USAID Laos Legal Aid Support Activity Quarterly Report Third Quarter – April 1 to June 30, 2019

It is being implemented by The Asia Foundation (TAF) in Laos. The program aims to promote the rule of law in Laos through fairer, more consistent, and more transparent delivery of justice according to the law, inclusive of women, the poor, and traditionally underserved populations. The program's goal will be addressed through a set of mutually reinforcing activities under three objectives. Objective 1 focuses on increasing the capacity of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and its legal aid services. This includes supporting MOJ Legal Aid Offices in four provinces to provide 25 legal aid services during the reporting period. TAF also worked with the National University of Laos to organize the 2nd Mock trial competition, which involved eight teams of law students from the Faculty of Law and Political Science. Under Objective 2, TAF negotiated a subaward of $33,000 to the Association for Development of Women and Legal Education (ADWLE) for the project "Promotion of gender equality and access to justice." ADWLE will set up the Women's Assistance and Counselling Unit at Chommany village, Saysettha district, Vientiane capital, where women can come to talk with ADWLE lawyers for advice or to seek legal representation. TAF also continued to support the Bridges Across Borders Southeast Asia Community Legal Education Initiative (BABSEACLE) to strengthen and expand Clinical Legal Education (CLE) at the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the National University of Laos and to establish CLE at Champassak University. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Justice continued to be delayed, with the new version submitted to the MOJ in May 2019. The Gender and Social Inclusion Analysis (GSIA) field work was completed, and the draft report was submitted to TAF during this quarter. TAF's existing office, programs, and cost share contribution enabled the Legal Aid Support Program to achieve notable results during this first quarter. The program also continued working with the Law Dissemination Department of MOJ to develop a comprehensive series of user-friendly Know Your Rights factsheets on various aspects of the law. At the request of the MOJ, TAF commenced developing a further Know Your Rights package on human trafficking. No activities were conducted under Objective 3 during this reporting period. The program's activities are focused on building the capacity of the MOJ and its legal aid services, promoting gender equality and access to justice, and increasing sensitivity to the rights and empowerment of marginalized groups, including women, in law-related professions. The program's goal is to promote the rule of law in Laos through fairer, more consistent, and more transparent delivery of justice according to the law, inclusive of women, the poor, and traditionally underserved populations. The program's implementation is ongoing, with a focus on achieving the objectives outlined in the program's goals. The program's activities are being implemented in four provinces, with a focus on providing legal aid services, promoting gender equality and access to justice, and increasing sensitivity to the rights and empowerment of marginalized groups, including women, in law-related professions. The program's progress is being monitored and evaluated through a set of indicators and benchmarks. The program's monitoring and evaluation framework is designed to track progress towards the program's goals and objectives, and to identify areas for improvement. The program's evaluation will be conducted on a regular basis, with a focus on assessing the program's impact and effectiveness in achieving its goals. The program's activities are being implemented in collaboration with a range of stakeholders, including the MOJ, the Lao Bar Association, the courts, and prosecutors. The program's partnership with these stakeholders is critical to achieving the program's goals and objectives, and to promoting the rule of law in Laos. The program's budget for the reporting period was $1.2 million, with a focus on supporting the program's activities and achieving its objectives. The program's budget is being managed in accordance with USAID's financial regulations and guidelines, with a focus on ensuring transparency and accountability. The program's reporting period is from April 1 to June 30, 2019. The program's next reporting period will be from July 1 to September 30, 2019. The program's progress will be reported on a regular basis, with a focus on assessing the program's impact and effectiveness in achieving its goals.