News
Environmental Public Participation from Wisconsin to Guizhou
From April 15 to 28, representatives from five U.S. environmental institutions visited China with the help of the ABA Rule of Law Initiative to work closely with their Chinese counterparts on local projects to increase public participation in environmental decision-making in China. Read more »»
China’s First On-line Skills Training Courses for Criminal Defense Lawyers
ABA ROLI and the Criminal Law Committee of the All China Lawyers Association have launched China’s first on-line skills training courses for criminal defense lawyers. Read more »»
ABA ROLI Helps Chinese Officials Implement Transparency and Disclosure Rules
From November 27 through 29, 2007, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative supported the participation of the first Chinese delegation in the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC). Read more »»
Programs
Criminal Defense
In 2003-2004, the Asia Division hosted two high profile forums in partnership with the All China Lawyers Association (ACLA), Renmin People’s University, and New York University (NYU) Law School. Read more »»
Women’s Rights
In September 2005, the Asia Division convened a workshop in partnership with the Sichuan Lawyers' Association and the China Network for Combating Domestic Violence, on public interest litigation and protection of women's rights. Read more »»
Citizen Advocacy
Over the past several years, the Asia division has broadened its work in China to focus on building Chinese capacity to advocate for citizens’ rights more generally. The Asia Division is working with local partners to identify and begin to address legislative, structural, organizational, financial, and other barriers to effective broad-based advocacy in a variety of substantive areas. Read more »»
Migrant Worker’s Rights
In June 2006, the Asia Division partnered with the Beijing Migrant Workers’ Legal Aid Center to convene a national workshop on migrant legal aid and the role of the bar. Following the workshop, local bar associations in six provinces or administrative districts – Henan, Shandong, Chongqing, Hunan, Fujian and Tianjin – started professional legal aid centers specializing in migrant legal aid and sponsored by local bar associations. Read more »»
Legal Aid
The Asia Division’s work in support of legal aid in China, with support from the ABA’s Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defendants and the Division for Legal Services, was initiated with a joint symposium in Beijing, in June 2000, on legal aid systems in the U.S. and China. Read more »»
Hyeon-Ju Rho
Country Director
Oriental Kenzo (Dongfang Yinzuo)
No. 48 Dongzhimenwai Dajie
Building B, Room 29F
Dongcheng District
Beijing 100027 P.R. China
Tel: +86 (10) 8454-9223
Fax: +86 (10) 8454-9220
Background
Since early 2002, ABA Rule of Law Initiative Asia Division has been working to promote good governance and increase public interest advocacy in China. A specific focus of the Asia Division’s early work was to enhance public participation in environmental decision-making.
To date, under its Rule of Law and Governance Program, Asia Division has trained hundreds of Chinese stakeholders in regional cities on environmental governance issues and supported Chinese partners in implementing a series of pilot programs aimed at increasing public participation and fostering cooperation among government, non-government, media, and other stakeholders. More recently, the Asia Division has been working with the All China Lawyers’ Association and other groups to increase indigenous capacity to advocate for citizens’ rights and enhance citizens’ knowledge of and access to the legal system. With funding from various sources, the Asia Division has also supported Chinese partners’ efforts in the areas of criminal defense, property rights, legal aid, legal ethics, women's rights, environmental public interest litigation, migrant workers’ rights, and children's rights. The Asia Division’s China project is implemented by two American resident legal advisors based in Beijing.
Meet Our Staff
XUE Qing is the Finance Manager and Program Officer for the China Program of the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative. She has worked for the ABA since July 2002. Xue Qing works primarily on the China office’s women's rights, environmental, and some criminal justice programs, in addition to being the resident finance expert and institutional memory of the office. Read more »»
