USAID Signs MoU with MoJ to Improve Access to Legal Process

Today, officials from the US Embassy, USAID/ADALAT and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the US Embassy in Kabul. The MoU will serve as a guiding document between USAID/ADALAT and the MOJ that outlines responsibilities and commitments of both parties. In April 2016, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Assistance for the Development of Afghan Legal Access and Transparency (ADALAT) to improve citizen access to quality justice services by increasing effectiveness and reach of the formal justice sector, strengthening linkages between the formal and traditional justice sectors, and increasing citizen demand for quality legal services. “The ADALAT program is a major step forward for the Afghan people to have a fair and just legal sector that will recognise their basic and fundamental rights,” said USAID Mission Director Herbie Smith. “I applaud the efforts of the Ministry of Justice to work with USAID in this endeavour to provide their citizens access to the legal process.” A press release from USAID stated that ADALAT and MoJ institutions are working closely together to increase the professionalism of justice sector actors, improve judicial administrative and management systems, and to strengthen the MoJ’s Huquq Department and its interaction with traditional justice actors. “The ADALAT project will improve human resources capacity in Huquq Directorate and simplify legal processes to provide better legal services for Afghans,” said Minister of Justice Abdul Basir Anwar.