Latin America and the Caribbean

The ABA Rule of Law Initiative’s (ABA ROLI's) Latin American and Caribbean Division provides assistance in support of legal reform efforts in Ecuador, Mexico and Panama and has previously carried out projects in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Brazil, Paraguay, and Peru. The Latin America and Caribbean Division has implemented programs in a variety of areas, including: combating and documenting human trafficking, promoting law school accreditation reform, promoting mediation and alternative dispute resolution to provide speedier access to justice, assisting in transitioning from inquisitorial to adversarial criminal justice systems, supporting governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with capacity building, and providing neutral advice and support to restructure laws in a number of substantive areas; including arbitration, commercial mediation, competition law and human trafficking. The Latin America and Caribbean Division implements its programs through partnerships with in-country government offices, bar associations, judges associations and NGOs.

DC Event Brings Together Human Trafficking Experts, Stakeholders

During an October 15 event at ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) headquarters in Washington, DC, human trafficking experts and stakeholders took part in a discussion of ABA ROLI’s Human Trafficking Assessment Tool (HTAT) for Mexico, and of the human trafficking phenomenon in North, Central and South America. Read more »»

 

Human Trafficking Assessment Tool Sparks National Discussion in Mexico

On August 27, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) released the findings of the Human Trafficking Assessment Tool (HTAT) implemented in Mexico. The HTAT was developed by ABA ROLI to measure compliance with the United Nations’ Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children. Read more »»

 

ABA ROLI Publishes Human Trafficking Assessment Tool for Mexico

The ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) released its 2009 Mexico Human Trafficking Assessment Tool (HTAT) report on August 27. The report was released during an event at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in Mexico City. The report provides a comprehensive assessment of Mexico’s federal and state human trafficking laws, along with a detailed analysis of steps taken to implement those laws. Read more »»

 

Ecuador Podcast: Criminal Procedure Code Reform

The ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) implements a program to strengthen the criminal justice system in Ecuador, which is funded by the U.S. Embassy’s Narcotics Affairs Section. In this Spanish-language podcast of a June 2009 interview, Carlos Arrobo, deputy director of the program, gives an overview of the Criminal Procedure Code reform component of the program, its significance for the criminal justice system in Ecuador and the achievements to date. Read more »»

 

Panama Podcast: The Culture of Lawfulness Program

In seeking to promote a culture of lawfulness, the program works to encourage respect for the rule of law and for fundamental human rights both by the government and by society as a whole. More specifically, the program works to bolster the culture of lawfulness among police and other law enforcement agencies, to increase Panamanian citizens’ confidence in their justice sector. Read more »»

 

ABA ROLI Commences Its Culture of Lawfulness Program in Panama

As Panama takes its initial steps toward implementation of an accusatorial criminal justice system, it confronts a series of challenges. Citizen distrust of justice sector institutions is one challenge. According to a 2006 Inter-American Development Bank survey, 46% of Panamanians believe that the justice system fails to punish criminals. Read more »

 

ABA ROLI Launches a Program in Panama

The ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) has initiated a comprehensive review and reform of the Panamanian police curriculum and training methods. ABA ROLI’s efforts will promote a rule of law culture among the police. Recent developments, such as the transfer of investigative powers to the newly-formed Judicial Investigation Bureau and the establishment of new criminal and criminal procedure codes, necessitate the revision of police training curricula. Read more »

 

ABA President, ABA ROLI Delegation Visit Mexico

American Bar Association (ABA) President Tommy Wells and an accompanying delegation from the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) visited Mexico City to convey ABA support for the ongoing criminal justice reforms occurring there, and to express ABA ROLI’s willingness to provide technical assistance. Read more »

 

• Ecuadorian Criminal Justice Reform Efforts Marked by Renewed Support

• ABA ROLI Promotes a More Robust Accusatorial System in Ecuador

• Podcast: Assessing Human Trafficking in Mexico

• ABA ROLI Aids Mexico in Addressing Human Trafficking

• Quito Conference Focuses on Money Laundering and Anti-Corruption

• Podcasts: Criminal Justice Reform in Ecuador

Current Programs

• Ecuador
• Mexico
• Panama

Past Programs

• Brazil
• Costa Rica
• Nicaragua

• Access to Justice and Human Rights
• Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity
• Criminal Law Reform and Anti-Human Trafficking
• Judicial Reform
• Legal Education Reform and Civic Education
• Legal Profession Reform

Council Members

• Honorable M. Margaret McKeown, Chair

• Meaghan McGrath Beaumont
• Robert T. Gonzales
• Horacio E. Gutierrez
• Jonathan C. Hamilton
• Armando Lasa-Ferrer

Special Advisors

• Hon. Stephen G. Breyer
• Hon. Carlos F. Lucero

• Mexico Human Trafficking Assessment Tool (August 2009) | also available in Spanish
• El Contrainterrogatorio y el Código de Procedimiento Penal del Ecuador (2000)
• Tool-Kit to Combat Trafficking in Persons in Ecuador
• Assessment Report and Recommendations - Anti-corruption initiatives in Costa Rica
• Assessment of Trafficking in Persons, Ecuador (Final)
• Principios De La Mediacion

Please follow these links to read about our staff in DC or in Latin American and the Caribbean.