Minister of Justice Emphasizes on Access to Justice for All
Qanoonpooh Fazal Ahmad Manawi, Minister of Justice met with Ms. Karin Katce, the Vice President of International Development Law Organization (IDLO) and Ms. Manda Macuarilla, the in charge of Reducing the Impacts of Insecurity on the Legal Sector (RIILS).
During the meeting, which took place on Saturday afternoon, 20th of February, the Minister of Justice emphasized on the need to further efforts to access to justice and said that the Ministry of Justice has a coordinating role in this arena.
However he stipulated that the Ministry of Justice is facing problems in the field of providing legal aid and it is required that the formation of this ministry should be strengthened and legal aid providers are hired in remote provinces. He assured that they are making efforts to have one or two legal aid providers in each district.
Professor Manawi referred to the strengthening of informal justice (mediation) and said that efforts are being made to resolve family and other civil cases through mediation and without referring to the courts. He added that improving the capacity building of employees is a basic requirement in this part.
He with regard to reducing the impacts of insecurity on the Afghan legal system said that the protection of colleagues is important to them and they support such initiative.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Karin Katce said that the International Development Law Organization has always worked with the Ministry of Justice in the field of public awareness and capacity building, and they are making effort to continue this cooperation according to their new agenda.
She also spoke on their plans and said that in order to reduce the impacts of insecurity on the justice sector; they need to focus more on reviewing policies and strategies and increase the role of women in the justice sector.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Manda Macuarilla, the In charge of RIILS, said in collaboration with the Asia Foundation, they have finalized the reducing impact of insecurity on legal sector research and the results will be shared with this ministry.
Deputy of the International Development Law Organization said that they also examine the possibilities to support the informal justice program and, if possible, will start cooperating in that arena as well.
At the end Minister of Justice formed a committee to begin discussions on how to further cooperation of IDLO with the Ministry of Justice.
