VIENTIANE, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Youth representatives from across Laos convened to tackle the urgent issues of child, early, and forced marriage (CEFM) and adolescent pregnancy, with the country among those with the highest rates in Southeast Asia. A youth-led workshop was held in the Lao capital Vientiane on Wednesday, bringing together youth volunteers and officials committed to ending child marriage nationwide, Lao News Agency reported on Thursday. In response to these findings, participants at the workshop were divided into groups to explore the impacts of the CEFM and adolescent pregnancy, and to propose practical solutions. Child marriage and adolescent pregnancy are deeply interconnected issues that contribute to cycles of poverty and underdevelopment, undermining families, communities, and the country's overall human capital and growth. The Lao government and its partners reaffirmed their commitment to working with girls and young women to protect and promote their rights.