Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan meeting. 2007.

ABA ROLI’s anti-corruption and public integrity programs in Georgia seek to advance the anti-corruption efforts in the country, to push for the ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), and to assist the government with the implementation of a national anti-corruption strategy and its anti-corruption action plan, adopted in June 2005 and March 2006, respectively.

• Ratification of the UNCAC is one of the key items in Georgia’s anti-corruption action plan. ABA ROLI led a team of experts that prepared a comprehensive treatise on harmonizing domestic legislation with the provisions of UNCAC, which is a prerequisite for ratification. ABA ROLI will continue to work with the Parliament’s Legal Committee, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to push forward the ratification.

• During June 25–28, 2008, ABA ROLI, along with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the government of Georgia, organized the seventh general meeting of the OECD Anti-Corruption Network (ACN) for Eastern Europe and Central Asia. OECD ACN general meetings are attended by high-level politicians and practitioners and provide a unique regional multi-stakeholder forum for the transition economies. The Tbilisi meeting attracted about 100 participants from more than 40 countries. It served as a discussion forum between national governments, civil society, donors, international organizations and IFIs, and provided valuable networking opportunities. The purpose of the meeting was to review progress achieved by members in fighting corruption and to provide a forum for members to exchange experiences and best practices on key areas.

Participant/attorney Murman Nikoleishvili examines participant/witness Levan Gegeshidze while trainer/judges Ani Morgoshia and Lasha Mdivani. Trial Advocacy Training. March 15 – 18, 2007.

ABA ROLI’s criminal law reform and anti-human trafficking programs in Georgia works toward developing an effective and just criminal justice system. Reform of the criminal law system includes harmonizing Georgia’s criminal legislation with international standards, increasing the effectiveness of the judiciary, and increasing the involvement of society with the judiciary.

Our criminal law reform efforts assist the Georgian government in drafting and implementing a criminal procedure code. When adopted, the new code will facilitate Georgia’s transition to an adversarial system that will include jury trials for the first time.

•  Since 2005, ABA ROLI has been actively involved in a working group, which was created by the Parliamentary Legal Affairs Committee to draft and implement a criminal procedure code. ABA ROLI has prepared and submitted comments and suggestions on particular articles of the draft code.

• With ABA ROLI’s support, criminal law judges created a working group in 2007 that will be charged with drafting criminal law bench book for Georgian Judges. The bench book will assist judges in implementing the new criminal procedure code.

• In preparation for the adoption of jury trials, ABA ROLI trains Georgia’s defense attorneys on trial advocacy skills. In a 2007–2008, ABA ROLI trained more than 500 advocates on basic and advanced levels of trial advocacy skills.

• ABA ROLI organizes legal writing trainings for Georgian lawyers. It has trained more than 100 defense lawyers.

• In preparation for the new adversarial system, ABA ROLI organizes mock trial trainings in cities around Georgia. In 2007, ABA ROLI held seven mock trials with the participation of 51 judges, 120 defense lawyers and 120 prosecutors. More than 200 students look part as jurors for the mock trials to increase public awareness of jury trials.

Judicial Reform

ABA ROLI’s judicial reform activities in Georgia focus on strengthening the judiciary to become an equal and independent branch of government. ABA ROLI provides ongoing assistance to the High Council of Justice (HCOJ) and the Supreme Court in instituting sweeping court reforms. It also assists the High School of Justice (HSOJ), the Constitutional Court and the Judges of Georgia Association. In addition, ABA ROLI is working with the Ministry of Justice to overhaul the procedures for enforcing judgments. Read more »»

GBA strategic panning session took place in early 2007 commemorating the two year jubilee. Membership, fundraising and public out reach were a few of the topics discussed at this session. Members of the GBA discuss long term strategy in a late night strategic planning session.

ABA ROLI supports the development of the newly-established Georgian Bar Association (GBA) and its adoption of a new Code of Ethics and Disciplinary Procedure. ABA ROLI also assisted the GBA in administering the Georgia Bar Examination. The legal profession reform team is currently working on:

• Providing insitution-building assistance to the GBA through a series of trainings and workshops, including on sound management and financial practices.

• Providing targeted technical assistance to the association to make it sustainable and more self-sufficient.

• Assisting the GBA in establishing a relationship with the Bar Association of the State of Georgia, which can serve as a resource to the GBA after ABA ROLI's activities in Georgia are completed.

• Enhancing the skills of GBA’s Ethics Commission and drafting amendments to the Code of Ethics and Disciplinary Procedure.

• Increasing public awareness of the ethics complaint process.

• Conducting ethics trainings for members of the GBA.

Members of the Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) discuss the Law of Georgia on Combating Domestic Violence, Protection of and Support to Its Victims and the Domestic Violence Action Plan that is hoped to be implemented in 2007.

ABA ROLI’s women’s rights program strives to support women in attaining equality under the law and in their everyday lives. During the past year, the women’s right program in Georgia has focused on addressing domestic violence by:

• Providing free access to legal services on issues including domestic violence, family law and labor law through the Center For Protection Constitutional Rights.

• Assisting in the implementation of the governmental action plan on the domestic violence law.