Manushya Foundation submitted a report to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment, addressing “The Devastating Impacts of Laos' Hydropower Ambitions on Luang Prabang’s Environment and Cultural Heritage”.

 

This report sheds light on the severe environmental, cultural, and human rights consequences of the Luang Prabang dam project in Laos. It illustrates how inadequate environmental assessments, the dismissal of expert warnings, and the erosion of legal safeguards have enabled the project to move forward despite widespread opposition. Local communities, in particular, face forced relocation without fair compensation or meaningful consultation, while civil society actors are silenced through surveillance and intimidation. Manushya Foundation urges the Special Rapporteur to apply key aspects of their mandate to call on the Lao government to center affected communities in development decisions, ensuring justice, transparency, and sustainable alternatives.