A Lao delegation headed by H.E. Mr. Saleumxay KOMMASITH, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs participated in the 55^th Session of the UN Human Rights Council which was opened on 26 February 2024 in the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, under the chairmanship of H.E. Mr. Omar Zniber, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the United Nations Office at Geneva, the President of Human Rights Council and was attended by high-level delegations from over 100 countries which are members of the Human Rights Council and observer countries and international organizations.   At the opening ceremony,  President of the UN General Assembly, UN Secretary General, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland were present  and delivered statements.

On 27 February 2024, the Lao PDR’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered a statement at the High-Level Segment, emphasizing, inter alia,  the linkage and mutually reinforcing character of peace, development and human rights, urging a political and peaceful solution to end the ongoing armed conflicts in eastern Europe and Middle East. The Deputy Prime Minister of Lao PDR underlined the principles of impartiality, objectivity, non-selectivity, non-discrimination, avoidance of double standards, and non-politicization in human rights consideration, cooperation and realization, as well as the need for the international community to prioritize dialogue, cooperation and exchanges in order to advance the shared cause of human rights. Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay KOMMASITH also highlighted the Lao PDR's active participation in international efforts to protect and promote human rights, including the cooperation with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Human Rights Council and Treaty Body mechanisms, as well as with a number of Development Partners.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR recalled the facts in the history of Laos that due to the aggressive wars, the Lao people had no opportunity to develop the country and  therefore they lacked basic human rights. Following the national liberation  and  full independence of the country in 1975, the Lao multi-ethnic people have enjoyed the right to the mastery of their own country and destiny, exercising the right to self-determination. Today war remnants, especially unexploded ordnances ( UXO ) have caused and continue to cause a huge negative impact on the national development as well as on the full enjoyment by the Lao people  of their human rights. The Lao Government has continued its efforts to implement the national development goals and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in order to move the country forward towards the goal of  LDC graduation  to uplift the living standards of the Lao multi-ethnic people, enabling them to fully enjoy the human rights and fundamental rights under  the Constitution and laws in accordance with the Lao PDR's international obligations and commitments on human rights. Under the ASEAN chairmanship of Lao PDR in 2024, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, together with other ASEAN human rights bodies continue to focus on integrating human rights principles of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, including its provisions on the right to peace and the right to development into the ASEAN Community building. 

On the same occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR also met with Mr. Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The two sides exchanged on  the cooperation between the Lao Government  and OHCHR and also touched on current regional and international situations having an impact on human rights. The Deputy Prime Minister expressed appreciation to OHCHR for the continued cooperation and  technical assistance that it has extended to the Lao PDR thus far, especially for the preparation by the country to participate in the 4^th cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in early 2025.