BAB SE Asia Community Legal Education Program
Works with Universities and the UNODC to Combat Trafficking in Laos

BAB SE Asia is excited about the expansion of its Community Legal Education Program in conjunction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The program is being implemented by BAB SE Asia’s partners the National University of Laos, Faculty of Law and Political Science. The program, which is currently based in Vientiane, will begin to expand to law programs located in Luang Prabang and Savannakhet.

In furtherance of this program, BAB SE Asia recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the UNODC, which complements a previously signed MOU between BABSEA and the FLP.

One aspect of this program is to assist the UNODC in Laos PDR in its commitment to fight human trafficking. Since 2006 the UNODC has implemented a project titled ‘Strengthening of the legal and law enforcement institutions to prevent and combat human trafficking’. It is estimated that between 200,000 and 450,000 people are trafficked each year within the Greater Mekong Region. This occurs due to the desire of people to seek a better future in a more prosperous region and makes them vulnerable to exploitation from employers and other people they would normally trust.

FLP Vice Dean, Mr Viengvilay Khiengchanxay said an additional feature of the program is to help teachers develop more interactive teaching methods, acting more as tutors or facilitators. Students will undertake practical work in their final year, educating communities about the law and how it is applied. The focus is on the practical application of the law within a community context. This empowers people to obey the law and to protect their rights.

Mr. Bruce A. Lasky, BAB SE Asia Director of the Community Legal Education Initiative Program said he was delighted at the speed at which the CLE program at the FLP has developed and joined the strong network of universities which were now involved in these fundamental aspects of bringing the law to the people. Mr. Lasky stressed that this program also encourages and assists students training to be lawyers interested in further social justice ideals.

The memorandum was signed in presence of Mr. Kiettisack (Vice-Minister of Justice), Ms. Anne Kullman (1st Secretary Embassy of Sweden), Mr. Bruce Lasky (Co-founder and Director, BAB), Mr. Erik Haggqvist (CTA, FLP), Mr. Khamsone ( Dean, FLP), Mr. Viengvilay (Deputy Director, CLE Program), Mr. Leik Boonwaat ( Representative, UNODC), Ms Pascale Claren (Project Coordinator, UNODC), Mr. Richard Philippart (Governance, Human Security, Rule of Law Advisor, UNODC).

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