News
ABA ROLI Involved in Passage of Moldova’s First Domestic Violence Law
On March 11, Moldova enacted its first legislation to protect women from domestic violence. The ABA Rule of Law Initiative provided key commentary and input to strengthen and improve the law during the drafting phase. Read more »»
Roundtable Helps Moldova’s Lawyers Combat Domestic Violence
In December 2007, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative organized a round table in Moldova focusing on how existing legislation can be used to help victims of domestic violence, a recognized problem in the country. Read more »»
Clinics in Moldova Win Three Big Cases
The ABA Rule of Law Initiative has helped develop four legal clinics in Moldova that not only teach students practical trial skills, but also provide the public with much-needed access to scarce legal services. Read more »»
Programs
Gender Issues
In November 2006, the Initiative published and launched the CEDAW Assessment Tool Report for Moldova (view the report in Romanian or English) and took part in a wide range of activities to publicize it. The report measured the degree to which Moldova's laws promote and protect the rights of women, as required by the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), and the degree to which women are accorded these rights in practice. Read more »»
Legal Education Reform
The Initiative's public education program in Moldova is premised on the notion that, to avail themselves of legal services, citizens must know their rights and how to enforce them. By educating the public, the Initiative increases confidence in the rule of law and discourages the pursuit of ad hoc remedies outside the formal legal system. In recent years, the Initiative also helped develop and support legal clinics in Balti, Cahul, Comrat and Tiraspol that provide students with practical skills to complement their university legal education. Read more »»
Legal Profession Reform and Access to Justice
Through its advocacy network in Moldova, the Initiative supports improved participation in the justice system and makes high quality free legal services available to people in need. This network is composed of four student legal clinics, the Traveling Lawyer Program and specialized NGOs. In 2006, the network provided assistance to more than 6,100 individuals, through approximately 5,800 consultations and more than 300 law suits. The most frequent problems included land, family law, social protection/benefits, employment, and inheritance matters. The Initiative trains legal professionals in cooperation with the Moldovan Bar Association and other partners. Recent topics have included legal ethics, human rights mechanisms and trial advocacy skills. Read more »»
Publications
- Know Your Rights Brochure on Gender Equality for non-lawyers, Romanian version (August 2007). Also in Russian
- Know Your Rights Brochure on Gender Equality and Domestic Violence for Local Public Authorities, Romanian Version (December 2007)
- Judicial Reform Index for Moldova Volume II (2007). Also in Romanian
- CEDAW Report for Moldova (2006). Also in Romanian
- Human Trafficking Assessment Tool for Moldova (May 2005). Also in Romanian
- Legal Profession Reform Index for Moldova (April 2004). Also in Romanian
- Judicial Reform Index for Moldova (November 2002). Also in Romanian
- Domestic Violence (September 2006). Also in Romanian
- Employees' Rights - February 2007 (Romanian). Also in Russian
- Guide on Election Procedures for Election Officials - 2005 (only in Romanian)
Stephen Larrabee
Country Director
Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
Phone: +373-22-23-89-34, +373-22-23-89-35
Fax: +373-22-23-48-73
Email address: office@abaceeli.md
Background
The Europe and Eurasia Division of the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, founded in 1990 as ABA-CEELI (Initiative), launched its program in Moldova in 1993 with the placement of a rule of law liaison in the capital, Chisinau. The Initiative began its Criminal Law Reform Program in Moldova in 1999.
The Initiative helped to establish key NGOs that have enhanced the skills of Moldova's legal professionals and increased the scope and quality of justice available to the public. Its Rule of Law program has supported student legal clinics, a Traveling Lawyers program and specialized pro bono legal services. The Initiative also utilizes a variety of methods, including brochures and public education programs, to increase the public's legal literacy. It is active in gender programming and conducts legal assessments and commentaries.
Meet our Legal Specialists
Leslie Reed, Long Term Legal Specialist, joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in April 2007 to work on judicial reform, access to justice, and gender issues. Leslie was a practicing attorney for 23 years specializing in commercial litigation before joining the Peace Corps as a teacher trainer in Kyrgyzstan. Read more »»
Meet Our Staff
ABA ROLI congratulates Gabriel Mumjiev on his six years of exceptional service to the Rule of Law Initiative in Moldova. Gabriel is the Traveling Lawyer Program Coordinator for Moldova. Read more »»
