This National Study on Women’s Health and Life Experiences 2014 report is the first to provide nationally representative data focused on domestic violence. Its results reveal that violence against women and girls occurs across Lao PDR and pervades every level of its society.
There is growing recognition globally and also in Lao PDR that Violence against Women (VAW) is a serious public health problem and a violation of women's human rights. Yet in Lao PDR, VAW is culturally tolerated. According to the Lao Social Indicator Survey (LSIS) 2011-2012, 58% of women and 49% of men reported that VAW was justified if women did not adhere to traditional gender norms, roles and relations. However, this finding only sheds a small amount of light onto the true scale of the problem. Although small-scale studies have been undertaken on VAW, no comprehensive and extensive nationwide study has followed. Against this background, the National Study on Women's Health and Life Experiences 2014 was conducted to collect much needed evidence to develop an effective policy-making response to the issue.
