FAO is providing support to the Government of Lao People's Democratic Republic in the crafting of relevant sub-legislations under the 2019 Land Law. This process is led by the Department of Land of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. FAO's support will ensure the mainstreaming of the principles and internationally recognized good practices of the VGGT, as well as building on the support provided and the network of partners at the time of drafting the land law.
The Department of Land has identified four sub-legislations to be a priority for revision, namely the Ministerial Instruction on Land Registration and Land Titling, the Ministerial Instruction on Cadastral Survey and Mapping, the Ministerial Instruction on Registration of Activities and Change of Land Use Rights, and the Ministerial Instruction on the Land Valuation System is optional. FAO is facilitating the development/revision process to be not only consistent with existing obligations under national and international law, but also to involve a wide range of stakeholders, both men and women, ethnic groups and other marginalized groups, through participatory and gender and culture-sensitive processes, with particular attention to vulnerable populations.
To address these issues all consultation workshops, with government officials and with national stakeholders, are scheduled during August – November 2021. The comments received will feed back into the sub-legislations.