Azerbaijan Lawyers Association

Projects

Project "On realization and protection of the political rights of citizens" ^new!!!

The project is sponsored by the NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR DEMOCRACY OF US. Implementation period of the one-year project will run until June 1, 2007.

The measures to be taken within the framework of the project:

1.Monitoring on the realization of the right to freedom of assembly.
Monitoring group monitors realization of the right to freedom of assembly -pickets, meetings, rallies in Baku and regions. On the basis of collected data there will be prepared a report that is be disseminated within the country and sent to the international organizations.

2.Free legal services on the violation of the political rights.
The activities in this direction consist of two lawyers rendering free legal defense. They realize political rights of citizens on the actual cases that had been chosen by the project manager. Moreover, it includes free consultations on the political rights through “Hotline”.

3.Training on the increasing citizens’ activity.
It is scheduled to hold in the regions 6 trainings. The trainings aims at democratic governance, freedom of speech and thought, role of the political parties in the society and young leaders in the solution of local problems, citizen’s activity and protection of social interests, etc.
Trainings have been conducted in Masalli. Sheki, Guba, Lenkoran, Sabirabad, Jalilabad regions.

4.Discussions and TV debates on political rights.
It is expected to prepare and broadcast four talk-show programs. The programs will focus on the development culture of dialogue in the society by the participation of young leaders and public activists, legislation on the political parties and other issues.

5.Creation of political and legal “Recommendation Bank”.
Political draft laws to be discussed in the round tables that will be held once per quarter and recommendations prepared concerning political dialogue, legislation and other issues, be placed at the internet site of ALA.

During the implementation period, the following information has been placed at the “Recommendation Bank”.
A. Draft law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On the political parties”.
B. Draft amendments to Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On freedom of assembly”
C. Recommendation on the improvement of the legislation in view of forming new judge corps

On December 26, 2006 it was held round- table in Baku city “On outcomes of the legal reforms, forming judge corps and monitoring of court proceedings” and the results of it has been places at the “Recommendation Bank”.

3 books was publishes within the framework of the project.

A. Forming of judicial system and judge corps in Azerbaijan.
B. “Freedom of assembly: legislation and realities”.
C. The book on “Protection of the political rights” is already ready for printing.

Project on "Free legal assistance for refugees, IDPs and poor strata of the population"
This project was implemented from January 1999 through January 2001 with the financial support of USAID. Under this project ALA rendered free legal assistance to more than 2000 persons and prepared plenty of various documents on their behalf. Once the Project was over, ALA took on its implementation by its own means.
With an aim to provide free legal assistance to population directly in refugee camps, ALA carried out this Project in refugee camps located in Saatli, Sabirabad and Imishli by the financial support of UN Training and Resource Center.

Project on "Free Legal assistance to poor strata of the population"
This project was carried out from November 2001 till November 2002 by financial support of Open Society Institute. The main difference of this project from the similar titled first project was that the poor were represented in courts. As a result of the project more that 600 people were provided with legal assistance. The rights of more than 20 people were protected in the courts. Despite the project ended by November 2002, the Association continues providing free legal assistance.

Project on "Preparation of law graduates for advocacy practice in the field of commercial law"
This Project was conducted from November 2000 through November 2001 by the financial support of "EURASIA" Foundation. In the course of the project 48 law students and graduates participated in the training and received certificates. Within the Project the textbook titled "Commercial Law" was published and distributed among students and other interested. Taking into account the actuality and use of the Project on "Preparation of law graduates for advocacy practice in the field of commercial law", the "EURASIA" Foundation provided financial support for continuation of the mentioned Project in universities from September 2002. The first phase of the Project was implemented in Khazar University and the second phase in Western University. More than 40 students at the University of Khazar participated in the training course on Commercial Law. Currently the project is under its final phase and work on book "Training on Commercial Law" and review of the book "Commercial Law" is underway.

