Our Rule of Law Work in Moldova

    Support to the Moldovan Criminal Justice Sector (2016-2017)

    ABA ROLI works to improve the fairness and effectiveness of the criminal justice system in Moldova, by helping improve the defense bar’s advocacy skills, provide human rights trainings and support the effective application of the revised criminal and criminal procedure codes. ABA ROLI works mainly with private practice attorneys, legal interns and law students. The main goal is to help build the institutional capacity of the defense bar, the Union of Lawyers, enabling it to better serve its members and to ensure practicing attorneys’ comply with professional standards. ABA ROLI helps create professional development opportunities for lawyers, to ensure both competent representation of clients and equality of arms in the adversarial judicial process. Since 2014, ABA ROLI has worked hand-in-hand with the Moldovan Prosecutorial Service to build key capacities in management, leadership and strategic planning with the service’s leadership and chief prosecutors.

    Past Programs

    National Partnership for Equal Rights (2013-2016)

    ABA ROLI and local LGBT NGO partner GENDERDOC-M led a successful LGBT advocacy program in Moldova, the “National Partnership for Equal Rights” (NPER) from 2013-16, with funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL). The program advanced LGBT rights in Moldova through five priority areas: 1) improved enforcement against hate crimes through legislative advocacy and justice sector trainings; 2) educated and empowered the LGBT community to assert their rights; 3) built the capacity of GENDERDOC-M and other human rights NGOs; 4) galvanized political support and pursued strategic cases to create beneficial case precedent; and 5) improved public opinion on LGBT persons and combatted stigma and negative stereotypes.

    Criminal Law Program (2012-2016)

    Implemented from September 2012 to August 2016, the ABA ROLI Criminal Law Program in Moldova supported the rule of law through reforms and improvements to the criminal justice sector with funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement. The program worked to increase the competence and professionalism of the defense bar and supported judges, prosecutors and investigators involved in the prosecution of crimes of corruption within the judiciary. This program saw ABA ROLI's move into a new strategic area of work, collaborating directly with the Prosecution Service in Moldova to improve its managerial effectiveness as a precursor to substantive reforms.