The 5 th Women’s Congress has elected Ms Sisay Leudethmounsone as the new president of the 5 th central executive committee of the Lao Women’s Union, replacing outgoing president, Mrs Onchanh Thammavong.

More than 300 full-delegates of the congress cast their votes, electing five new members to the 5 th central executive committee. According to the congress, there were 49 candidates. The 4 th central executive committee consisted of 35 members, whose term of office is five years.

On the final day of the congress, delegates adopted a political report and action plans for the period 2006-2010 presented by the president of the 4 th central executive committee and President of the Lao Women’s Union, Mrs Onchanh Thammavong.

Mrs Onchanh expressed her deep appreciation of the achievements and contributions of the LWU in implementing the resolutions of the 7 th Party Congress, the resolutions of the 4 th Women’s Congress and the union’s national strategic plan for growth and alleviation of poverty.

The congress heard an evaluation report on the activities of the union from the 4 th central executive committee, as well as progress reports from representatives of LWU organisations at central and grass-root levels, the National Front for Construction, the Lao Trade Union, the Lao Youth Union, the National Committee for the Advancement of Women, the Party Secretary of the Committee for Planning and Investment, various ministries, Provincial Party Secretaries and the Women’s Business Association. Several model families and outstanding individuals contributed their opinions on the political report of the 4 th central executive committee in relation to carrying out their duties over the past five years.

The congress agreed to adopt amendments made to regulations, slogans, competition points and the union’s logo. The union and members of the union at central and grass-root levels will carry out their work according to these changes.

Delegates cast votes to elect a new central executive committee to represent all Lao women’s groups in implementing the resolutions of the 5 th Women’s Congress and the 8 th Party Congress.

The plenary session of the 5 th central executive committee agreed to elect Ms Sisay Leudethmounsone as the president of its committee, Ms Khamchanh Phomsaengsavanh, Ms Chanhtheum Lathmany, Dr Amphayvanh Khamsaengsivilay, and Ms Bandith Pathoumvan as vice-president and Ms Chanhtheum Lathmany as president of the inspection committee.

In addition, the congress assigned the new committees to assimilate the resolutions of the 5 th Women’ Congress in their future direction of women’s organisations across the country. The congress requested all Lao women’s groups, core cadres and members of women’s organisations to unite and enhance the tradition of patriotism along with love for the democratic regime and the great cultural traditions of the nation. The congress also requested all Lao women’s groups to strengthen the tradition of national conciliation solidarity. It also advised the new committees to increase cooperation with international organisations, women’s organisations in the Asian region, and with friendly countries.

The congress requested Lao women expatriates to return home and contribute their knowledge and support for the development all Lao women’s groups. In addition, the congress requested foreign women living in Laos to support and respect the constitution and laws of the Lao PDR. The congress also requested all foreign women to contribute as much as possible to the implementation of the new renovation mission of the Party.

Mrs Onchanh declared the congress closed at the Km 6 Convention Centre in Vientiane yesterday. “To ensure the release of the country from poverty by 2020, all multi-ethnic women’s groups should follow the slogan “development through gender equality,” she advised.

She expressed her thanks to all participants and government and private organisations that had supported women’s organisations over the past five years. The contribution of all these organisations was greatly valued by women’s groups across the country, she said.

By phon thikeo
(Latest Update June 01, 2006)