Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

US Embassy Renews Support to Afghan Legal System

US Embassy Renews Support to Afghan Legal System

KABUL - US and Afghan officials signed an MoU on Sunday that will serve as a guideline within the legal system.
Richard Riley, the Assistant Chief of Mission for the US Embassy in Kabul, on Sunday said the people of Afghanistan expect government to be transparent about providing public services and to work within the legal framework.
On Sunday officials from the US Embassy, USAID/ADALAT and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the US Embassy in Kabul. The MoU will serve as a guideline between USAID/ADALAT and the MOJ and outlines responsibilities and commitments of both parties.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Justice Abdul Baseer Anwar highlighted the legal challenges facing his ministry, saying the US cooperation in the legal sector will help the ministry to overcome its challenges.
“I think it is very important to recognize that the corner stone of any government’s responsibility to its citizens is to ensure rule of law. Well the US government through the Adalat ‘Justice’ program can provide technical assistance and financial support, the ultimate success of these efforts will depend on the government of Afghanistan to provide the resources and the access necessary to implement political reform,” said Riley.
Riley said that every government a responsibility to its people when it comes to the implementation of the law.
“Unfortunately, in our institutions, the laws are not in a shape which could be accessible to the employees as a good collection, but the Adalat ‘Justice’ project will facilitate the ministry of justice in areas such as family law, the labor law, commercial and family act and the management of civil affairs,” said Anwar.
“The ADALAT program is a major step forward for the Afghan people to have a fair and just legal sector that will recognize their basic and fundamental rights,” said USAID Mission Director Herbie Smith.
“I applaud the efforts of the Ministry of Justice to work with USAID in this endeavor to provide their citizens access to the legal process.”
“The ADALAT project will improve human resources capacity in Huquq (law) Directorate and simplify legal processes to provide better legal services for Afghans," added Anwar.
"The technical assistance and training provided by ADALAT will also help the Ministry of Justice and its counterparts to expand their legal services coverage in Afghanistan and improve transparency in justice sector.”
In April 2016, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Assistance for the Development of Afghan Legal Access and Transparency (ADALAT) to improve citizen access to quality justice services by increasing effectiveness and reach of the formal justice sector, strengthening linkages between the formal and traditional justice sectors, and increasing citizen demand for quality legal services. (Tolonews)