The JuSTICE Project supported on 19 November 2024 a 2nd Dissemination Meeting on Lao PDR’s Law and Justice Cooperation in Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN). The meetings was organised by the Department of International Cooperation (DIC) of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ). It aimed to build on the outcomes of the previous session by creating a platform for stakeholders to exchange legal information and strengthen cooperation among ASEAN countries.
The meeting was chaired by H.E. Ketsana Phommachanh, Vice Minister of Justice, and attended by representatives from various key offices and institutions. These included the Centre of Economic Dispute Resolutions (CEDR), the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the Lao Bar Association (LBA), the Office of the Supreme People’s Prosecutor (OSPP), the People’s Supreme Court (PSC), and several ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), Ministry of Public Security (MOPS), and Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC). Representatives from ASEAN member states’ embassies and the Department of International Cooperation were also present. The meeting sought not only to disseminate legal updates but also to develop mechanisms for justice and legal cooperation, conduct comparative legal research among ASEAN member states, and present key areas for discussion. This effort was designed to enhance participants’ understanding of Lao PDR’s role in ASEAN’s legal and justice cooperation framework.
During the meeting, participants reviewed and discussed several important topics. These included Lao PDR’s achievements as ASEAN Chair during the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and its contributions to ASEAN in legal and justice cooperation. Lessons learned from the Office of the Supreme People’s Prosecutor, specifically in managing extradition processes, were also shared. Furthermore, the proposed establishment of the ASEAN Law Association of Lao PDR was presented by representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the Supreme People’s Prosecutor, and the People’s Supreme Court.
The discussions provided a platform for participants to successfully facilitated the exchange comments and insights on key issues, leading to tangible progress in the sharing of the legal information. The meeting’s outcomes included concrete steps toward the development of a robust justice cooperation mechanism within ASEAN member countries and a firmed agreement on enhancing collaboration for effective implementation of regional initiatives. The achievement marks as a Lao PDR’s significant role in strengthening ASEAN’s legal and justice landscape.
