Exporting the Rule of Law From Laos to Ukraine – JAPAN Forward

Report on Japan’s Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals in Laos Through Legal System Enhancement

Introduction

This report details Japan’s long-term Official Development Assistance (ODA) to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, with a specific focus on its contributions to the nation’s judicial system. The initiatives, primarily facilitated by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), align directly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Fostering Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16)

Japan’s assistance has been instrumental in building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions in Laos. This long-standing cooperation, which began in 1998, is designed to promote the rule of law at national levels, a core target of SDG 16.

Strategic Interventions for Institutional Capacity Building

The partnership has yielded significant advancements in the Laotian legal framework and the capacity of its legal professionals. Bounkhouang Thavisack, Vice President of the People’s Supreme Court of Laos, affirmed that Japan’s steady help has been crucial for this progress.

• Expert Dispatch: JICA has consistently dispatched experienced lawyers and prosecutors to Laos to assist in resolving legal inconsistencies and strengthening the skills of local professionals.
• Educational Frameworks: The National Institute of Justice in Laos, responsible for training legal professionals, was modeled after its Japanese counterpart.
• Legislative Reform: The revised Civil Procedure Code, finalized in 2024, incorporates Japanese legal concepts such as “claimable rights” to facilitate more appropriate and just judicial decisions.
• Judicial Structure Reform: Laotian officials, including Vice President Thavisack, have drawn on Japan’s tiered court structure to reform their own judiciary.

Developing Legal Resources and Promoting the Rule of Law

A key component of strengthening institutions is the creation of accessible and comprehensive legal resources. Japan’s support has led to the development of vital legal texts that promote consistent application of the law.

1. Civil Code Commentary: An article-by-article commentary on the Civil Code was developed, explaining each provision through practical case studies.
2. Criminal Law Textbooks: A textbook outlining the general principles of criminal law was created to standardize the theories applied to various crimes.

As noted by JICA lawyer Akitaka Azanbo, fostering a mindset rooted in the rule of law can improve governance across the country and prevent shifts toward extreme authoritarianism, directly contributing to SDG 16’s goal of creating stable and just societies.

Global Partnerships for the Goals (SDG 17)

The Japan-Laos relationship exemplifies a successful global partnership for sustainable development. For nearly 60 years, Japan has provided continuous support, establishing a relationship built on trust and mutual understanding, which is fundamental to achieving SDG 17.

A Collaborative and Needs-Based Approach

Japan’s methodology contrasts with other international aid models by prioritizing local needs and long-term sustainability over short-term results.

• Stakeholder Consultation: Japanese experts engage in close consultation with local stakeholders to provide solutions that are tailored to Laos’s specific context and needs.
• Respect for Local Systems: While addressing challenges such as inconsistent legal interpretations in Laos’s “village mediation” system, Japanese advisors have prioritized local preferences rather than imposing external perspectives. The ultimate goal is to foster a legal system and personnel that serve Laos’s best interests.

Expanding Judicial Diplomacy for Global Impact

Japan’s “judicial diplomacy” extends beyond Laos, representing a significant contribution to global partnerships and the promotion of the rule of law worldwide.

• Global Reach: Since beginning with Vietnam in 1996, Japan’s assistance for legal reform has expanded to 29 countries, including Cambodia, Myanmar, Uzbekistan, and several African nations.
• Adapting to New Challenges: In 2025, the initiative expanded to include Ukraine, with a focus on combating corruption.
• Promoting Universal Principles: This approach effectively “exports” the rule of law, a concept emphasizing common rules applicable to all, which is often more readily accepted by developing nations than the imposition of specific Western values.

Conclusion: Advancing Good Governance and Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10 & 16)

Japan’s steadfast commitment to enhancing the legal system in Laos serves as a powerful model for achieving sustainable development. By strengthening the rule of law, this partnership directly supports the creation of effective and accountable institutions (SDG 16) and promotes equal access to justice for all, a key target for reducing inequalities (SDG 10). In a global landscape marked by rising authoritarianism, Japan’s role in fostering good governance through judicial diplomacy is a critical contribution to international stability and the successful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
   • The article’s primary focus is on Japan’s assistance in strengthening Laos’s judicial system, developing its legal framework, and promoting the rule of law. This directly relates to building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels, which is the core mission of SDG 16. The text highlights efforts to reform the judiciary, create legal codes (like the revised Civil Procedure Code), and train legal professionals, all of which contribute to establishing peace and justice.
2. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The entire initiative described is a partnership between a developed country (Japan) and developing countries (Laos, Vietnam, Ukraine, and others). The article details Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) and the role of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in providing long-term support, sharing knowledge, and building capacity. This exemplifies the international cooperation and multi-stakeholder partnerships that SDG 17 aims to foster for sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
   • The article is a case study of this target. Japan is described as “‘exporting’ the rule of law” to Laos. Specific actions mentioned include helping “advance the necessary legal framework,” reforming the judiciary based on Japan’s tiered court structure, and revising the Civil Procedure Code to ensure “more appropriate judicial decisions.”
2. Target 16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.
   • This target is explicitly mentioned in the context of Japan’s expanding legal assistance. The article states, “In 2025, Ukraine also became a focus, with efforts underway to combat corruption.” This shows that the initiative directly addresses anti-corruption measures.
3. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
   • The support provided by Japan aims to build a more effective and accountable judicial system in Laos. The article notes the creation of institutions like the “National Institute of Justice” for training legal professionals and the overall goal of improving “governance across the entire country.”
4. Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries.
   • The partnership between Japan and Laos is a clear example of international cooperation to strengthen national institutions. JICA’s role in dispatching lawyers and prosecutors “to strengthen the capabilities of local legal professionals” and supporting the education of officials like Bounkhouang Thavisack directly contributes to this target.
5. Target 17.9: Enhance international support for implementing effective and targeted capacity-building in developing countries.
   • The article describes a comprehensive capacity-building program. This includes JICA dispatching experts, training Laotian legal professionals in Japan (e.g., Thavisack studying at Nagoya University), and developing educational materials like “an article-by-article commentary on the Civil Code” and a “criminal law textbook” to foster a self-sustaining legal system.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Development and revision of legal frameworks.
   • The article explicitly mentions the finalization of the “revised Civil Procedure Code” in 2024, which “adopts concepts like ‘claimable rights’ from Japan.” This is a tangible output that serves as an indicator of progress in establishing the rule of law (Target 16.3).
2. Establishment of new institutions and institutional reforms.
   • The creation of the “National Institute of Justice” modeled after its Japanese counterpart is a clear indicator of building institutional capacity (Target 16.6). Additionally, the reform of Laos’s judiciary to include a “tiered court structure” is another measurable outcome.
3. Number of trained personnel and capacity-building programs.
   • The article implies progress through the training of legal professionals. It mentions that the Vice President of the People’s Supreme Court himself “studied at Nagoya University’s Graduate School through a JICA program.” The dispatch of “lawyers and prosecutors” by JICA is another indicator of capacity-building efforts (Target 16.a and 17.9).
4. Creation of legal and educational materials.
   • The development of “numerous legal texts and related publications,” such as a “commentary on the Civil Code” and a “criminal law textbook,” serves as an indicator of knowledge transfer and the creation of sustainable resources for the local legal system (Target 17.9).
5. Geographic expansion of assistance programs.
   • The article notes that “Japan’s assistance for legal reform has expanded in a total of 29 countries,” including Vietnam, Cambodia, and Ukraine. This expansion is an indicator of the scale and perceived success of the partnership model for promoting the rule of law (Target 17.9).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: japan-forward.com