[Tlc] L-Bar association

[justinm at ucr.edu]

FYI.
Best,
justin

Asia Foundation grants Lao Bar Association

(KPL) The Lao Bar Association has received a grant of almost 5
billion kip (US$ 500,000) from the Asia Foundation to improve
the public access to justice system of the Lao PDR on Tuesday.
The hand-over ceremony was performed between the Country
Representative of the Asia Foundation,
Dr. James Klein, and the President of the Lao Bar Association,
Mr. Phoumy Si-oudomphanh.
It was also witnessed by Minister of Justice, Mr. Chaleun
Yiapaoheu, along with the representatives of the United
Nations Programme and various organisations and concerned
authorities.
The grant is badly needed especially among people in remote
areas where awareness on justice system is rarely promoted and
it is hard for the officials to help these people improve
their living condition.
The grant is a pilot project of the Asia Foundation indicated
in its successful post-tsunami legal aid program and is
designed for a particular circumstances and needs of Laos. It
will improve the access
to justice system and the rule of law of Lao ethnic people,
especially the most vulnerable and marginalised groups across
the country.
“Most Lao citizens can’t afford on lawyers although they
recognize that they face legal problems; particularly those in
remote areas. The LBA therefore needs both provincial legal
clinics and mobile clinics to ensure that all citizens have
access to justice,” said Dr. James Klein.
Another core element of this project is to enhance the
institutional capacity of the LBA. In order for the
Bar to conduct the legal aid program effectively and
efficiently, the Asia Foundation will provide technical
support and adaptation of best practices from relevant legal
aid projects in other countries. Support will include
establishing efficient methodology to conduct legal surveys
and expertise in program management.
“The project will also train volunteers from different parts
of Laos on basic legal procedures and systems. Although they
will not become lawyers, they will have a practical
understanding of the legal system in Laos and, perhaps most
importantly, know how to access help,” said Mr. Phoumy
Sioudomphanh.
“Therefore, even this program ends, communities throughout the
country will still have a valuable resource –a community-based
advocate so that they are able to help themselves long into
the future,
” he added.
The Asia Foundation has a long history in the Lao PDR,
maintaining an office in Vientiane from 1958
to 1975. The Foundation’s current program in Laos, managed by
its Bangkok office, was launched in 1989.
The Lao Bar Association (LBA) is a professional organisation
that represents lawyers in the Lao
PDR. It was established to clarify the organization of
lawyers, their training and qualifications, and the rights and
responsibilities of lawyers in this country. It has both male
and female lawyer members. Decree 64 Pertaining to the
Organisation and Operation of the Bar Association of the Lao
PDR was signed and took effect on February 21, 1996.

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
2617 Humanities Building
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu