Improving the legal education system
With support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) since 2014, ABA ROLI has sought to promote the rule of law in Tajikistan by raising the standards of legal education as part of its Legal Education Reform Program. ABA ROLI has worked directly with law professors from three universities to expose them to more modern and interactive teaching techniques and support them in implementing new methodologies in their classrooms. Through ABA ROLI’s program, students have the opportunity to engage in client counseling competitions, mock trials and internships and mentoring programs, while professors have gained international experience from colleagues in the U.S. on best teaching practices.
Fostering equality through the justice sector
ABA ROLI began its Justice Sector Equality Program in Tajikistan in December 2016 with support from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), building upon the progress made under its former Legal Reform Program, to foster a criminal justice system that engenders equal participation from the whole justice sector and upholds the rights of individuals across Tajikistan. At the core of this program is the Legislative Reform Working Group, composed of stakeholders from every segment of the justice system, which identifies gaps in human rights legislation and proposes reforms to fill them. ABA ROLI also continues to support the Union of Advocates to provide professional development opportunities for the country’s defense advocates.