Legal Aids Department of Ministry of Justice Convene A Consultative Meeting

August 22, 2017

The Legal Aids Department of Ministry of Justice of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan convened a Consultative meeting in order to assess the Legal Aid System, Policies related to Legal Aids services, Working Plan and to propose the draft amendments to regulation on Legal Aids.

Minister of Justice of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dr. Abdul Basir Anwar in his opening speech said: “the right to have defense attorney or legal Aid provider is one of the fundamental rights of accused and suspect which is stated in both, domestic laws and international covenants. In accordance with the Article 31 of Constitution, Article Three of Advocate’s Law, Regulation on Legal Aid Services and Presidential Decree Number 129 of year 2012, providing legal aid Services and Legal Consultations are one of the important responsibilities of the Ministry of Justice. Fortunately, this Ministry has defended from the rights of indigent accused and suspects and has provided them free legal consultations. Ministry of Justice and the World Bank Legal Aid Providers have provided free legal aid services for 7000 criminal and civil cases in last one year. Meanwhile, Ministry of Justice with creating legal services center through phone number 188, has provided free legal consultations for citizens”.

Minister of Justice added: “this ministry has created 30 new vacancies for Legal Aids Department in Kabul and provinces. He added, the current staff of the legal aids department is not enough and it should be expanded”.

At the end, Minister of Justice requested MOJ’s National and International counterparts to cooperate with Ministry of Justice in the areas related to legal aids.