The American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative is marking two decades of work advancing improvements to laws and legal systems in developing nations around the world. Among its many efforts, ABA ROLI works against systemic rape in Congo, trains judges to handle election disputes in Kyrgyzstan and boosts public attorney effectiveness in the Philippines.
As part of its 20-year anniversary celebration, ABA ROLI has compiled an online historic retrospective of threats to the rule of law around the world and ROLI projects that successfully respond to those threats. The initiative is active in more than 70 countries in all areas of the world.
ROLI is also hosting a commemorative fundraising gala on Oct. 14th at 7:30 p.m. at the Mayflower Hotel (1127 Connecticut Ave.) that recognizes highly successful programs and outlines the future of rule of law efforts. Former Chief Justice of South Africa Arthur Chaskalson and Former Supreme Court Associate Justice Sandra Day O’Connor will be honored with the 2010 Rule of Law Award and a Lifetime Achievement Award, respectively.
The event is hosted by the ABA ROLI Board and the Gala Honorary Committee. Members of the Gala Honorary Committee expected to attend include ambassadors from Ecuador, Congo, Panama, Ethiopia and Philippines, as well as Sens. John Kerry and Patrick Leahy, and U.S. Reps. Michael Honda and Adam Schiff. Tickets are available online.
ABA ROLI is a non-profit program grounded in the belief that rule of law promotion is the most effective long-term antidote to the most pressing problems facing the world today, including poverty, conflict, endemic corruption and disregard for human rights.
With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.
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