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News

Introducing Armenia’s First Legal Writing Textbook

Yerevan State University Law School with ABA ROLI’s assistance has developed and published Armenia’s first textbook on Legal Writing and Analysis. The textbook is intended for practical use and may serve as a guide for the instruction of writing and document drafting rules. Read more »»

Armenian Elections Completed with ABA ROLI’s Help

Following the February 2008 elections, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, with funding support from Counterpart International, worked to build public confidence in Armenia’s laws and institutions, and to provide an election hotline offering legal assistance in case of election-related problems and irregularities. Read more »»

Armenian Professors Get ABA ROLI Support to Study U.S. Academic Practices

The Rule of Law Initiative along with Yerevan State University (YSU) Law School created a curriculum reform project which focused on the introduction of two new courses in the YSU curriculum: Legal Writing and Analysis, and Intellectual Property. Read more »»

Rule of Law Initiative Hosts Discussion on Elections in Armenia

On September 14, 2007, ABA ROLI Elections Staff Attorney, Karen Andreasyan joined Anthony Bowyer, Program Manager for Central Asia and the Caucasus at IFES, and ABA ROLI’s Europe and Eurasia Division Director Robert Leventhal for a discussion titled Elections in Armenia: Past, Present and Future. Read more »»

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Programs

Criminal Law Reform

The Rule of Law Initiative's Criminal Law Reform program in Armenia seeks to support the professional development of advocates, provide institution building guidance to the country's first Public Defender Office and, increase knowledge and encourage compliance with international human rights norms, with a special focus on pre-trial detention issues. Read more »»

Judicial Reform

The ABA ROL Initiative' judiciary reform program seeks to enhance the independence, competence and accountability of judges in Armenia and to develop resources necessary for the transparent administration of justice. Among other initiatives, it provides technical assistance to the Court of Cassation in the application of case precedence, which is a new concept in the Armenian legal system. Read more »»

Legal Education Reform

The ABA's legal education reform program focuses on establishing and improving university-based legal clinics while also reforming Armenia's legal curriculum to strengthen the practical lawyering skills of young legal professionals. The legal education reform program also develops public education materials in order to raise awareness on issues such as gender equality and children's rights. Activities include support to legal clinics, institution building trainings, and public service announcements - Alphabet of Law - that present basic rule of law concepts to children through the medium of television cartoons. Read more »»

Read about all of Armenia's programs, including Legal Profession Reform and Election Law »»

Publications

View more Armenia-related publications »»

External Links & Resources

Open Media in Armenia - Provides articles and research materials pertaining to elections and other events in Armenia and Georgia.

Sonya Smith
Country Director

42/2 Darabakh Street
Yerevan, Republic of Armenia 375019
Phone: +374-10-28-17-84
Fax: +374-10-27-17-85
Email: ceeli@abaceeli.am

Background

Legal reform in Armenia has been a slow and incremental process since independence in 1991. Although Armenia initially instituted sweeping reforms to its constitution and legal codes to comply with Council of Europe and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe obligations, many of these changes have been slow to take effect. The economic effects of a blockade imposed by Azerbaijan and Turkey over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict contribute to the low levels of funding available for the judicial process, and endemic corruption undermines the credibility of the legal system.

Map of Armenia

In November 2005, however, Armenia adopted constitutional reforms creating new opportunities to improve human rights protections and increase the independence of the judiciary. While allegations of fraud during the referendum have cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the results and undermined the potential for reform, the judiciary has embraced the spirit of the legislation and methodically begun implementation.

The American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative launched its rule of law program in Armenia in 1996 and its criminal law reform program in 1998. The Rule of Law Initiative’s assistance has contributed to a number of important achievements, including: the formation of the Association of Judges of the Republic of Armenia (AJRA); the adoption of a new Code of Judicial Conduct; the organization of a new Chamber of Advocates; creation of a new advocate qualification exam; establishment of and institutional assistance to the first Public Defenders office in Armenia; training of judges and advocates on human rights law, election law and other topics fundamental to the rule of law; preparation of a series of public service announcements and videos about human rights and democracy; and creation and support of several University Legal Clinics.

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Meet Our Field Staff

Hasmik Hakobyan, joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative Criminal Law reform program in 2001. Hasmik specializes in criminal and criminal procedure law. She initiated the Public Defenders Office project in Armenia and continues to provide legal and technical assistance to the newly created office of Public Defenders as well as to the Chamber of Advocates. Read more »»