5th Australia-Lao PDR 2017 Human Rights Dialogue: Civil Society Consultation
The Law Council of Australia thanks the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) for the opportunity to engage in the Civil Society Consultation on 7 June 2017, and to provide a written submission ahead of the 5th Australia-Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) Human Rights Dialogue (the Dialogue), scheduled to be held in Vientiane in July 2017.
The Law Council considers that such opportunities allow the Government to seek valuable feedback from civil society, and hopes that the concerns of the Law Council and other organisations are raised at the Dialogue and through the Australian Government’s ongoing human rights discussions with the Government of the Lao PDR. The Law Council’s comments in this submission will focus on the independence of the judiciary and legal profession, death penalty, international law obligations, women’s rights, freedom of association, expression and assembly, enforced disappearances, people trafficking, and the rights of minorities and ethnic groups.
You can read the full submission below.