Project on "Preparation of the Commentary to the General Part of the Civil Procedural Code"
This Project was conducted by the financial support of the American Bar Association. As a result of the Project the book titled "Scientific-practical commentary to the Civil Procedural Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan" was published.

Project on "Preparation of the Commentary to the Special Part of the Civil Procedural Code "
This Project is also financed by the American Bar Association and started from June 2002. The preparation of the book titled "Scientific-practical commentary to the Civil Procedural Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan" is underway.

Project on "Explanation and propaganda of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms"
This project is carried out by the financial support of Open Society Institute. The idea of the Project wasto explain in regions European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and rules of consideration of cases by European Court on Human Rights. With this aim round-tables dedicated to various rights guaranteed by the Convention were held in 12 regions. The last round-table within the Project "Explanation and propaganda of the European Convention" was held in Mingachaur. ALA distributed pro bono the book "European Convention on Human Rights: selected cases under article 6" and European Convention along with Protocols which were published in a form of brochure.

Project on "Explanation and propaganda of the civil Code"
Since February 2002 round-tables within this project are conducted in the regions in cooperation with the F.Nauman Foundation. Different institutes of the civil Code are discussed; gaps and contradictions in the legislation are analyzed at the round-tables. Two round-tables were already held in Lenkoran and Ganja.

Project on "Situation around the legislation on NGOs"
From 21 April till 26 May 2003 ALA conducted the project titled 'Situation around the legislation on NGOs' which was held under the project of Catholic Relief Services 'Civil Society Development Project in Azerbaijan'. The project provided for holding survey on NGO legislation among NGOs located in Baku and regions, their employees and lawyers. Opinion of 117 respondents was studied during the survey, different aspects of NGO legislation were touched upon and recommendations to legislation were made. Survey was published as a brochure and distributed among NGOs that participated in it.

Forum of advocates
As a partner organization ALA closely participated in activity of organizational committee of the forum of advocates and those who wish to be advocate. A.Gadjibeyli represented ALA in this structure. Organizational Committee implemented different activities in this perspective: prepared new Draft Law "On Advocacy" and with participation of lawyers organized round-tables on preparation to the forum and on discussion of the new draft law. The last round-table was held with participation of MP lawyers on 12 May 2003.
Forum of advocates and those who wish to be advocate was conducted on 24 May 2003. Forum discussed current problems of the advocacy in Azerbaijan and examined ways of its elimination. Forum also discussed new draft Law on Advocacy. Forum elected Board consisting of 25 lawyers.
The first meeting of the Board of Forum was held on 11 June 2003. Some organizational matters as well as problem of delay in establishing Bar Collegium were discussed during the meeting. Meeting set up a working group on preparation of Regulations for Board and other documents.
Second meeting of the Board which was held on 17 June 2003 established first Council of Chairman of Forum. Secret voting elected 7 persons to the Council of Chairman.

"Establishment of regional center to provide free legal assistance to municipalities"
This project is funded by OSI-Assistance Fund and has commenced on 20 June 2003. Centers to provide free legal assistance to municipalities were established in Baku and Alibayramli within the project. Free legal assistance is rendered to municipalities located in above-mentioned cities and their surroundings 5 days a week. It is planned to conduct round-tables on activities of the municipalities. The project will be implemented during 6 months.

"Monitoring of independency of judiciary in Azerbaijan"
On 15 August ALA conducted international round table on "Monitoring of independency of judiciary in Azerbaijan" funded by OSI-Assistance Fund. Annagi Gadjibeyli made a report at the round table. Experts of the ministry of Justice and OSI Henrikas Mitskyvichus expressed their opinion on report. Similar report on judiciary system in Georgia was presented by Otar Zoidze. Round table brought together MPs, representatives of judiciary as well as prosecutor's offices. The discussions were shorthanded. The shorthand and reports of A. Gadjibeyli in Azeri and Russian will be used as a source to publish a book.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Last updated: 02.06.07