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.

Ukraine: Legal Advocacy Saves Family Homes

In May 2005, Vasyl Stefanyshyn and his daughter, Iryna, were summoned to the Drohobych Rayon Court. The distraught family was joined by equally confused neighbors, who had received similar summons. They quickly learned that their landlord wanted to evict the families from their dormitory-style apartments. Read more »»

 

Tajikistan: Roundtable Discusses Criminal Procedure Code

In early April, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) in collaboration with the Judicial Training Center and Majlisi Namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli (lower chamber of the Tajik parliament) organized a two-day roundtable discussion on the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) draft. Read more »»

 

Chamber of Commerce Members Join Anti-Corruption Discussion

In cooperation with the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) hosted a discussion on combating business and corporate sector corruption. The April 28 discussion, which was attended by chamber members, was held during ABA ROLI’s monthly anti-corruption coordination initiative (ACCI) meeting. Read more »»

 

ABA ROLI Organizes Anti-Domestic Violence Training for Russian Lawyers

Continuing its traveling lawyer program, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative’s (ABA ROLI’s) office in Vladivostok, Russia, trained 22 attorneys from Sakhalin on providing legal assistance to domestic violence survivors. Alumni from the 2008 and 2009 traveling lawyers program, Inna Zhidkova and Victoriya Malets, conducted the May 23–24 training in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Read more »»

 

Women’s Association Finds Courts in Compliance with Kosovo’s Family Law

After a four-month assessment of the implementation of Kosovo’s family law, a Gjakova-based women’s association found that courts were operating in accordance with the law. During a May 14 roundtable, 35 participants discussed the findings. Read more »»

 

Women Law Students’ Association Launched in Kosovo

The University of Pristina Law Faculty, with ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) support, launched the Women Law Students’ Association (WLSA) in Kosovo. The organization is the first of its kind in the country. The 22 students who attended the launching event committed to volunteer their time to develop the association. Read more »»

 

ABA ROLI Trains Lawyers in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan

In February 21–22, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) trained lawyers in trial advocacy skills in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in Azerbaijan. Nakhchivan is isolated geographically and ABA ROLI is the only U.S. government-funded non-governmental organization with consistent programming in the region. Read more »»

 

• ABA ROLI Launches a Legal Aid Clinic in Transnistria

• Public Defenders Offices Help Women Empower Each Other

• Mentoring Program Launched for Female Law Students in Kosovo

• Pro Bono Legal Service Helps Keep a Family Together

• Advocates Training Center Officially Registered in Kyrgyz Republic

• Judicial Reform Index Released in Albania

• ABA ROLI Launches Human Trafficking Course in the Russian Far East

• Student Essay Contest Winners Receive Scholarship

• Trainings to Boost Justice Sector Players in Moldova

• More than 100 Students Complete Coursework in Kosovo