The ABA Rule of Law Initiative’s (ABA ROLI’s) Asia Division currently implements technical legal assistance programs in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Thailand and Vietnam. It also operates regional programs that address corruption, media and freedom of expression issues in South East Asia, and a Pacific Islands exchange program on women’s rights; and cooperates with the Association of South East Asian Nations’ Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). It previously had programs in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, East Timor and India.

Much of the Asia Division’s work focuses on the following substantive areas: judicial and legal profession development, anti-corruption and citizens’ rights advocacy aimed at increasing access to justice. The division has also played an important role as a convener of regional meetings for legal professionals, including a judicial program for high court justices from Indonesia, Laos, Philippines and Thailand that was conceived of and moderated by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, who is also special adviser to ABA ROI’s Asia Council. In 2011, the AICHR held a meeting for civil society organizations and human rights experts in South-East Asia to discuss ways to strengthen the region’s human rights system through advocacy. To supplement these efforts, ABA ROLI has trained lawyers from South-East Asian countries—including Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines—on advocacy issues, focusing on media and freedom of expression.

ABA ROLI Country Director in the Philippines Speaks at a Public Attorneys Convention

Attorneys who represent clients accused of criminal activity face unique ethical dilemmas. What do you do if your client asks you to hold on to the murder weapon? How do you reconcile that you may sometimes represent people who you know are guilty? What if your client tells you he or she will lie in court? Read more »»

Chinese Legislators, Advocates Examine Domestic Violence Legislation and Its Implementation in the U.S.

From November 8–16, 2011, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI), in partnership with UNICEF, brought a 10-person Chinese delegation on a study tour to Washington, DC, and Boston, Massachusetts. The tour focused on combating domestic violence through legislation and coordinated community response. Participants included scholars, advocates, judges and experts from China’s National People’s Congress and Women’s Federation. Read more »»

Libertas Releases Findings of its Study of Post-Automated-Election Disputes

In anticipation of disputes related to the first nationwide automated elections in 2010 in Philippines, the ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI), through its subgrantee Libertas, worked with courts to prepare judges for potential litigation, including by developing a primer for judges and lawyers on the automated election rules. Read more »»

Asia-Pacific Anti-Corruption Conference Emphasizes Multi-Dimensional Approach

From September 28–29, 2011, Mary Greer, ABA Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) senior criminal law advisor, representing ABA ROLI’s regional anti-corruption advisor in Asia, attended the seventh conference of the Asia-Pacific anti-corruption initiative. The initiative is led by the Asian Development Bank and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and it provides critical leadership and infrastructure to member countries to garner and target limited resources to address corruption. Read more »»

Third Annual Asia-Pacific Symposium Discusses Regional and Inter-Regional Corruption, Illicit Trade

Since 2009, several Asia-Pacific economies, along with the 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) members, have convened at the annual Trans-Pacific symposium on dismantling illicit transnational networks to discuss best practices to combat illicit trade and criminal activity in the Asia-Pacific region. Read more »»