Where is that? With exciting destinations like Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia flanking this tiny, landlocked country, who can blame most people for forgetting this little paradise exists? Despite its natural beauty and warm, friendly people, Laos is largely unblemished by rampant tourism. Situated at the confluence of two rivers, including the mighty Mekong, Luang Prabang has preserved heritage buildings harking back to the days of French Indochina and has been known to enthusiastic young backpackers for years. The pretty buildings, flanked by a river and green hills, have been converted to quality restaurants, hip cafes, lively bars, and a colourful night market.

Southeast Asia Globe is member-supported publication featuring in-depth journalism that promotes a more informed, inclusive and sustainable future. Members work with our team to shape our editorial direction and hold us accountable. Around the globe, women and girls are being praised for leading global movements on issues ranging from climate change to sexual and reproductive health rights, access to education and equal pay, with many lauding the girl child as an agent of change. While this can certainly be the case, and often is, words such as unstoppable shift the burden of change onto girls and women without recognising or transforming the structural conditions that produce poverty, injustice and inequality. Often the future is already scripted and not in the hands of the marginalised individual, but in the hands of the larger powers at play — community leaders, local authorities, policymakers, parents, teachers, governments, business owners and more.

Over the years, there have been more girls attending schools and completing their studies with many focusing on their careers and a bright future. Girls are also leading global movements on issues ranging from climate change and poverty to gender-based violence and child marriages, proving themselves to be unstoppable. Adolescent girls in Lao PDR still face prevalent issues that are preventing them from reaching their full potential, including being victims of trafficking, violence and sexual exploitation. According to Girls Not Brides, a global partnership of civil society organisations committed to ending child marriage — 35 percent of girls in Lao are married by the age of Whereas nine percent are married before the age of

Visit our new interactive Atlas! Child marriage is driven by gender inequality and the belief that girls are somehow inferior to boys. Trafficking : There are reports of Laotian girls being trafficked into China, where there are forcedly married to Chinese men. Laos has committed to eliminate child, early and forced marriage by in line with target 5.