Strengthening legislative synergy: National Assembly leads workshop on law drafting coordination

A two-day coordination workshop on law drafting and amendment mechanisms between relevant sectors was successfully held in Vang Vieng, bringing together key legislative and executive institutions to enhance collaboration in the development, review and promulgation of laws in the Lao PDR. Dr Reginald PASTRANA, senior sectoral adviser of the Rule of law, access to justice and good governance (ROLAG) programme, took part in the event and shared valuable insights.

The workshop was chaired by Prof. Dr Chaleun YIAPAOHER, member of the Party Central Committee and vice president of the National Assembly. Distinguished participants included Mr Khamphaeng VILAPHANH, president of the Law Committee of the National Assembly; vice presidents of the Law Committee; the vice minister of Justice; heads of the Presidential Office and the Prime Minister’s Office; legal advisers to the National Assembly Standing Committee; and senior officials engaged in legislative drafting and amendment processes across government sectors.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr Chaleun YIAPAOHER highlighted that the workshop sought to draw lessons from the practical implementation of institutional mandates and responsibilities in law formulation and revision. He underscored the importance of strengthened coordination and harmonisation among the National Assembly, ministries and related bodies to ensure legislative consistency, efficiency and quality. He also emphasised that exchanging best practices contributes significantly to enhancing the technical expertise and policy understanding of officials involved in legislative development and legal reform.

A key highlight of the event was a presentation by Dr Reginald PASTRANA, senior sectoral adviser of the ROLAG programme, implemented by LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency. Dr PASTRANA shared comparative experiences and good practices from ASEAN, focusing on institutional mechanisms that promote inclusive, transparent and well-coordinated legislative processes.

The workshop provided a platform for participants to exchange insights and institutional experiences on challenges in law drafting, coordination among government agencies, and the procedures for legislative review. Discussions also explored the supporting roles of government institutions in assisting the National Assembly Standing Committee and the President in promulgating laws, reinforcing the quality and procedural coherence of the legislative process.

The event concluded with a strong collective commitment from all participating agencies to foster inter-institutional collaboration, enhance communication, and build the technical capacity of legislative drafters and legal officers. The workshop marked another significant step towards advancing legal reform and strengthening the rule of law in the Lao PDR.

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