Ministry of Justice Conducts National Conference on High Quality Justice and Legal Services

The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) of Islamic  Republic of Afghanistan  in cooperation  with  the   State Department of United States of America, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, Justice Sector Support  Program  of Afghanistan (JSSP),  held a national conference in Kabul during January 21-26, 2017,  on  delivering  high quality justice and legal services.  The Minister of Justice, Dr. Abdul Basir Anwar, Deputy Minister of Justice, Sayed Hashimi, and MOJ directors and key officials of Center and provinces participated in the conference at the Safi Landmark Hotel in Shar-e-Naw.

The Minister of Justice inaugurated the conference by saying, “The Ministry of Justice, Supreme Court, and Attorney General’s Office   constitute the third pillar of the justice system. The Ministry has taken the first  steps in correcting civil and  family cases  and attempts  to find their solution  prior to going to  court; and in the affairs  relevant to state property  defended before the courts, and providing legal aid for  juveniles in conflict with the law  and for  vulnerable groups including  women and children in civil cases as well.

Public Legal awareness and guardianship, correction and sound education of children and juveniles less than 18 years of age and their rehabilitation to society is one of the most important responsibilities of the Ministry of Justice. Failure in each area of the country’s justice system is a weakness and deficiency; and proves the significant status of the Ministry of Justice in Afghanistan’s justice system.

Minister Anwar continued by saying, I would like to clearly state that corruption in the Ministry of Justice and its relevant departments is corruption in the justice system; and corruption in the justice system does damage to the credibility and   prestige of the political order of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and international community.

He added that the Ministry of Justice mission from the very beginning of National Unity Government is to closely supervise and ensure merit-based recruitment of civil servants of the Ministry and efforts made, even in the insecure areas of the country, to hire staff with bachelor’s degrees and higher education.

I ask my colleagues all over the country particularly the respected leaders of justice departments to consider merit, honesty, trusteeship, and incentives for service delivery by our candidates. In case observation reveals unqualified newly hired staff in the probationary period, report it to the Minister’s office.  Assessment of civil servants and their institutions functionaries requires utmost scrutiny and trusteeship.  If influence is determined to be a factor in hiring unqualified staff, the Ministry will take corrective actions.

Minister Anwar described the low level of literacy in the country that has brought limitation of legal awareness of citizens.  The public remains in the dark about their rights and obligations, laws and regulations, scope of crimes, and their punishments. The Minister expects our esteemed colleagues to be service providers and pay serious attention to public awareness on their legal rights and to work towards reducing crime by citizens using rational and logical use of their rights.

He asked the justice department leaders  to  pay serious attention to  raising the level  of medical,  educational, religious, psychological,  and professional services particularly in information  technology and directly focus on providing a healthy and decent livelihood.

Showenwal Shah Wali Atayee, MOJ Director of Policy and Planning, spoke on the main and general objectives of the National Conference and significance of ministry strategic planning and receiving inputs from representatives of the 33 provinces to build an effective organization supporting the citizens of Afghanistan.

During the six-day National Conference participants discussed and evaluated the MOJ developed policy and strategic plan indicators of past years to include in operative plans of coming years. Participants reviewed and discussed the results-based planning and reporting system, Anti–Corruption Plan, the plan for prohibition of violence against women, Justice Sector Reform Plan and program.  The National Conference included workshops and training on MOJ procurement process, allocation, and budget guidelines.