LAWASIA, a regional association, has championed the interests of the Asia Pacific legal profession for over fifty years. With a mission to encourage regional interaction, provide a voice for legal communities, and promote the rule of law and human rights, LAWASIA operates as a platform for cross-jurisdictional legal knowledge exchange. Comprising lawyers, judges, jurists, and legal organizations from 40 jurisdictions, LAWASIA fosters collaboration and aims to strengthen relations among law associations, lawyers, the private sector, and government representatives in the Asia Pacific.
Objectives
LAWASIA’s objectives include promoting the administration of justice, advancing legal education, encouraging communication between members, enhancing legal practices, promoting the development of the law, fostering international understanding, and upholding the status of the legal profession. The organization seeks to achieve these goals through activities spanning diverse political, social, cultural, and economic contexts in the Asia-Pacific region.
Initiatives and Impact
LAWASIA engages in various initiatives, including holding conferences, issuing resolutions and declarations, and addressing human rights concerns. The organization actively supports the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and releases statements of concern about challenges to human rights and the rule of law. LAWASIA’s structure, governed by the LAWASIA Council, includes representatives from peak legal bodies within the United Nations ESCAP region.
Professional Events Program
LAWASIA organizes legal conferences, seminars, and meetings, fostering professional development, regional networking, and knowledge exchange. These events cover generalist and specialized areas of law, addressing issues such as family law, children’s rights, employment law, intellectual property, and human rights. The annual conference, LAWASIA’s flagship event, serves as a platform for bar leaders, jurists, and lawyers to discuss regional legal developments, share ideas, and advocate for the rule of law.
Biennial Conference of Chief Justices
Every second year, LAWASIA’s annual conference coincides with the biennial Conference of Chief Justices of Asia and the Pacific. This event, a significant achievement of LAWASIA’s Judicial Section, provides leaders of the regional judiciary with an opportunity to collaborate on current issues and foster a cohesive legal framework in the Asia Pacific.
In summary, LAWASIA plays a crucial role in advocating for legal interests, fostering collaboration, and promoting the rule of law across the Asia-Pacific region.
