The JuSTICE Project has launched a new initiative to support the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) in developing its Establishment Strategy and revising the curriculum of its one-year judicial training programme. This important activity aims to strengthen the NIJ’s governance, improve coordination with key stakeholders, and modernise judicial training to better meet the needs of the Lao justice sector.
From 24 to 28 February 2025, Mr Dragomir Yordanov, an international legal expert engaged by the JuSTICE Project, conducted the first mission to Laos. The mission commenced with a meeting bringing together all key partners, including the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the Supreme People’s Prosecutor (OSPP), the People’s Supreme Court (PSC), and the Lao Bar Association (LBA).
Throughout the week, Mr Yordanov held a series of consultations with NIJ leadership, trainers from the justice sector, NIJ students, and representatives from MoES, OSPP, PSC, and LBA. The discussions focused on identifying strategic needs for the NIJ, reviewing current training practices, gathering insights to develop a common core curriculum based on practical competencies, and strengthening collaboration mechanisms between institutions involved in judicial training.
This first mission marks the beginning of a collaborative process aimed at enhancing the NIJ’s institutional effectiveness and establishing a modern, competency-based curriculum that will better equip future judges, prosecutors, and lawyers in Lao PDR.
Following this initial mission, the expert will prepare preliminary recommendations to guide the drafting of the NIJ’s Establishment Strategy and the revised curriculum framework. Subsequent missions will focus on facilitating working sessions with key stakeholders to develop and validate these documents, ensuring strong national ownership and a sustainable impact on the future of judicial training in Laos.
The JuSTICE Project looks forward to continuing this collaboration in the coming months, working alongside the NIJ and its partners to deliver sustainable improvements for the Lao justice system.
