Within a fortnight of announcing $30 million aid to Afghanistan to promote the rule of law there, Canada Thursday promised an additional $8 million financial assistance for the same purpose .

 

The amount would be used to fund three different projects being implemented by the International Criminal Defense Attorney Association, Rights & Democracy and CANADEM, said the announcement made by Canadian Minister for International Cooperation.

 

"Canada 's funding will help extend the scope of legal-judicial reform in Afghanistan to reach the most disadvantaged, including women and some of the most vulnerable elements of the society," he said.

 

The fresh Canadian aid has been welcomed by the Afghan Ambassador to Canada, Omar Samad .

 

"Each initiative will go a long way to build up institutions and capacities to defend the rights and improve the lives of Afghans, in particular those of the women of my country," Samad said .

 

Providing legal aid to poor Afghans since 2003, International Criminal Defense Attorney Association, in association with the International Legal Foundation-Afghanistan would get $2.9 million to create a nationalised, Afghan-run legal aid service provider that can operate independently .

 

Another $5 million aid to Rights & Democracy is to help implement a key project to promote legal and policy reforms to improve the status of women by mobilising opinion leaders, advocates and public authorities in both urban and rural areas on a range of women rights and family law issues.

 

The project will seek to build local capacity to conduct research, advocate for family law reform and help raise public awareness, said the minister .