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16 January 2007
Australian Government and the Lao Bar Association work together to promote human rights
The Australian Government today made a human rights grant of 70,000 Australian dollars to the Lao Bar Association in support of its public legal education campaign.
The Australian Government has been a long-standing supporter of practical human rights initiatives in Lao PDR and elsewhere. The Lao Bar Association is one of twelve Bar Associations in the Asia Pacific region to receive funding from the Australian government under the Human Rights Small Grants Scheme.
The Australian Government also supported the Lao Bar Association and representatives of the Lao Government to attend a human rights study tour in Australia in mid 2006. The study tour was preparation for the inaugural Human Rights Dialogue held between Australia and Laos in Vientiane last October. The Australian Government also provides funding for an Australian lawyer to assist the Lao Bar Association with its programs, including its legal aid program and the public legal education program. This latest collaboration will allow the Lao Bar Association to share its knowledge about human rights with the Lao people.
Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Teresa Gambaro said on announcing the grants, ‘These projects aim to protect and promote human rights at the community level and make tangible improvements to people's lives’.
Mr Phoumy Sioudomphanh, President of the Lao Bar Association, agrees, ‘The Australian Government has been a strong supporter of the Lao Bar Association for some time’ he said. ‘We are very grateful to the Australian Government for this support, and especially for this new opportunity, which will allow us to teach Lao people about their human rights. This public legal education may assist Lao people to enjoy their human rights, such as access to education and health, and an opportunity to participate in public life. This will help to break the cycle of poverty and to help Lao become a developed country.'
‘Together, we can make a difference’.