Leaders and delegates pose during a family photo at the International Conference on Rule of Law in Afghanistan at the Foreign Ministry in Rome July 3, 2007. REUTERS/Dario Pignatelli (ITALY)

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, represented by the Honourable Helena Guergis, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Minister for Sport, today announced over $30 million in funds and projects to strengthen the rule of law in Afghanistan.

Today’s announcements, made at the Conference on the Rule of Law in Afghanistan in Rome, Italy, include the following:

- a minimum of $10 million a year, over the next three years, for strengthening the rule of law in Afghanistan, including a newly launched program to train judges and prosecutors and informal dispute resolution leaders throughout Kandahar province;

- up to $1.2 million for the construction of three Afghan National Police substations in Kandahar province, in addition to three substations recently funded and constructed by the Department of National Defence; and

- support for enhancing the presence of Correctional Services Canada in Afghanistan.

Canada also announced its strong support for an Afghan and international effort to coordinate justice sector activity in Afghanistan’s 34 provinces through the creation of a Provincial Justice Coordination Mechanism (PJCM). Composed of a central office in Kabul and eight regional offices in key population centres, the PJCM will serve as a framework to systematically expand the rule of law beyond Kabul and into the provinces to ensure that justice programs are effectively implemented. Canada stands ready to support this mechanism by funding a rule of law expert in the Kandahar City regional office.

These announcements build on measures announced in the past year by the Government of Canada, including the deployment of civilian and military police trainers at the national, regional and provincial levels; a $37 million contribution to the United Nations Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan, and $10 million to the UN Reforming the Justice System Program and the International Development Law Organization’s Strengthening the Rule of Law in Afghanistan Program. Last month, Prime Minister Harper announced Canada’s extensive participation in the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan and the creation of an in-service police training facility in Kandahar.

Canada has been active in the promotion of the rule of law, with a view to strengthening Afghan capacity, enhancing access to justice, and protecting and promoting human rights. Establishing the rule of law is integral to rebuilding Afghanistan and promoting peace, stability and democracy. Canada will continue to play an active role in empowering Afghans to build institutions that will foster good governance and the rule of law.

Backgrounder

FUNDING ANNOUNCED AT THE CONFERENCE ON THE RULE OF LAW IN AFGHANISTAN IN ROME, ITALY

The funds and projects announced today are provided by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, the Canadian International Development Agency, the Department of National Defence, and Public Safety Canada.

Canada will provide a minimum of $10 million a year, over the next three years, for strengthening the rule of law in Afghanistan. As part of this commitment, we have just launched a $175,000 project to help the Office of the Chief Prosecutor to train judges and prosecutors in Kandahar City and to train informal dispute resolution leaders in Kandahar's 17 districts. This project will also involve establishing two legal resource offices in Kandahar. Also as part of this commitment, we have signalled our intention to support international efforts to coordinate justice sector programming in Afghanistan's provinces through a proposed Provincial Justice Coordination Mechanism (PJCM). The PJCM will serve as a framework to systematically expand the rule of law beyond Kabul and into the provinces. Canada stands ready to support this mechanism with a rule of law expert in Kandahar. Canada's Minister of International Cooperation will make additional announcements in the coming days regarding our efforts to strengthen the rule of law in Afghanistan.

Canadian assistance in the area of justice sector reform in Afghanistan has included training for judges, prosecutors, public defenders and court administrators. We have provided almost $10 million to support the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Reforming the Justice System Program and the International Development Law Organization's Strengthening the Rule of Law in Afghanistan Program. Canada's efforts, rooted in the protection and promotion of human rights, include support to the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and support for the human rights of women, notably through family law reform. Canada is also a staunch supporter of Afghanistan's transitional justice action plan: Peace, Reconciliation and Justice.

In June, Prime Minister Harper announced Canada's extensive participation in the European Union Police Mission in Afghanistan and the creation of an in-service police training facility in Kandahar. Today's announcement will provide approximately $1.2 million for three additional Afghan National Police Substations in Kandahar province to augment the three substations recently constructed and funded by the Department of National Defence. This infrastructure will provide increased capacity to stabilize the province and help build public confidence in the police. Canada's comprehensive approach to police reform has also involved a $37 million commitment to the UNDP Law and Order Trust Fund, and the deployment of civilian and military police trainers and mentors at national, regional and provincial levels.

Canada has deployed Correctional Service of Canada advisers to both the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan in Kabul and our Provincial Reconstruction Team in Kandahar to help establish a professional prison service that respects the rule of law and international human rights standards and practices. Because Canada strongly believes in this aspect of justice and security sector reform, we intend to build on the work already under way in Kandahar by increasing our commitment in this area in the near future.

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