Lack of legal knowledge still an obstacle to justice
The lack of knowledge concerning legal matters remains the main obstacle to accessing justice for Lao people, especially for people living in remote areas.
This issue is detailed in a report released yesterday by the Lao Bar Association (LBA) based on a survey on people's perspectives on access to justice.
“The main obstacle is a lack of legal awareness. The people, and people in remote areas in particular, do not know what the police, lawyers, and defence lawyers are for,” said LBA Vice President Mr Viengsavanh Phanthaly at a ceremony to launch the report.
As part of a broader legal sector reform programme, LBA and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) conducted a survey to learn about people's knowledge of, interaction with, and perceptions of justice and the justice system.
The survey was conducted in four provinces: Oudomxay, Vientiane, Xekong and Khammuan, covering 24 villages in 8 districts.
The 600 respondents were drawn from a cross-section of Lao society.
The survey used quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (real-life example) data to examine people's perceptions of the laws and judicial institutions.
The best known mechanism of justice was the customary system. 78.7 percent of respondents were aware of the possibility of recourse to this system. This was followed by village mediation, at 72.2 percent awareness.
The report reiterates that access to justice is critical for achieving development goals, including the 7th National Socio-Economic Development Plan and the Millennium Development Goals.
“It is vital to ensure that Lao people of all ethnicities, especially the poor in remote areas, vulnerable people, women and children, are able to practise their legal rights fully and have access to justice under the law,” said LBA President Mr Ounheuan Kenepaseuth.
The Lao government has drafted a legal sector master plan, which is based on four pillars of the legal system: the framework of laws, decrees, and regulations, the institutions that implement the legal framework, the means for educating the public and officials on the use of the system, and the means for ensuring that all laws and regulations are accessible to both government bodies and citizens.
“Equitable and sustainable growth can only be attained if the rights of ordinary citizens, including poor and disadvantaged groups, are actively ensured and protected. Access to justice is a key pillar in this regard,” said UNDP Assistant Resident Representative Mr Dirk Wagener.
Realising this goal will support the country's ambitious development plans, including graduation from least developed country status, he added.
