ABA Rule of Law Initiative Program Book 2015

Introduction

As the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2015, we refl ect on change—in the world and in our work. While the end of the Cold War brought exciting new opportunities for democratization and rule of law reform across swaths of the globe, the early euphoria quickly gave way to an appreciation of the difficulties posed by such transitions and of new challenges such as ethnic strife, religious extremism and the complexity of a globalized, multipolar world.

It is against this backdrop that the rule of law development field has evolved. Early on, colleagues primarily rewrote constitutions and drafted laws to create rule of law frameworks. These eff orts were followed by a focus on building the capacity of those institutions that deliver justice—judiciaries, ministries, prosecutorial services and bar associations. A third wave of programs complemented these top-down initiatives with bottom-up approaches that foster public demand for justice through law school clinics, civic education campaigns and civil society capacity building. 

Experience has shown that none of these strategies alone is sufficient, and that sequencing and political will matter as we engage in the long-term and stutter-step process of building an enduring and strong rule of law. Nothing highlights this better than this year’s other legal landmark—the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta, a rule of law promise that we still struggle to realize fully today. 

Yet the progress over the last quarter-century has been incredible. Dozens of countries have experienced democratic transitions, albeit sometimes too haltingly. There has been a dramatic expansion of the international law that undergirds the rule of law. New conventions and institutions enforce everything from human rights to trade rules and anti-corruption norms and now serve as a major driver of change on the ground. And, while gaps remain, major strides in the rule of law have helped to globalize economic activity and fuel rapid growth in large parts of the developing world.

ABA ROLI has transformed to keep pace with these developments. From one volunteer lawyer deployed to Bulgaria in 1991, we have become a global leader in the rule of law field, with 700 staff , consultants and volunteers working in almost 60 countries. From mobilizing lawyers to protect Syrian refugees’ rights and training civil society to safeguard internet freedom in Southeast Asia to boosting forensics capacity to counter Central America’s murderous gangs and using an SMS-text based system to prevent atrocities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, our programs seek creative strategies to strengthen the rule of law. This work is complemented by continued leadership in research, monitoring and evaluation. Recent highlights include the publication of two ABA ROLI-authored, U.S. Agency for International Development-funded guides, the Guide to Integrating Rule of Law in Development Assistance and the Guide to Community Participation in Transitional Justice. 

While much has changed, certain hallmarks of our work remain, specifically a commitment to finding sustainable solutions that draw upon the best of comparative and international experience while suiting local conditions and needs. These principles have stood the test of time and are critical to success in meeting today’s rule of law challenges. We are enormously proud of the diff erence this work has made over the past 25 years, and we cherish the ABA ROLI alumni community of volunteers, staff and partners who have made it happen. Additionally, we are especially appreciative of our donors, who throughout the years have understood the need for continued focus on strengthening justice worldwide. We look forward to convening the ABA ROLI community at anniversary gatherings throughout 2015 and, together, to continuing to build a more just, equitable and prosperous world under the rule of law. In the meantime, we hope this volume serves as a valuable reference for the work we do to that end.