Mr. Bernd Messer Schmidt, Director of Rule of Law, in GIZ, called on His Excellency Dr. Abdul Basir Anwar, Minister of Justice of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, at his office on 20/05/1395.

Mr. Schmidt, elucidating the cooperation of GIZ, said to the Minister of Justice: “Sometimes back, eight staff members of the Ministry of Justice for the Master’s Degree Program and one staff member of the ministry for the BA Degree Program, have been introduced. Also, another 12 people are working in the relevant offices of the ministry as interns, with the support of the GIZ”.

Mr. Schmidt added that seven staff members of the Legislation (Taqneen) Department were introduced to the American University in Kabul to learn the English language, but due to some difficulties, the said process had been stopped.

He further said: “We arrange a coordination meetings between the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Women Affairs, once every month. We also help in the area of providing legal awareness and other programs at provincial level in the Badakhshan, Takhar, Kunduz, Samangan, Baghlan, Balkh, Jozjan and Herat provinces”.

He maintained that the GIZ had constructed a building for the directorate of LegislationHuqooq in the district of Khulm, Balk Province, and one of their colleagues was working with the Criminal CodeWorking Group.

Mr. Schmidt, after explaining the cooperation of the GIZ, put some suggestions before the Minister of Justice:

• If possible, the capital punishment/death sentence should be excluded from the Criminal Code;
• Judges should be punished, in case of misfeasance
• Articles in the Penal Code were increasing day by day, in my opinion, some sections that are not very serious, should be referred to courts, to avoid the voluminouslyof thecriminal Code.

And based on the Work Plan for 1395 of the Legislative (Taqneen) Department, the Anti-Corruption Law is being drafted, I would like to know about the progress in it, and what can we help in this regard.

The Minister of Justice expressed his gratitude and thanked the GIZ for its cooperation, and giving suitable answers to the queries of Mr. Schmidt, put some suggestions of the Ministry of Justice before him:

• “I hope, the number of the staff members of the Ministry of Justice that are introduced for the BA and Master’s degree programs are, increased”.
• “I hope the GIZ cooperate with Legislative Stage Program, because, it helps in development, reform, advancement and legislation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan”.
• “Provide information with regard to your cooperation with the Provincial Departments of Justice to us”.
• “If possible, drill a deep well for the Department of Justice in Samangan Province, because they in badly need of a well”.
• “If possible, construct buildings for the Directorates of Huqooq, we would highly appreciate your cooperation”.
• His Excellency, the minister also asked the GIZ to invite one of their expert to Afghanistan, in order to enrich the Anti-Corruption Law and share his/her experience in the implementation of the contents of the international convention.

Mr. Schmidt, in reply to the suggestions of the Justice Minister said: “Although, our programs have changed and upgraded from construction of infrastructures to the capacity building/raising, nevertheless, the construction of Justice Department of the Blakh Province is in progress. Apart from that, we have undertaken the restoration/amendment of the Public Prosecutor building of the Kunduz Province. Also, besides restoring the Justice Department of the Kunduz Province, we have constructed buildings for the Huqooq Directorate in six districts of the Kunduz Province. We plan to build a legal clinic for the Kunduz University”.

He added that the construction of at least one building for the Huqooq Directorate in Badakhshan Province was in the plans of GIZ for the next year.

At the end, Mr. Schmidt assured the minister to take the recommendations and suggestions of the Ministry of Justice into account and address them within the feasibilities.