The
United Nations Country Team in the Lao People's Democratic Republic
reported on 11 May 2009 that the government of the country soon will
allow local organisations to "register and operate as independent
entities for the first time".
The
United Nations Country Team in the Lao People's Democratic Republic
reported on 11 May 2009 that the government of the country soon will
allow local organisations to "register and operate as independent
entities for the first time". Below is the news.
The UN Resident Coordinator in the Lao PDR, Ms. Sonam Yangchen Rana,
congratulated the Government on its new Decree on Associations, which
will allow local not-for-profit associations to register and operate as
independent entities for the first time.
By
November this year Lao citizens will be able to apply to form NGOs,
after the Decree on Associations was signed by the Prime Minister
Bouasone Bouphavanh. The decree, signed on 29 April 2009, will become
effective within 180 days.
According to an announcement from
State Administration and Development Department Deputy Director
General, Mr. Ampha Simmasone, who was involved in the decree drafting
process, the decree provides a guideline for Lao officials as they
consider applications for the establishment of
non-governmental associations in Lao PDR. He explained that under the
decree, a group of two or more people can request formation of an
association. Individuals seeking to establish an association operating
in more than one province will be required to register their
association with
the
Public Administration and Civil Service Authority (PACSA). Those
seeking to operate within a single province can request the
association's establishment from the relevant provincial authorities.
The
Department plans to spend the next six months disseminating the decree
and setting up organisations in both departmental and provincial
administrations to begin the registration of associations in the
country, and it anticipates processing of the first applications by the
end of 2009.
This important development in Lao civil society
was supported through a close partnership between PACSA, Concern
Worldwide and UNDP.
