Rule of Law Initiative News - June 2007 Archive
Asia News
Addressing the Integration of Rural Migrant Workers into Chinese Cities
On April 23-27, the Rule of Law Initiative, in conjunction with the China Association for NGO Cooperation, held a national training session on methods to encourage community dialogue regarding the integration of rural migrant workers into China’s urban areas.
Mock Trial Demonstration Highlights Proposed Revisions to China's Criminal Procedure Law
The Rule of Law Initiative, in conjunction with New York University Law School and two Chinese law schools, co-sponsored a mock trial demonstration workshop in Xiamen City, Fujian Province to highlight reforms that are being considered as part of China’s revision of its Criminal Procedure Law.
Train the Trainers Workshop Conducted in the Philippines
The Rule of Law Initiative’s Asia Division, in collaboration with the Philippine Bar Association (PBA) conducted its second Train-the-Trainer’s workshop on April 16. The one-day workshop was part of the capacity-building program of the Asia Division, which aims to increase the use of interactive adult teaching methodologies by CLE trainers to increase their ability to conduct engaging and effective seminars and training programs.
White-Collar Crime CLE Program Held in the Philippines
The Rule of Law Initiative’s Asia Division, in partnership with the Philippine Bar Association (PBA), held its second CLE program on April 13-14. The two-day program focused on a comparative analysis of U.S and Philippine laws and practices concerning anti-money laundering matters, the Filipino Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, electronic and other evidentiary issues and ethical considerations in commercial litigation.
Europe & Eurasia News
Serbia Office Releases Freedom of Information Act Assessment
On June 7, 2007, the Rule of Law Initiative released its assessment of Serbia’s law on Free Access to Information of Public Importance (FOIA) at an event held at the SAVA Center in Belgrade. ROLI-Serbia Country Director Julia Roig opened the roll-out ceremony, which included comments by staff attorney Damir Milutinovic and Serbia’s Public Information Commissioner.
Georgian Bar Association's Ethics Commission Drafts Amendments to Legal Profession Conduct Codes
On May 4-6, 2007 the American Bar Association’s Rule of Law Initiative organized a retreat in Bakuriani for the Ethics Commission of the Georgian Bar Association (GBA), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Moldova's Traveling Lawyers Help Rural Villagers Fight Corrupt Agricultural Companies
The Traveling Lawyer Program recently helped 200 villagers recover 28 tons of wheat from an agricultural company that failed to deliver on its rental agreement.
Voter Assistance Campaign Aids Armenians Voting in Parliamentary Elections
Armenia’s Parliamentary elections on May 12 were the first in the history of independent Armenia that international observers recognized as free and compliant with most international standards.
Azerbaijan's Street Law Program Reaches Out to a Younger Generation
The Rule of Law Initiative in Azerbaijan has successfully expanded its Street Law Program to include its youngest participants ever - third grade students. Using games, group activities, and interactive methods, law students are now teaching eight and nine year-olds about respect for the rule of law as well as about their basic legal rights.
Azerbaijan’s First Women’s Bar Association Officially Launches
Azerbaijan's first women's bar association was officially launched on May 14 with the backing of the Rule of Law Initiative and USAID. With one of the lowest rates of female legal professionals in the NIS, the creation of the gender-specific association will help create solutions that are unique to the challenges and barriers facing women practicing law in Azerbaijan.
Global Corruption Report Features Papers by Two Rule of Law Initiative Alumni
Two members of the Rule of Law Initiative community have contributed to the Global Corruption Report 2007: Corruption in Judicial Systems, released by Transparency International on May 24, 2007. The report, over 300 pages in length, stresses that corruption poses a serious threat to judicial systems throughout the world, subverting the cornerstones of healthy justice systems: fairness, impartiality, equal rights, and access to impartial trial.
Kosovo Lawyers Study Ethics in Ireland
On April 29, a delegation of eight members of the Kosovo Chamber of Advocates’ (KCA) Ethics and Discipline Committee traveled to Dublin for a study tour as part of the ABA-sponsored project to revise the KCA Ethics Code and disciplinary system.
Expert Roundtable Focuses on Reforming Russia's Legal Aid System
On June 8, the Rule of Law Initiative’s Russia office co-hosted an expert roundtable that for the first time brought together the central parties involved in the provision of civil legal aid in Russia.
Bulgarian Institute For Legal Initiatives Hosts Central and East European Rule of Law Symposium
From June 14 - 16, 2007, the Bulgarian Institute for Legal Initiatives (BILI), an ABA legacy organization, convened the First Central and East European Rule of Law Symposium in Sofia. Over 125 participants from more than 15 countries in the region, Western Europe, and the United States gathered to discuss the rule of law in recently acceded and pre-accession countries in the region.
