News
Important New MOUs in Algeria and Qatar
The ABA Rule of Law Initiative has bolstered its partnerships in the Middle East and North Africa region by signing Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with key partners in Qatar and Algeria. Read more »»
Training Sessions for Women Legal Professionals in Lebanon and Algeria
The Lebanon Hub of the Arab Women’s Legal Network, sponsored two training events recently in Beirut. The first event, held on May 25, 2007 at St Joseph’s University, featured Professor Pierre Catala of France, an internationally recognized expert on e-commerce law and author of Lebanon’s draft e-commerce legislation. Read more »»
Initiative Receives Awards to Improve Judiciary in Morocco and Algeria
The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) has recently funded a thirteen-month grant for Morocco and a sixteen-month grant for Algeria that began on May 31, 2007. The Legal and Judicial Development awards will build on the Initiative’s previous work creating more accountable, effective, and independent judicial systems in these countries. Read more »»
Programs
Judicial Reform
The ESM, the institution responsible for training all Algerian judges, has been one of the ABA's main partners in Algeria to date, cooperating on an institutional capacity-building program. Specifically, programs have addressed judicial independence and ethics, training ESM faculty, and issues of specific interest to the faculty and students, such as cyber-crime and freedom of expression. In January 2006, the ABA hosted a workshop on judicial independence and judicial ethics at the ESM and the Court of Oran, training student and practicing judges at both locations. Read more »»
Background
The Rule of Law Initiative launched its legal assistance program in Algeria in September 2005 by conducting a baseline assessment of the judicial system. Based upon those observations, as well as on the results of consultations and meetings with local partners, the ABA established a permanent presence in Algeria in November 2005 and has focused its activities in the area of judicial development. The ABA has worked with a number of local partners, including l'Ecole Supérieure de la Magistrature (ESM - the Algerian Judicial Training Institute), the Algerian Bar Association, the Judges Syndicate, National Syndicate of Journalists, and the Ministry of Justice.
