Provincial assemblies boost transparency through Official Gazette training

To strengthen transparency and improve public access to laws, the Rule of law, access to justice, and good governance (ROLAG) programme joined forces with the Lao Ministry of Justice’s Law Dissemination Department to deliver a practical training on Official Gazette operations. The workshop equipped provincial focal points with the skills to ensure timely, accurate publication of legal instruments — a key step towards advancing accountability and good governance across the Lao PDR.

Focal points from six northern provincial people’s assemblies (Phongsaly, Luang Namtha, Bokeo, Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, and Xayaboury provinces) convened in Keo Oudom District, Vientiane Province, for the event, which brought together over 30 participants from the National Assembly, provincial people’s assemblies, and the Ministry of Justice.

Co-chaired by Ms Sisouda SOPHAVANDY, director general of the Law Dissemination Department, and Mr Khamphone SIPASERTH, director general of the International Cooperation Department, the workshop emphasised the importance of timely and accurate publication of legal instruments.

The training covered uploading and cataloguing official documents, identifying missing legal instruments, and improving the accuracy and timeliness of publications on the Lao Official Gazette system. Participants also practised using the Official Gazette website and Lao Law mobile app to access and manage legal information.

By the end of the workshop, participants reported stronger technical and practical skills to ensure provincial legal instruments are published promptly, accurately and accessibly — advancing transparency, accountability and good governance across the provinces.

The ROLAG programme is financed by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and jointly implemented by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education and Sports, LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, ILSTA and the University of Luxembourg.