News
Bosnia’s Sixth National Moot Court Achieves Full Participation
The ABA Rule of Law Initiative successfully completed the country’s sixth national moot court in Bosnia and Herzegovina on December 8, 2007. The competition simulated a hearing before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. Read more »»
Banja Luka Law Faculty Live Client Legal Clinic Completed
On June 29, 2007, the closing ceremony of the live client legal clinic took place at Banja Luka Law Faculty. Twenty third-year and fourth-year students offered free legal aid to indigent clients under the supervision of three practicing attorneys. Read more »»
Final Phases of Anticorruption Draft Law Underway in Bosnia Jahorina, Sarajevo Bosnia & Herzegovina, July 3–5, 2007
The final round of “Support for the Implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan of Bosnia & Herzegovina” a project founded by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and implemented by Rule of Law Initiative Bosnia staff, proved to be a major success. Read more »»
Programs
Anti-corruption program
The Anti-corruption program aims to provide the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina with the tools necessary for implementing its national anti-corruption strategy and action plan. Read more »»
Criminal Law Reform 
The Criminal Law Reform program conducts training programs for prosecutors, judges, investigators and defense attorneys; and works to strengthen the operation of criminal justice institutions, such as prosecutors' offices, investigative bodies, and professional associations. The ABA in BiH worked with the Association of Prosecutors of Bosnia and Herzegovina to compile and publish a digest of domestic war crimes judgments issued between 1992 and 2006. Read more »»
Legal Education Reform
The Legal Education Reform program focuses on providing skills-based legal education to students at the law faculties of BiH. The project has established legal clinics at the faculties in Banja Luka and Bihac, including the first live-client clinic in the country, as well as an annual national moot court competition organized in cooperation with the law faculties. Read more »»
Background
The American Bar Association initiated its program in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in December 1996 with the placement of its first rule of law liaison in Sarajevo; in 1998, the ABA began its criminal law reform work. The ABA maintained an additional office in Banja Luka from 1998 to 2003.
The ABA has historically focused its BiH programs on judicial and legal profession reform, in addition to promoting alternative dispute resolution and supporting free access to information through a public advocacy center. In 2005, the ABA began to implement a new project focusing on skills-based legal education reform, through activities such as the development of law school clinical programs, internships and moot court competitions. Through its criminal law reform program, the ABA conducts training programs for prosecutors, judges, investigators and defense attorneys and works to strengthen the operation of criminal justice institutions, such as prosecutors' offices, investigative bodies, and professional associations.
Also active in BiH is the Stability Pact Anti-corruption Initiative Regional Secretariat Liaison Office (SPAI RSLO).
Meet Our Staff
Sanin "Nino" Muftic, Office/Finance Manager, is in charge of keeping the office financial records, paying bills and salaries to staff, preparing the monthly financial report of office expenses for Country Director. Nino also assists with preparing and conducting training seminars, workshops, roundtables, and other events and provides translation services. Read More »»
