Ministry of Justice Signs Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Asia Foundation on Strengthening Coordination amongst the Formal and Informal Justice Institutions
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on improving working relations amongst the formal institutions (Justice and Judicial Institutions) and informal justice institutions (Shuras and Jirgas) in six provinces, signed between His Excellency, Dr. Abdul Basir Anwar Minister of Justice of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Mr. Abdullah Ahmadzai, Head of the Asia Foundation in Afghanistan, at the Ministry of Justice, today.
This MoU was signed in order to strengthen relations between the formal justice institutions and informal justice institutions on resolving legal disputes, increasing cooperation between formal justice institutions and informal justice institutions in solving local disputes and implementing justice in the society, raising the capabilities of the informal justice institutions (Shuras and Jirgas) in solving legal disputes.
His Excellency, Dr. Abdul Basir Anwar Minister of Justice of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on the occasion of signing this MoU said, “Establishing coordination between the formal justice institutions and informal justice institutions in solving the cases is very important. The activities of elders and experts in localities through shuras and jirgas can be very useful in solving legal disputes.” He said that the legitimacy of these shuras and jirgas and their activities in coordination with the formal justice institutions, improves the reconciliation and mediation process in the legal disputes.
Meanwhile, Mr. Abdullah Ahmadzai, the Head of Asia Foundation in Afghanistan said, restorative justice is a fact, which helps individuals in solving their property and other legal disputes. We want the formal justice institutions and informal justice institutions to have a standard coordination between them.” He added that the capacities and aptitudes of the righters and experts of the society should be utilized in implementing laws.
He added that the Asia Foundation was committed and favors this MoU to be implemented through awareness programs on the formal and informal justice, women rights, establishing peace and the role of jirgas and shuras in solving disputes, conducting training programs about the viewpoint of Islam on the rights of women, and the laws of Afghanistan, citizenship rights, child rights, managing judiciary, decision making skills, solving local disputes and other matters in the country.
It should be mentioned that this program is financially supported by the Royal Government of Netherland and the JIZ. Currently, this program is implemented by the Asia Foundation in the provinces of Baghlan, Balkh, Takhar, Juzjan, Samangan, and Kunduz, for a period of three years.
