Europe and Eurasia

The Europe and Eurasia Program, also known as CEELI, was founded in 1990 as the ABA's first international technical legal assistance program. Today, the ABA has programs in nearly 20 countries in the region. These furnish technical assistance on a wide range of issues essential for further consolidation of the rule of law, including: judicial independence and effective judicial ethics regimes; adjudicating war crimes cases and increasing application of human rights norms; increasing access to justice; reforming legislation and legal institutions in countries striving for European Union accession; reforming law schools to better prepare tomorrow's legal professionals; combating corruption by adopting public integrity measures; building a "rule of law culture" by educating the public about legal rights and responsibilities; and revising procedural and substantive criminal codes to attack trafficking, money laundering, cybercrime, and other domestic and transnational crimes. Increasingly, the Europe and Eurasia program (CEELI) is working to establish "legacy" organizations that can continue to support reform after the ABA Rule of Law Initiative departs a country, as well as focusing on cementing relationships with in-country reformers with whom it can remain in contact and support after its offices close.

Armenian Legal Professionals Trained on European Convention on Human Rights

Early this month, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) organized a two-day training on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) for legal practitioners based outside the capital. A total of 30 advocates, public defenders, prosecutors and investigators attended the training in Dilijan, Armenia, which focused on applying articles five and six of the ECHR. Read more »»

 

University of Pristina’s Law Faculty Introduces a Student Honor Code

On October 6, the University of Pristina’s Faculty of Law introduced a student honor code to the student body. The code, which was launched at the beginning of the 2009–2010 academic year, was developed by ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI), in consultation with the faculty and groups of students. Read more »»

 

Moldovan Legal Practitioners Trained on Hearings Involving Abused Children

In late September, the National Center for Child Abuse Prevention (NCCAP) of Moldova conducted two two-day trainings on legal hearings involving abused children. A total of 44 local prosecutors, criminal investigation officers and teachers from various Moldovan districts participated in the training held in Chisinau. Read more »»

 

Armenian Chamber of Advocates Elects Chair, Awards Outstanding Advocates

Earlier this month, the Armenian Chamber of Advocates re-elected Ruben Sahakyan as its chairperson during its 2009 general meeting. Nearly half of the chamber’s 800 members attended the meeting, with many of those who could not attend represented through proxy voting. Read more »»

 

Moldovan Court Issues First-Ever Domestic Violence Protection Order

On September 25, the Anenii Noi district court issued the first-ever domestic violence protection order in Moldova. Attorney Ion Oboroceanu, director of the Causeni Law Center (CLC), which runs the “Say No to Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking” project the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) supports, represented the victim. Read more »»

 

ABA ROLI Co-Sponsors Training on Moldovan Domestic Violence Law

In September, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) continued its anti-domestic violence work in Moldova by partnering to provide a training session on mechanisms and procedures under the law on domestic violence. The two-day training was organized in conjunction with the National Institute for Justice (NIJ) and the United Nations Fund for Population (UNFPA). Read more »»

 

Armenia Qualification Exam a Success

In 2006, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) began partnering with the Armenian Chamber of Advocates to prepare the first advocate qualification examination to be given in more than five years. This endeavor was critical in ensuring the professional capacity of the country’s lawyers.  Read more »»

 

• Coalition-Building Conference in Ukraine Strengthens the NGO Community

• Tajik Advocates Trained in Trial Advocacy Skills and Defense Strategy

• Kosovo Chamber of Advocates Joins the International Bar Association

• Law Students and Government Officials Discuss Anti-Corruption Efforts

• ABA ROLI Conducts National Professional Ethics Conference in Russia

• New Training Module to Embolden Anti-Trafficking Response in Ukraine

• ABA ROLI Board Member Visits Kosovo, Meets with Legal Professionals

• Law Students Visit Kosovo’s Supreme Court and Assembly

• Kosovo Lawyers Expand their Trial Advocacy Skills

• Ukraine: Legal Advocacy Saves Family Homes