CEELI institute’s latest Annual Report reflects a year of resilience, adaptation, and continued impact. In 2025, CEELI Institute advanced its work on judicial independence, anticorruption, professional legal education, support for civil society and human rights defenders, and Ukraine-focused programming.
Over the course of the year, CEELI ran close to 60 programs and supported 59 respite fellowships, bringing together judges, lawyers, investigators, human rights defenders, and civil society actors from all over Central and Eastern Europe and beyond. Expanded into new areas, developed new partnerships, and created practical tools for those working to protect the rule of law.
Inside the report, you will find highlights from 2025, including:
- Continued training for judges, lawyers, and civil society actors across the CEE region, such as those for the Judicial Exchange Network in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
- Switch to online programming that helped us reach wider audiences cost-effectively, especially with our Judicial Network in Africa, through which hundreds of judges were able to access practical tools and peer-to-peer collaboration.
- Publications such as Guidelines on Alternatives to Extraordinary Judicial Vetting, which were translated into 6 languages, and Guidelines for Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe on Managing Pressures on Judicial Independence.
- Continued support for Ukraine through our 4th annual Summer School, fellowship and respite programming, and targeted trainings
- More on how CEELI turns professional exchange into a practical, lasting impact.
This report also reflects the community behind our work. During this challenging time, the support of our partners, donors, faculty, and friends helped CEELI continue providing practical assistance to those courageous individuals advancing the rule of law in their home countries.
Read report here