Human rights in Laos

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Politics of Laos
Constitution Marxism–Leninism Kaysone Phomvihane Thought
People's Revolutionary Party National Congress (11th) Rules Central Committee (11th) General Secretary Thongloun Sisoulith Secretariat (11th) Standing Member Bounthong Chitmany Politburo (11th) Inspection Commission (11th) Chairman Khamphan Phommathat Vice Chairman Vilayvanh Boudakham Defence and Public Security Commission (11th) Chairman Thongloun Sisoulith
National Assembly 9th term President Saysomphone Phomvihane Standing Committee (9th) President Saysomphone Phomvihane Presidency (9th) President Thongloun Sisoulith Vice President Pany Yathotou Bounthong Chitmany Government (9th—list) Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh Deputy Prime Minister Chansamone Chanyalath Sonexay Siphandone Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune State Audit Organisation (9th) President Malaythong Kommasith State Inspection Authority (9th) President Khamphan Phommathat Judiciary People's Supreme Court (9th) President Viengthong Siphandone Supreme People's Procuracy (9th) Supreme Prosecutor Xaysana Khotphouthone
Mass organisations Front for National Development Standing Committee President Saysomphone Phomvihane Women's Union Central Committee President Inlavanh Keobounphanh Youth Union Central Committee General Secretary Alounxay Sounnalath
Military Defense Lao People's Armed Forces Head: Thongloun Sisoulith Ministry of Defense Minister: C. Chanyalath
List Ministry of Foreign Affairs Minister: Saleumxay Kommasith Diplomatic missions of / in Laos Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
Related topics Elections Administrative divisions (provinces districts) Human rights LGBT rights Committee for Independence and Democracy (CIDL) Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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The situation of human rights in Laos has often been, and remains, a recognized cause for serious concern. Laos is one of a handful of Marxist-Leninist governments and is ruled by a one-party communist government backed by the Lao People's Army in alliance with the Vietnam People's Army and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Hanoi.

Amnesty International, The Centre for Public Policy Analysis, the United League for Democracy in Laos, Human Rights Watch, the Lao Human Rights Council and other non-governmental organizations (NGO)s have raised repeated serious concerns about the ratification record of the Laos Government on human rights standards and its lack of cooperation with the UN human rights mechanisms and legislative measures which impact negatively on human rights. They have also raised concerns in relation to disappeared civic activist Sombath Somphone, and jailed and tortured political and religious dissidents, military attacks on unarmed civilians, as well as the lack of freedom of expression, torture, poor prison conditions, restrictions on freedom of religions, protection of refugees and asylum-seekers, extrajudicial killing and rape by the Lao People's Army and security forces and the improper use of the death penalty.^[1] Some officials and police have facilitated and profited from sex trafficking in Laos.^[2][3]

The purported policy objectives of both the Lao communist government and international donors remain focused toward achieving sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction,^[4] but restrictions on freedom of expression and association are a source of concern.^[5] The barring of independent human rights monitors makes an exact appraisal of the situation impossible. In particular, the situation for groups of ethnic Hmong hiding in the jungle remains grave and leads to a steady stream of people taking refuge in neighboring Thailand. The death penalty remains in force, although no executions have been reported since 1989.^[6]

The U.S. State Department reports on human rights around the world declare that most Lao trials in 2003^{[needs update]} were little more than pro forma examinations of the accused, with a verdict having already been reached. The State Department indicated that in some instances police administratively overruled court decisions, at times detaining a defendant exonerated by the court, in violation of the law. Moreover, while Lao law prohibits torture, members of the security forces reportedly subjected prisoners to torture and other abuses. A significant issue in human rights in Laos is the presence of anti-government rebels, mainly of the Hmong ethnic minority, who have reportedly been harshly treated by the Lao government. In its 2006 report^{[needs update]} the State Department mentions that "The government's overall human rights record worsened during the year." For more details see the report (link given below under "see also").