VIENTIANE, LAO PDR—U.S. Ambassador to Laos Dr. Peter M. Haymond presented scholarships to 18 female law graduates at a ceremony in Vientiane Capital on December 15 to attend a year-long professional legal training course at the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).  The event, held at the NIJ and attended by Vice Minister of Justice Mr. Bounsavath Boupha, Director General of the National Institute of Justice Mr. Bounta S.Phabmixay and more than 50 other representatives from the NIJ, Ministry of Justice, U.S. Embassy, private law firms, and development partners, demonstrates the United States’ continued support to the Lao PDR’s  justice sector and the Lao government’s work to build a rule of law state.

These scholarships, funded through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will provide financial support to help these women complete a year-long professional legal training course at the NIJ, which is a requirement for law graduates to become certified judges, lawyers or prosecutors.  The scholarships are aimed at encouraging more female law graduates to pursue these careers.

“This project demonstrates the United States’ determination, under the U.S.-Lao Comprehensive Partnership, to further improve the rule of law in the Lao PDR through increasing access to justice for all Lao people,” said Ambassador Haymond.  “The United States is proud to support the Lao PDR’s work in the justice sector and goal to develop into a stronger and more prosperous member of ASEAN.”

These scholarships are part of the work under the Legal Aid Support project, funded by the United States through USAID and implemented by the Asia Foundation.  The Legal Aid Support project helps advance the goals of the Lao PDR, as described in the Legal Sector Master Plan, to become a rule-of-law state.  The United States partners with the Lao PDR on a wide range of activities to improve health and education, facilitate trade and investment, assist vulnerable populations, and counter transnational crime.