Facilitated by Ms. Francesca Del Mese, a judge and international lawyer from the United Kingdom, the Colloquium aimed to strengthen women judges' judicial leadership skills and their representation within the judiciary.

The Colloquium forms part of UNDP’s regional initiative titled “Shift Underway: Promoting Women’s Leadership in the Judiciary in Asia,” supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The project promotes regional dialogue and institutional reforms aimed at advancing gender equality and women’s leadership within the judiciary.

Lao PDR has made notable progress in increasing women’s representation in the judiciary. Women now account for 30.72% of judges nationwide and 38.37% of positions within the People’s Supreme Court. However, representation in leadership roles remains limited—women currently hold only 2 out of 15 Director-General positions and 8 out of 23 Deputy Director-General positions.

Findings from the 2024 Gender Audit of the People’s Supreme Court—supported by UNDP—identified key institutional barriers. These include limited mentorship, insufficient training on gender bias, and a need for gender-responsive adjudication and leadership development for women judges. The audit also highlighted the importance of establishing stronger gender accountability mechanisms.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Bounkhoang Thavisack, Vice President of the People’s Supreme Court, stated: “This initiative is a great opportunity for the courts in Lao PDR, especially our women judges, to learn from the experiences of other countries, particularly on leadership development and the establishment of women judges’ associations.”

Dao Xuan Lai, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP Lao PDR, emphasized that women's representation and leadership in the judiciary are crucial for building a justice system that reflects societal diversity, promotes gender-sensitive decision-making, enhances public trust, and delivers fair, people-centered justice for all.

The Colloquium served as a platform for women judges to reflect on challenges and build practical leadership skills. Sessions focused on leadership styles, ethical decision-making, effective judicial communication and strategies for wellbeing and resilience. Participants also engaged in Lao context-specific case study discussions, sharing approaches to overcoming professional and personal barriers.

Gender equality is a core priority in UNDP’s governance and rule of law programming. Through partnerships with the National Assembly, judiciary and government agencies, UNDP supports women’s leadership and gender-responsive policymaking, ensuring institutions are inclusive and equitable. These efforts align with the People’s Supreme Court’s strategic objectives and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

The Judicial Leadership Colloquium was jointly organized by the People’s Supreme Court and UNDP Lao PDR, with technical support from the UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Hub and collaboration with regional partners.

Ms. Del Mese led participants through interactive training sessions on judicial leadership, personal leadership styles, ethical decision-making, and institutional integrity. Through case studies and group discussions, participants explored ways to address gender discrimination, identified tools to overcome barriers, and worked on developing their unique leadership styles. Women judges also honed their communication skills and devised strategies for wellbeing and resilience, enabling them to perform their roles effectively and foster greater trust from the general public.

KPL