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There is growing recognition that gender-based violence against women is a serious violation of basic human rights that must be eliminated from all sections of society. In Lao PDR, gender-based violence against women is a by-product of traditional beliefs and discriminatory customs related to gender roles. And without a strong rule of law and governance mechanisms for survivors to seek civil remedies, the elimination of gender-based violence against women cannot be achieved.

Since ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1981, Lao PDR has been politically committed to eliminating gender-based violence and recognizes that its elimination is a critical part of the development process.

Under the Khan Hom Project supported by KOICA, UNDP is providing support to the Justice and Policing Sector of the Government of Lao PDR to develop policies to ensure the delivery of consistent and quality services to survivors of violence. Equally important to the provision of services are efforts to ensure awareness of services as well as social and behaviour change to enable and encourage survivors to seek out such services. While 1 in 3 women experience violence, just 2 percent will seek help for myriad reasons, many of which stem from harmful social and traditional norms.

As such, the successful applicant for this assignment will support capacity development of the Lao Women’s Union, the leading mass organization in the representation of women and the protection of their rights, to adopt and adapt communication for social and behaviour change (CSBC) to go beyond simple awareness raising of issues to create real change in society in how survivors of violence against women are viewed not only by other but of themselves.

UNDP is committed to gender-responsive programming to promote and protect the rights of women, and provide them with opportunities to fulfil their potential, contribute to society, and ensure the government of Lao PDR fulfills its pledge under the UN Sustainable Development Goals to “leave no one behind” as the country moves forward toward 2030.

OBJECTIVE

The overall objective of the consultancy is to support the improvement of communication and community outreach efforts of the Lao Women’s Union to create real social and behaviour change around the issue of violence against women.

The objective of the consultancy is to support the Lao Women’s Union to implement their communication strategy for the Khan Hom Project, working on both community outreach and informational campaigns.