Lao PDR

With 49 officially recognized ethnic groups, Lao PDR is a multicultural and multiethnic society where customary law remains an integral part of people’s daily lives. Traditional, informal rules and practices have developed over centuries and are being followed by people within their ethnic groups, with a significant impact on ways of thinking and behaving. These informal rules and practices constitute customary legal systems, which serve as conflict resolution mechanisms by means of mediation or arbitration. Often these customary systems are the most common access points to justice, especially for people living in rural and remote areas.