ASEAN–Japan Work Plan on Law and Justice
July 6, 2023, Tokyo, Japan
To strengthen mid-term cooperation between ASEAN and Japan in the field of law and justice, senior law officials from both sides jointly developed the ASEAN–Japan Work Plan on Law and Justice (hereinafter “the Work Plan”). The Work Plan identifies priority areas for cooperation and coordination, aiming to promote fundamental values such as the rule of law and respect for human rights across ASEAN Member States (AMS) and Japan.
Through its implementation, ASEAN and Japan will contribute to realizing the commitments outlined in the Joint Statement adopted at the ASEAN–Japan Special Meeting of Justice Ministers, held on July 6, 2023, in Tokyo, Japan. The Work Plan seeks to enhance friendship and collaboration between ASEAN and Japan while supporting AMS in the areas of cooperation identified in the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
ASEAN and Japan are expected to work closely with relevant United Nations agencies with specialized expertise, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL). Both sides will seek synergies with existing frameworks, avoid duplication of efforts, and identify effective means and procedures for implementation, including mobilizing necessary funding from appropriate sources. Flexibility will be maintained to ensure the Work Plan addresses the evolving needs of AMS.
The Work Plan and its implementation details may be reviewed and amended jointly by ASEAN and Japan as needed. Progress reports will be presented at future ASEAN Senior Law Officials Meeting (ASLOM)–Japan Consultations, where both sides are encouraged to exchange views, report progress, and discuss next steps. All activities will be carried out in consultation with relevant ASEAN Sectoral Bodies and line ministries. Nothing in this Work Plan shall alter the mandate or structure of existing ASEAN Sectoral Bodies.
Work Plan Framework
| No. | Goals | Proposed Activities |
|---|---|---|
| General Matters | ||
| 1 | Identify common key issues in law and justice to be addressed by ASEAN and Japan in the short to mid-term. | – Continue holding regular ASLOM–Japan Consultations based on consensus regarding timing and venue. – Discuss and implement feasible measures to enhance strategic dialogue within the ASLOM–Japan framework. |
| 2 | Address identified key issues by enhancing knowledge and strengthening mutual understanding. | – Establish sustainable mechanisms to bring together experts and researchers for regular exchanges, joint studies, and study visit programs. |
| 3 | Explore key elements for legal technical assistance to build a stronger ASEAN–Japan partnership. | – Convene meetings to review past achievements and identify key elements for future cooperation in legal technical assistance. |
| 4 | Promote human resource development and capacity building through expert exchanges. | – Design schemes enabling systematic exchange of legal experts between AMS and Japan’s Ministry of Justice Research and Training Institute. |
| Cooperation in Promoting Rules-Based Dispute Resolution | ||
| 5 | Strengthen international arbitration and mediation for cross-border business disputes. | – Organize forums bringing together governments, arbitration and mediation bodies, practitioners, and international organizations to share best practices and explore recommendations for improving domestic frameworks and international standards. – Facilitate networking among arbitration and mediation practitioners, develop focal point lists, and promote information exchange. |
| Cooperation in Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice | ||
| 6 | Strengthen mechanisms for effective international cooperation in criminal matters (e.g., mutual legal assistance, offender rehabilitation, and reintegration). | – Conduct seminars to build AMS capacity on mutual legal assistance, investigation, prosecution, and offender treatment, addressing both traditional and emerging crimes. – Establish contact points and continue active participation in the Criminal Justice Forum for the Asia and Pacific (Crim-AP). – Continue implementing the Kyoto Declaration through ongoing national efforts. |
| 7 | Promote a rehabilitative and inclusive society ensuring “no one is left behind.” | – Share knowledge and best practices on community-based offender treatment upon mutual request. – Conduct joint activities highlighting the role of community volunteers in rehabilitation and reintegration. |
| Cooperation on Issues to Further Promote the Rule of Law | ||
| 8 | Improve understanding of key issues essential to promoting the rule of law in the region. | – Use the ASLOM–Japan Consultation and other appropriate venues to share insights and deepen understanding on issues such as: – Access to justice; – Intellectual property dispute resolution through ASEAN participation in the Judicial Symposium on Intellectual Property (JSIP) follow-up seminars; – Other mutually identified areas relevant to advancing the rule of law and human rights. |
