Laos

Introduction

WFD has been working in Laos since 2016, partnering with the National (NA) and Provincial People’s Assemblies (PPA) to strengthen core parliamentary mandates including legislative, oversight and representative functions through a gender lens.

WFD tailors its work to the needs of the NA and PPAs with technical support provided to parliamentary committees, aiming to enable MPs and staff to exercise their power and perform their roles more effectively and efficiently. This will allow better respond to the needs and protect the rights of the citizens.

WFD has been working in synergies with local partners and international organizations to enhance accountable and participatory governance in Laos.

Context

The National Assembly of Laos PDR operates a one-party state system. The Assembly oversees the Executive, takes decisions on matters of public importance (including legislation) and represents the people of the country. Every five years, members are elected using a list-based system. In December 2015, constitutional reform broadened the National Assembly’s representative reach at the provincial level with the establishment of 18 People’s Provincial Assemblies. This reform demonstrates a willingness to exercise its core mandate in ways that align with international norms of democratic transparency, accountability and representation.

Improving citizen representation

WFD is providing technical advice based on the experience of similar UK democratic institutions (House of Commons, devolved assemblies, Ombudsman office) and WFD’s partner parliaments in other countries who are responsible for responding to public complaints. For example, the UK House of Commons and representatives from Indonesia shared lessons on handling public petitions in June 2017. By sharing a range of examples on different approaches and practices adopted to ensure citizens’ complaints are addressed more systematically within targeted timeframes, the programme will help defend citizens’ interests in the governance of Lao PDR.

Engaging essential stakeholders

Improving understanding of the role of the Justice Committee between members at the national and provincial levels across the country on committee mandates, the Law on petitions, coordination mechanisms as well as effective oversight system and procedures is also taking place. Agreement on oversight systems, public petition handling mechanisms, standard petition forms and templates to be used by the Justice Committee was supported by essential stakeholders (People’s Supreme Court, People’s Prosecutor Office, Ministry of Justice, State Inspection Authorities, State Audit Organisation) contributing to the sustainability of our work.

Key Themes

(Pre and Post) Legislative Scrutiny

Petition Handling

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Women's Political Leadership

Financial accountability including gender-responsive budgeting (GRB)

Current programmes

Strengthening parliamentary oversight and promoting women’s political leadership in Laos

With funding from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and with the support from The Asia Foundation (TAF) Lao PDR, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) is implementing the "Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight and Promoting Women's Political Leadership in Laos" project.

Through this project, WFD aims to enhance the oversight and representative functions of the National Assembly and Provincial People's Assemblies (PPAs). The focus has been on specific parliamentary practices, such as legislative scrutiny, with particular emphasis on post-legislative scrutiny (PLS).

Additionally, the program addresses the need to increase the capacity and number of women representatives at the national level, aiming to create a more enabling environment for women to enter politics and build their capacity to reach and maintain leadership positions.

Status

Underway

Start date

February 2024

Planned end date

December 2024

Advancing equal societies through women’s political leadership and participation in ASEAN Phase II

Across the ASEAN region, women remain underrepresented in political life. The regional research - "Women's Political Leadership in the ASEAN Region" - undertaken during Phase I of this project elucidated the barriers that women face in their pursuit of political leadership in Southeast Asia. The Phase II of the project proposes to build upon the learning, and leverage the relationships, networks, and knowledge developed in Phase I.

The phase II aims to deliver a systematic and methodical response to Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWP) and support an improved uptake of interventions and inclusive practices and processes that address structural and institutional barriers to Women's Political Leadership (WPL) among political actors. The project will contribute to improved equality and enjoyment of fundamental human rights by enabling women leaders in ASEAN countries to exercise and sustain political careers safely and with influence at regional and national levels.

Status

Underway

Start date

September 2023

Planned end date

February 2025

Previous programmes

Supporting the Justice Committee in Laos

Status

Completed

Key results

Supported the law committee to conduct a public consultation on a Gender Equality bill, which was adopted and promulgated in 2020

Provided technical support to the Justice Committee on improving and amending law on petitions to better respond to citizens’ needs and concerns

Assisted the Law Committee to develop manual on post-legislative scrutiny (PLS), which is utilised across the National Assembly and adapted by the Provincial People’s Assemblies

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Engaged Lao women MPs and staff in ASEAN regional conferences to tackle barriers, promote and create an enabling environment for women’s political leadership and participation.