ABA Rule of Law Initiative Program Book 2016

Introduction

We are pleased to share with you the ABA Rule of Law Initiative’s (ABA ROLI) 2016 Program Book, providing a snapshot of the work we do to advance the rule of law throughout the world.

The past year marked the 25th anniversary of the ABA’s rule of law development programs, a moment to take stock of those efforts, celebrate rule of law progress, evaluate persistent challenges and chart a course for the future. As we have done so, we have been gratified by the development of ABA ROLI in both reach and impact. What started in 1990 as a short-term pro bono project to provide technical legal advice on new laws and constitutions in a handful of Central European countries is today a global organization, with some 500 staff, consultants and volunteers, an on-ground presence in more than 50 countries, and a wide range of programming to address contemporary rule of law challenges. Whether it’s facilitating legal assistance to refugees in Turkey, supporting a civil society campaign against corruption in Ukraine or contributing to the post-conflict transition and constitutional reform process in the Central African Republic, ABA ROLI is working with justice sector colleagues on today’s rule of law front lines. 

In this work, we draw on a quarter century of experience and a proven approach that prioritizes partnership with local actors and advances sustainable solutions based on international standards and best practices. This volume profiles programmatic highlights from the past year. Illustrative highlights include:

• Our work with governmental and non-governmental partners in Morocco to raise public awareness of key constitutional rights. By the end of 2015, we had reached approximately 100,000 citizens through educational caravans, another 85,000 through open days and live events and about two million through radio campaigns. 
• Efforts to strengthen Georgia’s criminal justice system by convening representatives from the judiciary, the prosecutor’s office, the Georgian Bar Association and law schools to agree on the country’s first official commentary on the criminal procedure code, an 820-page volume that promises greater consistency and adherence to new code provisions protecting defendant rights.
• Our collaboration with local organizations in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s South Kivu Province to promote access to justice for communities affected by large-scale mining. With our support and training, a network of community-based paralegals has provided legal services to 275 community members seeking redress for issues such as arbitrary arrest and illegal occupation of land and has successfully resolved 91 mining-related disputes.

We are enormously proud of such achievements, chronicled throughout this volume. But even as we have celebrated them during our anniversary year, ABA ROLI is not resting on its laurels. We are mindful of the significant rule of law challenges we face—persistent scourges such as corruption and discrimination, as well as new and growing threats, including cybercrime and extremist violence. To meet them, ABA ROLI is redoubling its efforts, with a new strategic plan that focuses on “learning and leadership,” capitalizing on our unparalleled experience and networks to mine lessons learned, to develop new innovative approaches and to share these with the global community of rule of law practice. We know that it is this committed community—of judges and lawyers, ministers and activists, donors and policy-makers—that makes our work and the progress we see possible. Even as we confront daunting challenges, we remain confident that, together, we can meet them.

We hope you find this survey of our work useful, and we welcome your feedback and suggestions for how we can strengthen our efforts.