data, and long-term contributions to gender equality.
The Winning Project: Enhancing the climate and disaster resilience of the most vulnerable rural and emerging urban human settlements in Lao PDR focuses on improving access to clean water in 189 settlements, empowering women by reducing health risks and creating opportunities for education and economic growth. Originally planned for a smaller scale, the project surpassed expectations, directly benefiting nearly 67,659 women and girls—54% of the total beneficiaries. From inception to implementation and evaluation, gender equality remained a core priority of this initiative.
