Lao People's Democratic Republic
In the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2023, Lao PDR expressed its firm commitment ‘to all disarmament regimes, as they provide necessary foundations for safeguarding global peace and security’. It described the entry into force of the ‘historic’ TPNW in January 2021 as ‘one of the most important developments towards the elimination of nuclear weapons’, and expressed hope for its effective implementation.[1]
TPNW Status
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compliant |
| Test | Compliant | |
| Possess or stockpile | Compliant | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compliant |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Compliant |
| (d) | Use | Compliant |
| Threaten to use | Compliant | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compliant |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compliant |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compliant |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Voted yes (2023) |
| Participated in 2MSP (2023) | Yes |
| 2MSP delegation size (% women) | 4 (25%) |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Voted yes |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | Yes |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Voted yes |
| Other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) treaties | |
|---|---|
| Party to an NWFZ | Yes (Ratified 1996, Bangkok) |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Ratified 1970) |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 2000) |
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Ratified 1973) |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 1997) |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards agreement | Yes (5 Apr 2001) |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | Yes (Modified) |
| Additional Protocol | No (Signed 2014) |
| Enrichment facilities/reprocessing plants | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
Latest developments
Lao PDR participated in the Second Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW (2MSP) in November and December 2023, where it stated that ‘universalisation of the TPNW is vital for achieving the total elimination of nuclear weapons’ and called for ‘an inclusive approach’ to implementation that engages parliamentarians, the private sector and youth, among others. It urged all States that have not yet done so to join the Treaty. ‘The Lao PDR is strongly committed to the TPNW and will continue to advocate [the] total elimination of nuclear weapons. It is our firm belief that a strong international legal framework forms the cornerstone for further advancing [the] nuclear disarmament regime and complements other existing international instruments,’ it said.2
Lao PDR was one of the co-sponsors for the 2023 UN General Assembly resolution on the TPNW, which called upon ‘all States that have not yet done so to sign, ratify, accept, approve or accede to the Treaty at the earliest possible date’.3
Recommendations
-
Lao PDR should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
-
Lao PDR should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.
-
Lao PDR should bring into force its Additional Protocol with the IAEA.