Representatives of the Ministry of Justice and The Asia Foundation attend the project closing ceremony in Vientiane.

Cooperation project increases Lao citizens’ access to justice

The number of Lao citizens gaining access to justice in 10 provinces has increased under the ‘Cooperation Project on Access to Justice and Legal Aid Support in Laos.’
 The project commenced in 2020 with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the McConnell Foundation, supporting the Ministry of Justice in implementing its five-year Strategic Plan for 2020-2025.

Official from Ministry of Justice, Ms Viphaphet Sphabmixay speaks at the closing ceremony in Vientiane.

This plan continues the vision under the Legal Sector Master Plan to develop Laos into a rule-of-law state with a legal framework that is accessible to all.
Enacted under Decree No. 77/Govt. (2018) on Legal Aid, legal aid provides free legal information, advice, and services to help vulnerable groups, particularly the poor and disadvantaged, including persons with disabilities, children, survivors of gender-based violence, and those charged with death penalty offences.
Under the project, the Ministry of Justice has established 94 legal aid offices staffed by trained personnel at provincial and district levels in Vientiane and the provinces of Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Champassak, Savannakhet, Saravan, Phongsaly, Luang Namtha, Xayaboury and Vientiane.
These are complemented by 17 legal aid clinics run by the Lao Bar Association.
These legal aid offices have provided legal consultations to over 5,000 people on matters ranging from family law to fraud, helping them fairly resolve disputes and access legal protections.
Additionally, these offices have disseminated legal information to 882 villages, including in rural and remote areas.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Justice and The Asia Foundation, Phase 1 of the project officially closed on August 15, at a meeting co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Justice Mr Bountha Xongyerthao and Country Representative of The Asia Foundation in Laos, Mr Todd Wassel.
At the project closure, representatives from central and provincial government departments commended the project’s success in building vital legal aid infrastructure and technical expertise to assist people at the grassroots level, while noting that ongoing efforts are needed to reach more vulnerable individuals.
The Ministry of Justice and The Asia Foundation are currently designing a second phase of the project, which aims to further institutionalise legal aid in Laos, improve the quality of legal aid services, and build the capacity of Village Mediation Units, another key avenue for citizens to gain access to justice.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update August 21, 2024)