Overview
The ASEAN Senior Law Officials Meeting (ASLOM) was established in 1985 and held its first Meeting on 26 – 28 September 1985 in Jakarta, Indonesia. ASLOM reports its work to the ASEAN Law Ministers’ Meeting (ALAWMM) which was established in 1986 and held its first meeting on 11 – 12 April 1986 in Bali, Indonesia.
The ASLOM meets regularly every 12 months, while the ALAWMM holds its meeting every 24 months. Since 2005, ASLOM and ALAWMM have expanded its mandate to address all common matters pertaining to legal cooperation to support ASEAN integration initiatives in all ASEAN Member States. Initial legal cooperation of ASLOM and ALAWMM covers the following areas:
• exchange of legal materials;
• judicial cooperation; and
• legal education and legal research.
Priority Areas of Cooperation
- Following the adoption of the Model ASEAN Extradition Treaty (MAET), work is being undertaken to develop an ASEAN Extradition Treaty. An ASLOM Working Group on the ASEAN Extradition Treaty (ASLOM WG on AET) was established and mandated to develop the ASEAN Extradition Treaty.
- Harmonising trade laws among ASEAN Member States is crucial in facilitating intra ASEAN business and commercial activities. An ASLOM Working Group was established to examine modalities for harmonisation of ASEAN Trade Law, and is currently discussing issues in the area of arbitration and mediation, international sales of goods, and electronic commerce.
- Liberalisation of legal profession in ASEAN is also an important area of key interest of ASLOM,
- ASEAN Conference on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (ACCPCJ) was initiated to serve as a forum for cross-sectoral discussion and cooperation on crime prevention and criminal justice.
- Engagement and consultations on various law and legal related matters including rule of law and criminal justice are being explored between ASLOM and various ASEAN Dialogue Partners and External Parties.
Major Committees and Sectoral Bodies
NAME OF SECTORAL BODY |
DESCRIPTION |
FREQUENCY |
REPORTING MECHANISM |
CHAIRMANSHIP MECHANISM |
ASEAN Law Minister Meeting (ALAWMM) |
Review the work progress and provide guidance and direction to ASLOM |
Within 24 months |
ASEAN Summit |
Alphabetical order |
ASEAN Senior Law Officials Meeting (ASLOM) |
Discuss development of law and legal matters of common concern and interest to ASEAN Member States |
Within 12 months |
ALAWMM |
Alphabetical order |
ASLOM Working Group Meeting on Examining Modalities for Harmonisation of ASEAN Trade Law |
Discuss matters on harmonization of trade laws in the area of arbitration and mediation, international sales of goods, and electronic commerce. |
Within 12 months
back-to-back with ASLOM |
ASLOM |
Singapore |
ASLOM Working Group on Extradition Treaty |
Develop the ASEAN Extradition Treaty |
to be decided |
ASLOM |
Hosting Member States |
Key Documents
- ASEAN Legal Information Authority (ALIA)
- ASEAN Legal Information Network System (LINKS)
- ASEAN Government Law Directory
- Model ASEAN Extradition Treaty (MAET)
- ASEAN Member States’ Related Laws and Treaties on Extradition
- Joint Press Statement of the 7th ASEAN Senior Law Officials Meeting (ASLOM) 10-11 September 2001, Singapore
- Joint Press Statement of the 9th ASEAN Senior Law Officials Meeting, 23-24 August 2004, Brunei Darussalam
- Joint Communique of the 12th ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM), 25 January 2024, Video conference
- Joint Communique of the 11th ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM), 27 October 2021, Video conference
- Joint Communique of the 10th ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM), 12 October 2018, Vientiane, Lao PDR
- Joint Communique of the 9th ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM), 22 October 2015, Bali, Indonesia
- Joint Communique of the 8th ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM), 4-5 November 2011, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
- Joint Communique of the 7th ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM), 20 October 2008, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam
- Joint Communique of the 6th ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM), 19-20 September 2005, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
- Joint Communique of the 5th ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM), 17-18 June 2002, Bangkok, Thailand
- Joint Communique of the 4th ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM), 5-6 November 1999, Singapore
- Joint Communique of the 3rd ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM), 13 September 1996, Manila, Philippines
- Joint Communique of the 2nd ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM), 15-16 April 1993, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Publications and Related Links
ASEAN Government Law Directory is published by ASEAN Member States hosting the ALAWMM. The 7th Edition of the ASEAN Government Law Directory is accessible here ASEAN Government Law Directory.
