Vang Vieng, 9-10 October 2025 – The People’s Supreme Court of Lao PDR with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) convened the Judicial Leadership Colloquium for Women Judges in Lao PDR. The two-day event brought together 35 women judges from across Lao PDR, including Chief Judges, senior judges, and officials of the People’s Supreme Court. 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 is part of the UNDP regional project, entitled “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 exchange, enhancing institutional reforms to advance gender equality and women’s leadership within the judiciary. 

Lao PDR is making progress toward women's representation in the judiciary, with women now accounting for 30.72% of judges nationwide and 38.37% of positions at the People’s Supreme Court. However, women remain underrepresented in leadership roles, holding only 2 out of 15 Director-General positions and 8 out of 23 Deputy Director-General positions.  

The 2024 Gender Audit of the People’s Supreme Court, supported by UNDP, highlighted institutional barriers, including limited mentorship opportunities, insufficient training opportunities on gender bias in judicial decision-making, gender-responsive adjudication, and leadership development for women judges, as well as the need for stronger gender accountability mechanisms. 

In his opening remarks, H.E. Bounkhoang Thavisack, Vice President of the People’s Supreme Court of Lao PDR, shared that “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, UNDP Lao PDR, highlighted that “Women’s representation and leadership in the judiciary are vital for building a justice system that reflects societal diversity, strengthens gender-sensitive decision-making, enhances public trust, and delivers fair, people-centered justice for all.” 

The Colloquium provided a platform for women judges to reflect on these challenges and to develop practical leadership skills. 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.  

Gender equality is central to UNDP’s governance and rule of law work. Through partnerships with the National Assembly, judiciary, and government agencies, UNDP supports women’s leadership and gender-responsive policymaking, ensuring institutions serve all equally. These efforts align with the People’s Supreme Court’s strategic plans and the Sustainable Development Goals, 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 of Lao PDR and UNDP Lao PDR, with technical support from the UNDP Asia-Pacific Regional Hub and collaboration with regional partners. 

Media Contact: 

Armaan Khan, Rule of Law and Access to Justice Officer, Armaan.khan@undp.org 

About UNDP: 

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