Rule of law, access to justice and good governance

Context

The past five years have seen a significant strengthening of the legislative framework in Lao PDR, with a number of key laws being adopted or revised. At the policy level, with the expiration of the Legal Sector Master Plan in 2020, the focus has increasingly shifted from law-making to law implementation, including mechanisms to strengthen accountability in public institutions. 

The Lao justice system still faces several challenges, including a lack of capacity, a need for greater oversight of the justice system, limited access to legal information and advice, insufficient systematic and reliable data collection and analysis, and a need for stronger oversight of government institutions.

Furthermore, legal education and research remain in need of continued and effective capacity strengthening, to ensure that graduates have the qualifications necessary to contribute to overcoming these challenges, and to ensure that policy-making can be informed by evidence-based analysis.

Objectives

The Rule of law, access to justice and good governance (ROLAG) programme aims to enhance the rule of law, enabling access to justice and good governance for the realisation of Lao people’s rights. Previous Luxembourg-funded programmes have delivered concrete results in the gradual process of improving the legal sector in Lao PDR. Based on these remarkable and tangible achievements, the ROLAG programme continues to support various aspects of the legal sector, including higher education and access to justice.

Beneficiaries

The programme benefits people living in the Lao PDR, particularly those residing in areas targeted by the intervention, with a particular focus on women, children, people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

Target geographical area

The ROLAG programme is implemented nationwide with a focus on the provinces of Vientiane, Bolikhamxay, Khammouane, Bokeo and Champasak, as well as Vientiane Capital. However, the emphasis is on strengthening the capacity of central Lao institutions and then supporting them in transferring this capacity throughout their systems to the provincial and district levels.

Stakeholders

The ROLAG programme is financed by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and jointly implemented by the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ministry of Justice, LuxDev – the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, the Institute for Legal Support and Technical Assistance (ILSTA) and the University of Luxembourg.