Regional Advocacy Training In Almaty
In partnership with the Kazakhstan Union of Advocates and the Almaty City Bar, the Rule of Law Initiative co-sponsored and helped present a regional training session for advocates who work in Central Asia.
Interactive Teacher Training for University of Prishtina Law Faculty
On May 14, the Rule of Law Initiative, in cooperation with the University of Prishtina Law Faculty, organized two workshops for the school's professors. The workshops were conducted by Professor Mary Pat Treuthart of Gonzaga University School of Law.
Bosnian Law Students Complete Civil Procedure Legal Clinic
On May 22, the Bihac Law Faculty held a closing ceremony for its civil procedure law clinic. Eighteen students in their forth year at Bihac Law faculty successfully completed the clinic, which lasted two semesters.
Rule of Law Initiative Rolls Out Teenlaw Program in Kosovo
With the support of the Kosovo Ministry of Education and the University of Pristina Law Faculty, the Rule of Law Initiative arranged for students from the law faculty to instruct Pristina high school students on Kosovo’s court system.
NGOs and Legal Clinic Partners in Ukraine Receive Human Resource Management Training
On May 22-24, the Rule of Law Initiative conducted a three-day Human Resource Management Workshop for the management and leaders of 20 partner advocacy organizations and legal aid clinics in Odessa. The aim of the workshop was to give an overview of the role and importance of human resource management in an organization, with a specific focus on human resource management for NGOs.
Domestic Violence Training For Russian Justices
On April 21, the Rule of Law Initiative's Moscow and Vladivostok offices, in cooperation with the Khabaroviskiy Krai Court, held its first Domestic Violence training for Justices of the Peace in Khabarovsk, Russia. The training was designed to increase gender-based violence awareness and to improve the treatment of domestic violence cases in the justice system.
Law and Civics Courses Begin at Islamic University in Tajikistan
For the first time in its history, the Tajik Islamic University in Dushanbe will be including courses on law and civics as part of its regular university curriculum, thanks to a cooperative effort between the university and the ABA Rule of Law Initiative.
Rule of Law Initiative in Ukraine Conducts Strategic Planning Sessions
The Rule of Law Initiative in Ukraine recently completed a strategic program and organizational development planning process. Comprised of three one-day staff retreats, the process took place between October 2006 and May 2007.
Kyrgyzstan Street Law Olympiad Held in Osh
On May 23, students from the Rule of Law Initiative's Street Law Program in southern Kyrgyzstan competed in the annual Street Law Olympiad in Osh, an event designed to test students' knowledge in the areas of basic civics, law and democracy.
Latin America & the Caribbean News
Northwestern Law Students Visit Ecuador, Study Judicial System
A group of Northwestern University School of Law students recently spent two weeks in mid-March observing the Ecuador Criminal Justice Project in Quito. Their visit, beginning March 12, was one stop on a larger tour studying the legal issues of foreign countries as part of the International Team Project program.
Middle East & North Africa News
Rule of Law Initiative Signs Cooperation Agreement with Moroccan Ministry of Justice
A new cooperation agreement was concluded on May 3 between the Rule of Law Initiative and the Moroccan Ministry of Justice. Minister Mohammed Bouzoubaa and Morocco Director Richard Paton signed the agreement in the presence of U.S. Ambassador Thomas T. Riley, senior representatives of the MOJ and the U.S. embassy, and the press.
Law Students Compete in Jordan's First Moot Court Competition
On Saturday, May 5, 24 law students from three universities--Jordan, Yarmouk and Philadelphia—participated in Jordan’s First Moot Court Competition. Eighteen judges and lawyers evaluated 12 teams as they participated in a round of legal arguments leading up to the final debate between teams from Jordan University and Yarmouk University.
Human Rights Legal Clinic Formally Incorporated into Moroccan Law School's Curriculum
The Rule of Law Initiative-supervised Human Rights Clinic Program will be formally incorporated into the curriculum of the Moroccan Law Faculty of Mohammedia at the University of Hassan II, beginning with the 2007-2008 academic year, the school has confirmed.
Staff News
Kosovo Intern Wins Balkan Case Challenge Moot Court Competition
Blerta Gagica, an intern in the Rule of Law Initiative ’s Kosovo office, and her team won the Balkan Case Challenge Moot Court Competition held in Vienna in May.
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