News
Mock Jury Trial Aired in Kazakhstan
The recent introduction of jury trials in Kazakhstan represents perhaps one of the most significant developments in Kazakhstan's legal and judicial systems since independence. However, most Kazakhstani citizens are still unaware of this important new tool and its potential to improve judicial transparency, independence, and accountability. Read more »»
Jury Trial Training as Kazakhstan Conducts First Ever Jury Trials
In response to new legislation instituting jury trials in serious murder cases in Kazakhstan, the Rule of Law Initiative's Regional Advocacy Program, in cooperation with the Union of Advocates of Kazakhstan, conducted advocacy skills training for 20 lawyers from around the country on March 15. The training was planned in coordination with the first three jury trials in the country, which occurred in Petropavlovsk, Uralsk and Almaty. Read more »»
Programs
Regional Legal Advocacy Program
The Regional Legal Advocacy Program provides a forum to connect and network advocates and legal leaders across Central Asia to encourage them to discuss common problems, especially in criminal cases, and to come together to develop regional solutions. The program provides support for advocates on emerging legal issues, trains them on leadership and advocacy skills, and provides guidance and resources. Read more »»
Support to the Independent Media
With initial support from the US Department of State's Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (USDOS/DRL), the American Bar Association opened the Media Support Center (MSC) in Almaty to bolster free expression and journalistic rights in Kazakhstan. The Center supports hotlines for journalists, provides legal support for the independent media, and conducts trainings for judges on international and national laws governing media. Read more »»
The Legal Support to the Independent Media program ended in August 2007.
Public Legal Education Program
Through its USAID-supported Public Legal Education Program, the American Bar Association's Rule of Law Initiative seeks to bolster the public's legal literacy and corresponding ability to assert its rights. Component activities have included televised mock trials, a Street Law-like program, public service announcements on basic concepts of law, televised analytical programs on the newly implemented jury trial system, and support for the national rounds of the world-renown Phillip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition. Read more »»
Publications
- "Courts and the Mass Media" A Manual for Judges and Lawyers on Media Law and Regulation - 2007 (in Russian only)
- True or False? Ten Things You Need to Know About Bribery (2006). Also available in Russian
- Kazakhstan Judicial Reform Index (February 2004). Also available in Russian
- Analysis of the Draft Mass Media Law (August 1999).
Ivan Abrams
Country Director
Almaty, 050051
Phone: +7-7272-262-91-61; +7-7272-262-9123; +7-7272-262-9142
Fax: +7-7272-262-91-65
Email address: abakz@abaroli.kz
Background
The American Bar Association opened its first office in the city of Almaty in 1993 where its activities are still centered today. Over the course of its time in the country, the ABA has had offices in the capital city of Astana, as well as in Shymkent and Oskemen; and has had a separate Media Support Center in Almaty.
Since launching its programs, the ABA has worked with lawyers, law students and judges and the lay public across Kazakhstan. For lawyers, the ABA has provided continuing legal education on a variety of topics, including human rights, business law, jury trials, and media law. The ABA has worked with judges on strengthening the profession through the creation of the Union of Judges of Kazakhstan and through publication of the Judicial Reform Index for Kazakhstan, an in-depth analysis of the state of the judiciary. The ABA has also provided a range of technical training for judges including conducting the first regional conference for the judiciary on combating money laundering with the support of the OSCE and the Asian Development Bank in 2006.
