The Laos’ Violence Against Children survey was the first of its kind and funded with the support of the Australian Government.
It found one in six children in the country experienced at least one form of physical violence before the age of 18, and about a fifth of children experienced emotional violence at home. One in 10 Lao children experienced some form of sexual abuse as a child.
The survey also found few children had received support to recover from their experiences of violence.
Laos ratified the main international human rights treaty on children’s rights – the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) – in 1991, a year after Australia.
Mr Carrasco said there was “great scope” for Australia and Laos to work together to achieve the goals outlined in the treaty.
“All countries that ratified this convention, including Australia and Laos, have a duty to ensure that all children enjoy the rights set out in the treaty,” he said.
“These millions of Laos citizens will be the future leaders, business people, presidents and prime ministers of Laos, and tomorrow’s teachers and innovators, mothers and fathers.”
