Sexual Conduct Law — Laos

Legal framework, penalties, and historical context (updated August 2025)

Snapshot: Laos is a secular, civil-law, one-party state. The 2017 Penal Code criminalizes adultery (for married persons), engaging in prostitution, sexual acts with monks/novices/nuns/hermits, and the production/dissemination of pornography. Rape and marital rape are criminalized but defined around force/deception rather than a pure consent standard. Same-sex intimacy between consenting adults is legal. Offences involving minors carry tougher penalties with tiered protections up to age 18. “Old punishments” like stoning/flogging are not part of Lao criminal justice; death penalty exists in law (execution by shooting) but not for ordinary sexual conduct.

Key takeaways

Consensual adult conduct

Adultery: a crime for married persons (partner in the affair can also be liable).
Same-sex intimacy: legal; no recognition of same-sex marriage, and no SOGIE anti-discrimination statute nationwide.
Premarital sex: not generally criminal unless other offences are triggered (e.g., with minors, with monks, or tied to prostitution/pornography provisions).

Sex work & related offences

Engaging in prostitution: criminalized.
Procurement/brothel-type offences: criminalized under related provisions.

Sexual offences & minors

Rape (incl. marital rape): criminal offences defined largely by force, threats, deceit or incapacitation.
Minors: absolute protection for young children, and graded protections up to 18 (e.g., sex with 12–17-year-olds via luring/payment or exploitation is criminal).
Pornography: production/dissemination criminalized; “pornography” is broadly defined in the Code.

“Old punishments” today?

The Code states punishment must not humiliate human dignity; the death penalty (by shooting) exists in law, but corporal punishments like stoning/flogging are not used.

Legal framework (Penal Code 2017 & related law)

Adultery (criminal)

Article 247 criminalizes “a married person having a sexual relationship with a third person,” and also penalizes the partner in the affair and attempts. Enforcement and charging standards can vary; complaints often originate from spouses.

Rape & marital rape

Article 248 (rape) and Article 252 (marital rape) focus on force/threats/deception or situations where the victim “cannot help themselves,” rather than a comprehensive consent model. Article 251 additionally criminalizes intercourse obtained by trickery.

“Pornography means the display of sexual organs and sexual behavior between humans.”

Offences involving minors

Lao law provides tiered child-protection rules. Sexual intercourse with children under 12 is criminal; for 12–15, sex involving compensation is criminal; and for 15–18, sex obtained by luring, inciting, paying or giving benefits is also criminal. Separate offences cover child sexual exploitation and trafficking.

Sex with monks / novices / nuns / hermits

Article 266 criminalizes consensual sexual acts with monastics (and vice-versa). This is a morality-based offence distinct from rape/assault.

Prostitution & procuring

Article 260 criminalizes engaging in prostitution. Related articles criminalize procuring, pimping and organization of prostitution.

Pornography

Article 267 criminalizes the widespread production/distribution/ dissemination of pornographic material (including items “contrary to fine traditions”), and the Cyber Crime law adds online dissemination offences. The Code’s general definition of pornography is broad (see quote above).

Penalties overview (selected)

Offence	Indicative penalty	Notes
Adultery (married person)	Criminal offence; fines/imprisonment possible (varies by circumstances)	Partner may also be liable; complaints usually spouse-driven.
Rape / marital rape	Custodial penalties; aggravated terms for weapons, injury, or minors	Defined by force/threats/deceit/incapacitation rather than a pure consent standard.
Sexual offences involving minors	Severe custodial penalties	Absolute protection for under-12; graded protections up to 18.
Engaging in prostitution	Criminal offence; fines and/or custodial penalties	Procuring/pimping/brothel-type acts separately criminalized.
Pornography (production/distribution)	Criminal offence; penalties increase for dissemination/scale	Cyber Crime law adds online dissemination offences.
Sex with monks/novices/nuns/hermits	Criminal offence	Morality-based; applies to both sides of the act.

What is not a crime

Consensual same-sex intimacy (adults): legal in Laos.
Premarital sex between adults: not criminal unless other provisions are triggered (e.g., prostitution, porn dissemination, offences with minors, monastic offences).

“Old punishments” still applied today?

Laos does not impose religious/corporal punishments (e.g., stoning or flogging). The law emphasizes that punishment must not cause physical suffering or humiliate dignity, and—separately—provides for the death penalty by shooting for certain non-sexual crimes. In practice, sexual-conduct cases result in fines and imprisonment, not corporal penalties.

Practical cautions for travelers

Privacy & hotels: Expect ID/guest rules; unregistered overnight visitors may be refused.
Monastic contexts: Avoid any romantic/sexual approaches toward monks/novices/nuns—this is a specific offence.
Online content: Do not produce or share pornography in Laos; online dissemination is criminal.
LGBTQ visitors: Conduct is legal, but keep a low profile in conservative settings; there are no nationwide anti-discrimination protections.

References

Penal Code of the Lao PDR (2017, unofficial English translation). National Assembly No. 26/NA.

International Commission of Jurists. (2024, Sept 9). Submission to CEDAW on Lao PDR.

Global Platform for Child Exploitation Policy (NCMEC). (2024). Laos — Legal Research.

ILGA World. (n.d.). LGBTI Rights in Laos.