The American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (ABA CEELI) began working in Albania in 1991 and placed its first rule of law liaison in Tirana in 1992. From 1998 until 2001, ABA CEELI conducted a criminal law reform program in Albania; then throughout the years the ABA Rule of Law Initiative’s (ROLI) work expanded to include anti-corruption efforts and legal education. The ABA established ROLI in 2007 to consolidate its five overseas rule of law programs, including CEELI—which was created in 1990 after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
ABA CEELI/ROLI’s major projects included substantial assistance in support of the drafting of a new, democratic constitution, adopted through a popular referendum in 1998; promotion of judicial independence by supporting the creation of the Albanian Magistrates School, supporting the work of the Association of Albanian Judges, and facilitating the establishment of the National Judicial Conference; and substantial support of legal profession legal education and reform by providing expertise to the Chamber of Advocates, increasing public awareness through the annual National Day of Justice; and providing technical assistance to the Tirana Law Faculty.