Women's Union Law - Promotion and protection of Lao women’s rights. Country/Territory Lao, People's Dem. Rep. Document type Legislation Date 2009 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject General Keyword Gender Equity Traditional rights/customary rights Geographical area Asia, Asia and the Pacific, Landlocked Developing Nations, Least Developed Countries, South-Eastern Asia Abstract This Law, consisting of 32 articles, deals with the Lao Women’s Union (LWU), as a mass and social organization of women at all strata throughout Lao P.D.R. It is part of Lao People’s Democratic Republic system and was officially established in 1955. The organizational system of LWU operates throughout the country at four levels, namely: central; provincial/ministerial, district/municipal and village ones with a total membership of 1,015,506 women. Its functions and mandates of the LWU are: Mobilize and unite Lao women to actively involve in the national protection and development process. Protect the rights and interests of the Lao multi-ethnic women and children; Promote the implementation of the policy on gender equality and the advancement of women in the implementation of national socio-economic development; Educate women of all ethnic groups and social strata to have a proper understanding of the government’s policies, constitution, laws and various international instruments concerning the legitimate rights and interests of women adhered to by the Lao PDR; Make considerable contributions toward the protection and the support of the rich customs, fine traditions of the people and of the Lao women of all ethnic groups in particular. Full text Lao Website lib.ohchr.org