21 June 2011. Renee Carrico, Section Leader at Ministry Of Justice Assistance Section (MOJAS) along with her team at JSSP (Justice Sector Support Program) met with H.E. Minister Ghalib.
The meeting was focused on cooperation between JSSP and legal aid providers and their merger with Legal Aid Department at the Ministry of Justice.
H.E Minister Ghalib requested from Sumayyah Sayed, JSSP Public Affairs Advisor to MOJ, to set up communication of provinces with the Kabul headquarters via internet so that Ministry of Justice can have timely access to necessary information and reports. Moreover, Minster of Justice asked JSSP to assist in informing the public about the AWCC 2030 feature where the public can call in and lodge complaints, suggestions or leave messages for the Ministry.
H.E Minister Ghalib requested for assistance in Legal Aid, “we want to expand the Legal Aid organizational structure by opening Legal Aid offices in all provinces to provide legal aid to indigent people. We want legal aid providers to merge with Legal Aid Department and become a part of its organizational structure. We do not want the agencies which provide legal aid to work parallel with the government and we want them to merge with Ministry of Justice gradually in two or three years of transition period. The donations of legal aid providing organizations to legal aid department should be given through the Ministry so that all the employees of legal aid receive equal payments.”
Ms Carrico mentioned talks held with Mr Wahdat, Director General for Legal Aid Department, regarding this issue. “JSSP will continue its support to Ministry of Justice.” JSSP supports the merger of ILF_A legal aid providers with Ministry of Justice.
She also introduced new team members, Susan Stamper, Human Rights Advisor, and Charles Parker, Criminal Defense Advisor. Fazl Menallah, National Legal Advisor, also attended this meeting and will be working together with MS stamper in the future.
