Lao minister calls for more women in high leadership roles

Laos must strive to increase the number of women in high leadership positions, Minister of Information Culture and Tourism Borsengkham Vongdara said Tuesday. Vongdara made the comments during his speech at a ministry Lao Women's Union summary meeting for 2011-2013 at the National Culture Hall according to state-run daily Vientiane Times, Wednesday. "This is our weakness, we need to work on that by 2015," he said in front of the crowd of several hundred female staff members. According to Vientiane Times the Lao government has mandated that 15 percent of leadership positions should be occupied by women. Vongdara told the meeting that the Ministry of Information Culture and Tourism had met that target for positions of below Department Head but not for those above it. "The truth is we don't need to find (women). They are already here. What we need to do is give them chances and promote them," he said. Vongdara also commented on the important role that women play in family life. "With strong women the family members will be good," he concluded.