The Land Issues Working Group (LIWG), in cooperation with relevant ministries, organizations, and the National University of Laos, last Friday launched the Legal Calendar 2017 featuring drawn pictures and legal content that communicates about work related to land and natural resources.

The calendar contains information on some policies and laws that are easy to understand and suitable for local people around the country.

“The calendar aims to raise public awareness of published regulations and laws of the Lao PDR on land, natural resources, and the environment and some basic rights of Lao citizens, thus helping reduce conflicts between local communities and foreign investors, especially those affected by land concession projects and other related issues,” said Ms Celestine Kroesschell, Country Director, Helvetas Swiss International Cooperation, who also doubles as Chair of the Land Issue Working Group (LIWG).

Ms Celestine said that the calendar could also promote the legitimate rights of Lao citizens as provided by effective regulations and laws of the Lao PDR, and it could be also used as a training tool to improve the knowledge of villagers and various stakeholders working at the grass-roots level on published regulations and laws of the Lao PDR.

Legal Calendar 2017 is one of the country’s legal communication tools featuring the content of the constitution, laws, decrees and guidelines regarding land, forests, natural resources, the environment and gender roles.  It aims to enable villagers to access such information, inform them of their legal protection and encourages them to get involved in development projects.

Each year the theme of the calendar is different in terms of which laws and policies are highlighted.

The Legal Calendar has been produced since 2009 by the Land Issues Working Group (LIWG) under the common goal of Lao CSOs and NGOs to provide information on laws, decrees, regulations, and policies related to land and natural resources.

Since the calendar is important, every year more organizations get involved and support production of the calendar.

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by Manythone Keolangsy

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