Attacks on Dissidents and Activists; Cross-Border Abuses PersistA United Nations review of Laos’ human rights record showed little progress since the last review about five years ago. In its fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on April 29, Laos received 271 recommendations from other countries, most of which echoed those of past reviews, underscoring the government’s failure to address longstanding human rights abuses. Later that year, Laos forcibly returned Chinese human rights lawyer Lu Siwei to China where he has been sentenced to prison. During the UN review, the Lao government emphasized the relationship between a country’s development and its promotion of human rights. The Lao government has until the next UN Human Rights Council session in September 2025 to signal its intention to support and implement the recommendations made during the latest review.