Laos Hosts 3rd Review Conference of Convention on Cluster Munitions, Addressing UXO Legacy

The Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) officially opened today, 14 September 2026, in the Lao capital, Vientiane. The high-level gathering is chaired by Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Chairman of the National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action in the Lao PDR. The opening ceremony welcomed prominent national and international figures, including Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of UN ESCAP Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, delegations and high-ranking officials from over 120 countries, alongside representatives from international organisations and relevant sectors. Hosting this pivotal international conference holds profound importance for Laos. It underscores the government's unwavering commitment to global peacebuilding efforts through the CCM framework, while actively addressing the ongoing domestic challenge of unexploded ordnance (UXO). As one of the nations most heavily impacted by cluster munitions globally, Laos has played an active role from the drafting stages through to the adoption of the convention. To ensure the successful implementation of international treaties locally, the Lao government has integrated these objectives into its national strategic framework—known as Safe Path Forward III (2021–2030). Furthermore, Laos has championed Sustainable Development Goal 18 (SDG 18), dedicated to achieving "Lives Safe from Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)," directly safeguarding the welfare and future of its citizens. In the lead-up to the conference, on September 13, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane received Mr. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and First Vice-President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA). On the same day, more than 270 delegates from over 120 countries and international organisations visited a UXO clearance site in Ban Phik Yai, Luang Prabang District, ahead of the 3rd Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which the Lao PDR will host from September 14–18. Separately, on September 10, 2026, Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone conducted a guidance visit to Phongsaly Province, where he officially handed over a newly constructed school building in Mok Kok Noy Village, Samphan District, as part of efforts to improve educational facilities for local communities. Also on September 9, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Standing Member of the Government of the Lao PDR Saleumxay Kommasith led a Lao delegation to the 11th Belt and Road Summit in Hong Kong, where he highlighted Laos’ development priorities and called for stronger cooperation in connectivity, investment and sustainable development.