The Conference of Lawyers in the Asia Pacific (COLAP) is a significant gathering of lawyers regularly organized by the International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL).   COLAP is primarily attended by lawyers from the Asia Pacific Region but also includes those from Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

The conference brings together progressive lawyers and other human rights advocates to discuss issues of human rights, development and peace in the region based on which they come up with plans and resolutions to address them. This general theme serves as COLAP’s over-arching framework. However, a particular COLAP conference has its own thematic emphasis depending on the needs and prevailing issues affecting the region in a particular period.  The theme of this year’s COLAP is Human Rights and Peace Amidst Global Economic Crisis and Conflict.

The first COLAP was held in 1988 in New Delhi, India. COLAP II was held in Tokyo, Japan in 1991 while COLAP III was held in Hanoi, Vietnam on October 9-20, 2001. COLAP IV was held in Seoul, South Korea on September 2-3, 2005.  COLAP V will be held in Manila, Philippines on September 18-19, 2010.