From 19 to 28 May 2025, with the support of the JuSTICE Project, funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), a delegation of Lao judges and prosecutors joined an international judicial training in Paris alongside judges from various countries.
Organised in partnership with the École Nationale de la Magistrature (ENM), the programme titled “Discovery of the French Justice System” provided an eight-day intensive study about the organisation, history, and principles of the French judiciary. The Lao delegation, composed of two officers from the People’s Supreme Court (PSC) and two prosecutors from the Office of the Supreme People’s Prosecutors (OSPP), joined their counterparts from other countries to engage in comparative legal dialogue and professional exchange.
Participants took part in a series of interactive lectures, expert-led discussions, and visits to key legal institutions, including the Court of Cassation, Paris Police Station, and Council of State. The training focused not only on understanding the structural organisation of the French justice system, but also on its core values such as judicial independence, impartiality, and accessibility.
The topics of discussion during the study tour covered a wide range of judicial areas, including the fundamental principles of civil justice and fair trial right; the criminal chain involving police services and prosecution; the role of the investigating judge in addressing unresolved cases; and the responsibilities of the Judge of Freedoms and Detention. Other sessions examined the application of sentences, the work of children’s judges, international child abduction and cross-border protection of minors, seizure of criminal assets through AGRASC (the Agency for the Management and Recovery of Seized and Confiscated Assets), criminal policy responses to domestic violence, the functions of family court judges, and the contribution of liaison magistrates as actors in international legal assistance.
These exchanges with French and foreign judges gave participants a comparative view of how systemic constraints affect justice delivery across countries and underscored the importance of sufficient judicial resources for timely case resolution. French practitioners noted that in France, the pace of judicial proceedings can also be affected by limited resources and the high number of cases, showing that such challenges are not unique to one system.
Upon returning to Vientiane, the Lao delegation organised a dissemination session to share key takeaways with their peers and institutional leaders. The participants emphasised that the exposure to different models of judicial organisation and training helped them identify practical entry points for enhancing Lao PDR’s justice system, particularly in areas such as court and prosecution efficiency in judicial processes.
JuSTICE Project’s broader goal of promoting professionalism, accessibility, and international cooperation within Lao PDR’s justice sector, specifically in partnership with ENM. By investing in knowledge exchange and comparative learning, the Project continues to support long-term legal reform that is grounded in international standards and adapted to the Lao context.
