Programs
Social Advocates Program
With support from the US Department of State's Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (USDOS/DRL), the ABA is undertaking a program to train non-lawyer social advocates on the legal mechanisms available to assist victims of violence. Read more »»
Legal Profession Development
The ABA works with local organizations and partners in Turkmenistan to increase the knowledge and capacity of legal professionals providing targeted services and assistance to residents of rural areas, as well as to the population as a whole. The ABA works through a local ogranization to offer legal assistance to indigent clients on a pro bono basis. Read more »»
Legal Education
Through its USAID-supported public legal education program, the ABA seeks to bolster the public's legal literacy. Activities include weekly street law sessions for young people that offer an opportunity to learn about the law, and the basic principles of democracy and human rights.
Ivan Abrams
Country Director
Ashgabat, 744000, Turkmenistan
Phone: +993 (12) 35-02-18
Fax: +993 (12) 39-18-45
Email: ABA_Turkmenistan@gmail.com
Background
The American Bar Association opened its office in the capital city of Ashgabat in 1999. Since launching its programs, the ABA has worked with lawyers, law students and professors, and local organizations across Turkmenistan on legal education and legal service programs and projects.
For lawyers, the ABA has provided continuing legal education seminars and workshops on a variety of topics including commercial law, family law, and civil law. The ABA's legal education activities have focused on assistance to a law student association including practical skills seminars for aspiring lawyers, the establishment of a legal resource center at Turkmen State University, and public legal education activities ("Street Law") for secondary school students. The ABA has also provided targeted assistance to Turkmen organizations and institutions in support of developing legal aid services for populations of rural regions in the country
Meet Our Staff
Jacquelyn Foster, Senior Legal Advisor, joined the ABA Rule of Law Initiative in Turkmenistan in September 2006. She oversees the Social Advocates program and leads ABA's component of the Turkmenistan Community Empowerment Program. Before joining the ABA, Jacquelyn served as a prosecutor in Illinois, was a solo-practitioner specializing in criminal defense and family law, and taught juvenile law and ethics classes. Read more »»
