As an important step towards promoting access to justice, the Rule of Law, Access to Justice and Good Governance Programme (ROLAG), funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, supported the Department of Justice Administration and Promotion, Ministry of Justice, in organizing a Training of Trainers (ToT) on Legal Aid from 28 July to 1 August 2025 in Vientiane Province.

The Department of Justice Administration and Promotion, Ministry of Justice, has established and oversees the management of Legal Aid Offices in all provinces across the country. Significant progress has been made in strengthening these offices to provide free legal aid services to the public. However, ensuring the quality of training for legal aid personnel remains a challenge, particularly in extending services to remote and hard-to-reach communities.

The Training of Trainers programme focused on strengthening the capacity of both newly appointed and experienced trainers in key areas, including gender equality, gender-based violence (GBV), human trafficking, legal aid service delivery, and case management. In addition to enhancing technical knowledge and skills, the programme aimed to reinforce trainers' commitment to justice, the protection of vulnerable groups, and effective representation of disadvantaged populations.

Upon completion of the training, the trainers will deliver follow-up training to Legal Aid Officers in the target provinces and districts supported by the ROLAG Programme. This initiative is intended to strengthen professional skills and ensure the sustainable delivery of legal aid services throughout the country.

This initiative represents an important investment in ensuring that legal aid services in the Lao People's Democratic Republic are accessible, effective, and responsive to the needs of the public, particularly disadvantaged and underserved communities.