13th ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM)
The 13th ALAWMM scheduled on 14-15 November 2025 will be chaired by the Philippines. It will be held at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Taguig City.
The signing of the ASEAN Treaty on Extradition is part of the Opening Ceremonies on 14 November 2025. The ASLOM Working Group on the ASEAN Extradition Treaty concluded its negotiations on July 2025. The concluded text of the ASEAN Treaty on Extradition (ATE) was submitted to the ASLOM for endorsement. Upon endorsement from the ASLOM, all Member States proceeded to secure the issuance of the Instruments of Full Powers for the Ministers and/or Attorneys/Prosecutors General, before the signing of the AET. Notably, the Philippines hosted the 2nd, 6th, and 12th WG meetings.
The signing authorities for the Member States are as follows –
| Brunei Darussalam | Attorney General’s Chambers |
| Cambodia | Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Cambodia |
| Indonesia | Indonesia Ministry of Law of the Republic of Indonesia |
| Lao PDR | Ministry of Justice of Lao PDR |
| Malaysia | Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Malaysia |
| Myanmar | Ministry of Legal Affairs of the Union of Myanmar |
| Philippines | Department of Justice of the Philippines |
| Singapore | Ministry of Law of Singapore |
| Thailand | Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Thailand |
| Timor Leste | Ministry of Justice of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste |
| Viet Nam | Ministry of Justice of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam |
The Philippines last hosted the ALAWMM in 1996 with then President Fidel V. Ramos as its Keynote Speaker.
Welcome Message
13th ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting
14 November 2025 | Manila, Philippines
It is with distinct honor that the Republic of the Philippines welcomes the distinguished Ministers of Law from the ASEAN Member States and esteemed representatives of the ASEAN Secretariat to Manila for the 13th ASEAN Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM).
This gathering underscores our shared commitment in advancing legal cooperation, upholding the rule of law, and fostering good governance across the region. The ALAWMM serves as a strategic platform for dialogue and collaboration – essential to building a just, rules-based, and people-centered ASEAN community.
As we convene to address key legal and institutional priorities, we are also pleased to extend the hospitality and cultural richness for which the Philippines is known. Your visit coincides with a special time in our country, the early celebration of the Christmas season. Beginning as early as September, this period is marked by vibrant decorations, festive music, and a spirit of joy, unity, and generosity that reflects the Filipino way of celebrating life and togetherness.
We trust that your experience here will be both meaningful and memorable—marked not only by productive outcomes, but also by deeper mutual understanding and strengthened regional solidarity.
Mabuhay, and welcome to the Philippines!
FREDDERICK A. VIDA
Officer-In-Charge
Department of Justice
Philippines
Related Events
Signing of the ASEAN Treaty on Extradition
Judicial and/or legal cooperation has been the cornerstone of the establishment of the ALAWMM and ASLOM. The 1976 Declaration of ASEAN Concord adopted among its programme of action for ASEAN cooperation the study on how to develop judicial cooperation including the possibility of an ASEAN Extradition Treaty.
The ASEAN Treaty on Extradition (ATE) traces its roots to the Model ASEAN Extradition Treaty (MAET). The ASLOM Working Group on MAET was established and its first meeting was held in Bali on 22-23 June 2007. The working group concluded the MAET on 26-28 March 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand. With the finalization of the MAET, ASEAN Leaders, at the 32nd ASEAN Summit held on 28 April 2018 in Singapore, noted that work could commence on an ATE as a next step to strengthen ASEAN’s resilience and capacity to combat transnational crime, and to enhance cooperation within ASEAN to ensure respect for the rule of law.
With the mandate from the 10th ALAWMM, held on 12 October 2018 in Vientiane, Lao PDR, the 19th ASLOM, held on 06 – 07 October 2020 via video conference, discussed its work on the development of the ATE and agreed to establish the ASLOM Working Group on the ASEAN Extradition Treaty.
The 1st ASLOM WG on AET was held on 6 to 7 April 2021. The final text of the AET was concluded and legally scrubbed after the 14th ASLOM WG on AET meeting. ASLOM agreed to hold the signing of the AET during the Philippines’ hosting of the ALAWMM on 14 November 2025.
The 1st ASEAN-Japan Law Ministers Meeting (ALAWMM-Japan)
To strengthen the already robust partnership between ASEAN and Japan — building on the momentum of the ALAWMM-G7 Interface — the Philippines is convening the 1st ALAWMM-Japan Meeting. This meeting will bring together the Justice Ministers, Attorneys General or Secretaries of Justice of ALAWMM and Japan’s Minister of Justice. The primary objective is to deepen ASEAN’s cooperation in law and justice, and elevate ASEAN-Japan relations in this vital area to a new stage.