New Barrier Analysis Identifies Challenges Faced by Marginalized Youth in Laos

Vientiane, Laos – With over 60 percent of Laos’ population under the age of 25, young people are critical to the country’s social and economic development, despite the barriers to political participation they often face. Marginalized youth – such as young women, LGBTI youth, and young people who belong to religious minorities – are particularly at risk for political exclusion and require increased government efforts to amplify their voices.

To that end, the International Republican Institute (IRI) has conducted a study to determine the challenges youth, women, the LGBTI community, religious minorities and other marginalized groups must overcome to make their voices heard. Informing our approach to the empowerment of marginalized youth, IRI’s report outlines key findings from interviews with 42 young people and offers other international development organizations guidance on supporting youth civic engagement in Laos.