ABA Rule of Law Initiative - Europe and 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

Fourth Client Counseling Competition Held in Ukraine

From December 12–13, the fourth Ukrainian annual national client counseling competition was held in Kyiv. The ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI), the U.S. Agency for International Development, Ukrinyurkollehiya law firm, the Association of Advocates of Ukraine, DLA PIPER law firm and the Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine jointly hosted the competition. Read more »»

ABA ROLI Publishes Assessments of the Moldovan Legal System

On December 22, 2009, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) presented the findings of its Judicial Reform Index (JRI), Prosecutorial Reform Index (PRI) and Legal Profession Reform Index (LPRI) assessments for the Republic of Moldova. These reports—introduced to the public in a press conference at the Leogrand Hotel in Chisinau—analyze how much the Moldovan legal system conforms to international standards, assess legal reforms and identify the system’s strengths and weaknesses. Read more »»

Detention Procedure Assessment Tool to be Piloted in Armenia

The ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) recently completed the methodology for its latest legal assessment tool, the Detention Procedure Assessment Tool (DPAT). The new tool, which will be piloted in Armenia in February 2010, encompasses both pretrial detention and sentencing, and evaluates legal frameworks, procedures and practice in light of international standards. This enables a comprehensive legal and factual analysis that identifies strengths and weaknesses and guides future rule of law programming. Read more »»

Report Unveils Progress of Legal Profession Reform in Kosovo

On December 3, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) published the 2009 Kosovo Legal Profession Reform Index (LPRI). More than 100 journalists, government officials, lawyers, law students and international donors attended the roll-out event in Pristina, Kosovo. Read more »»

ABA ROLI Hosts Sustainability Workshop for Kyrgyz Street Law Centers

From November 15–16, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) conducted a workshop on financial sustainability of street law centers in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The event was attended by representatives of five street law centers and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Read more »»