Rule of Law
part of the Centers of Innovation
Center Highlights
Building Peace in Yemen
December 2011
USIP's Colette Rausch traveled to Yemen to consult with a wide range of stakeholders on the challenges facing Yemen. Here is an account of her time in Sana'a.
The Model Codes for Post-Conflict Justice are now available in Arabic
December 2011
The Model Codes has served as a point for reference for law reforms efforts around the world, from Kosovo to Haiti to Sudan to Liberia. USIP is excited to announce that they are now available in Arabic.
Criminal Justice Reform in Post-Conflict States 
October 2011
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) have collaborated to produce a guide designed to introduce individuals whose experience in criminal justice reform may be limited - whether in extent or scope - to the entire landscape of criminal justice reform.
Libya in Transition
October 2011
USIP and UNA-NCA hosted a panel of distinguished experts to assess the effort to establish democratic rule in Libya, the role of the U.N. Resolution 1973 in that effort, and the importance of the transition to democracy throughout the region. See photographs from the event.
Featured Publications & Tools
The U.S. Institute of Peace has unveiled a pathbreaking survey of attitudes toward the police, justice and rule of law in politically troubled Nepal, an effort that could help guide reforms needed to tame the violence and corruption plaguing the Himalayan nation’s young democracy.
Leadership
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Director, Rule of Law Center
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Center Experts
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Senior Program Officer, Rule of Law Center
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Senior Program Officer, Rule of Law Center
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USIP's Rule of Law Center ("RoL Center") is on the cutting edge of promoting the rule of law in conflict-affected states. It does this by taking a leading role in shaping thinking worldwide on rule of law issues, working on the ground in conflict-affected countries to promote justice and security, and leading the field in rule of law training delivery and the sharing of best practices.
The RoL center's pioneering work on transitional justice, model legal codes, consultative constitution making, communities of practice and traditional dispute resolution are examples of this successful approach.
Programs
Justice and Security Dialogue brings together stakeholders at the local community level to strengthen rule of law and security by building lines of communication, increasing trust, sharing information, promoting accountability, and providing input on justice and security reform needs and options.
USIP's advisory work on constitution making is focused on providing options to design and conduct participatory, inclusive, transparent, and nationally owned constitution making processes that enjoy legitimacy and promote national dialogue, reconciliation, and a consensual political community.
The Rule of Law Center is working with international partners to assess the ways in which customary systems may complement and strengthen the state system in post-conflict settings.
INPROL is a web-based worldwide network of rule of law practitioners and experts created to support practitioners in the field. Find out more information about becoming part of INPROL, and apply for membership.
The Rule of Law Center developed a series of training courses tailored to the needs of rule of law practitioners. The initiative is part of a broader training initiative at USIP under the auspices of the Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding.
The Rule of Law Center works closely with Iraqi judges, parliamentarians, government officials and civil society to strengthen the rule of law in Iraq by addressing the property rights of IDPs, strengthening the Iraqi judiciary, clarifying the relationship between the central and provincial governments, and protecting minority rights.
The Rule of Law Center has shaped the field of "transitional justice" through research that examines these issues in comparative perspective, publications, grant-funded work, and substantive policy advice.
The Model Codes for Post-Conflict Justice is a criminal law reform tool tailored to the needs of countries emerging from conflict. The Model Codes can be purchased or downloaded.
The Serious Crimes handbook is a reference tool for policymakers and practitioners who are designing strategies for tackling serious crimes in postconflict environments.
Rule of Law is examining the evolving legal and institutional arrangements for addressing violations of international humanitarian law (IHL). As part of this ongoing effort, USIP has just produced a guide to training programs in IHL for military personnel around the world.