State/INL Azerbaijan Program

Funding FY 2005-2011:

• FY 2005 - $2,500,000 (FSA*)
• FY 2006 - $2,500,000 (FSA*)
• FY 2007 - $2,250,000 (FSA*)
• FY 2008 - $1,069,000 (AEECA**)
• FY 2009 - $0
• FY2010 - $900,000 (AEECA**)
• FY2011 - $1,400,000 (AEECA**)

*FSA: FREEDOM Support Act
**AEECA: Assistance to Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia

Program Goals:

• Recognizing that a strong democracy and civil society depend on solid institutions and the rule of law, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) programs have focused on criminal justice reform assistance provided to the Azeri police, procuracy, defense bar, and the judiciary.
• The Azerbaijan government (GOAJ) has made significant strides such as the adoption of national action plans to combat human trafficking and corruption as well as the drafting of anti-terrorism, money laundering and human trafficking legislation.
• Continued INL support should help Azerbaijan to make permanent improvements to its justice sector, in line with the international standards articulated by the United Nations, Council of Europe, and the Financial Action Task Force.

Program Components:

• Criminal Justice Sector Reform: The Resident Legal Advisor Program supports an experienced federal prosecutor from the U.S. Department of Justice who provides in-country targeted judicial sector assistance to the GOAJ in six key areas including: 1) trafficking in persons, 2) anti-terrorism, 3) money laundering, 4) corruption, and 5) support for the effective implementation of the new Criminal Procedure Code.
• INL funds International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Capacity Building Project which focuses on key areas of prevention, prosecution, protection and reintegration of actual and potential victims of trafficking as well as partnership building among the civil society organizations at the national and international levels.
• INL supports a Criminal Law Reform program through American Bar Association which involves building the capacity of justice sector actors to ensure appropriate application of the Criminal Procedure Code, reform the defense bar, and strengthen the legal system to effectively address trafficking in persons.
• Law Enforcement Development: Much of our assistance prior to 2009 focused on supporting the GOAJ’s creation of a modern law enforcement infrastructure that would increase the competence of law enforcement personnel and improve their ability to deter and investigate domestic and transnational crime. INL had to cancel all law enforcement assistance including the DOJ/ICITAP Resident Law Enforcement Advisor stationed at the embassy in 2009 due to incompliance with U.S. Leahy Vetting laws.