Europe & Eurasia

Background

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.

 

News and Program Highlights

 

Sixty Kosovar Law Students Successfully Complete Simulation Clinic

Sixty law students at the University of Pristina completed the ABA Rule of Law Initiative’s Simulation Legal Clinic this semester. The clinic is designed to help students gain practical skills needed upon becoming practicing lawyers. Read more »»

 

Podcast: Managing Ethnic Differences in an Independent Kosovo

Kosovo Country director David Sip details how the fact of independence has affected ABA ROLI’s work in Kosovo, and how legal education and profession reform programs there are focusing on maintaining cohesion between ethnic Serbs and Albanians. Read more »»

 

Prosecutorial Assessment Leads to Policy Action in Bulgaria

After ABA ROLI published its Prosecutorial Reform Index in Bulgaria, Prosecutor Velchev created the Prosecutorial Reform Index Committee tasked with considering the recommendations of the PRI and soliciting feedback from prosecutors and other relevant actors in structuring a three-year strategy or “roadmap” of reform. Read more »»

 

ABA ROLI Involved in Passage of Moldova’s First Domestic Violence Law

On March 11, Moldova enacted its first legislation to protect women from domestic violence. The ABA Rule of Law Initiative provided key commentary and input to strengthen and improve the law during the drafting phase. Read more »»

 

Third Judicial Reform Index Launched in Kosovo

On March 12, 2008, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative hosted an event introducing the third volume of the Kosovo Judicial Reform Index. Approximately 150 representatives from the government, media, international community, and non-governmental organizations attended the event. Read more »»

 

Conference on Bar Unification Eases Disputes in Ukraine

The ABA Rule of Law Initiative conducted a conference in Ukraine on the difficult issue of the unification of the legal profession and creation of an independent, self-governing Ukrainian Bar Association. Read more »»

 

Serbia’s Schools Take Ownership of Court Internship Program

After three years, 11 rounds and more than 1700 law school students, the Court Internship Program, a joint program of the ABA Rule of Law Initiative and the Young Lawyers of Serbia, has become a part of the curriculum in three Serbian law schools. Read more »»

 

Azerbaijan's Ministry of Education Hosts Kick-Off for Street Law Program

In early 2007, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Education welcomed the ABA Rule of Law Initiative’s Public Legal Education program staff, school teachers, principals, representatives of the Baku City Department of Education, and over 75 law students to kick off the second phase of the 2007-2008 Public Legal Education Program. Read more »»