Africa

The Africa Division of the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, is a public service project that promotes the rule of law throughout Africa. Working in cooperation with governments and civil society groups, the Africa Division engages in a wide range of programs, including the training of judges and prosecutors, the establishment and maintenance of legal aid and victim support centers, and the provision of expertise in drafting legislation. The ABA implements its programs through partnerships with bar associations, judges associations, ministries of justice, police and immigration agencies and NGOs. The ABA is dedicated to developing projects that are responsive to the needs and priorities of the host countries with whom we work. Thus, the Africa Division provides advice based on a variety of national models, including those of both civil law and common law countries.

Combating the Rape Crisis in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo

In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the incidence of rape and other forms of violence against women is among the highest recorded anywhere in the world. Gender-based violence (GBV) is particularly acute in North and South Kivu provinces in war-torn eastern DRC. Assailants include armed militias who use rape as a weapon of war, as well as members of the national army and police. Increasingly, they also include civilians. The rape epidemic has claimed victims ranging in age from 3–75 years. Read more »

 

Video: Mediation Training in Liberia

Since 2006, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) in Liberia, through its U.S. Agency for International Development-supported access to justice program, has offered mediation skills trainings. About 1,100 Liberian elders, town chiefs, non-governmental organization representatives, lawyers, youth and women’s group leaders participated in the trainings. Read more »

 

James A. A. Pierre Judicial Institute Graduates First Group of Liberian Trainers

Liberia’s recently launched judicial training institute—the James A. A. Pierre Judicial Institute—awarded certificates to 21 Liberian judges, magistrates and lawyers after they completed the institute’s first training course on instructional design and facilitation skills. Read more »

 

Nigerian Program Addressed Human Trafficking

The ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) closed its program in Nigeria in January 2009. Over the course of this three-year program, ABA ROLI successfully combated trafficking in persons in Nigeria through three major initiatives—training law enforcement, creating a nationwide electronic database and providing support to trafficking victims. Read more »

 

ABA ROLI Expands its Programming in the DRC

The Dutch government recently awarded the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) a $5.2 million grant that will dramatically expand its work on combating gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  Currently, ABA ROLI programming on gender-based violence in North Kivu Province is supported by a U.S. Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) grant, while the three-year Dutch grant will expand the program to Maniema Province. Read more »

 

Alternative Dispute Resolution Work Continues in Liberia

As part of its efforts to promote awareness of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in Liberia, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) is undertaking a variety of activities to address the country’s needs. The ADR program emphasizes building local capacity by conducting mediation training for target groups and by ensuring that all written materials are tailored for Liberian audiences. Read more »»

 

• Training for Judges and Magistrates Held in Liberia

• Anti-TIP Training Held for Cameroonian Magistrates

• ABA ROLI Helping Reintegrate Former Child Soldiers in Burundi

• New York Times Cites ABA ROLI’s Support of DRC’s Rape Survivors

• ABA ROLI Hosts its First Anti-Trafficking Training in Cameroon

• Podcast: Tackling Gender Based Violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo