Photo By 1st Lt. Lory Stevens | The Judge Advocate General of the U. S. Army, Lt. Gen. Scott C. Black met with Parwan...... read more read more
Subscribe
BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan — The Judge Advocate General of the United States Army, Lt. Gen. Scott C. Black travelled to the Bagram District, Parwan province, July 11, to celebrate the ground breaking of the first in a series of new court houses. This will further the rule of law within the provinces and increase legitimate systems of the government.
Provincial Chief Judge, Abdul Ghafar Saeym, Chief Prosecutor of Parwan, Abdul Basheer Yaqobi, members of Combined Joint Task Force - 82 and Task Force Warrior gathered near the Bagram district center to lay foundation stones for the new district court house, as well as acknowledge the hard work and efforts of provincial and district government and justice sector officials.
"This courthouse is only a building, but what it stands for is justice," said Black, explaining how people will be able to come to this place and solve their disputes peacefully.
U.S. Army Capt. Bruce Tyler, TF Warrior command judge advocate, said it is impossible for the government of Afghanistan to maintain legitimacy without a functioning justice system. A system of checks and balances is needed in order to eliminate crime and corruption, provide suspects a fair and just trial, prosecute criminals, and establish correctional facilities not only to house convicted criminals, but also rehabilitate those capable of reintegrating back into society upon completion of their punishment.
A legal system also allows Afghans to better secure themselves and offers the international community an exit strategy from Afghanistan.
"As businesses start to thrive in Afghanistan, a system to handle property rights and disputes is needed or else businesses will not develop," Tyler said, stressing the importance of a legal system to support Afghan national police functions in securing the population.
Over the past year, the Commander's Emergency Response Program funded projects to provide district and provincial courts in Kapisa, Parwan, Panjshir, and Bamyan provinces with office supplies, Afghan constitutions, more than 30,000 Rule of Law comic books, 300 Qaza Magazine sets, 500 judicial reference sets, 800 Afghan civics guides, and 10 sets of the most comprehensive legal library in Afghanistan.
Other Rule of Law efforts included the facilitation of radio broadcasts dedicated to Rule of Law issues and legal research courses for Kapisa and Parwan judges.
The TF Warrior CJA developed and produced two iterations of Rule of Law Training and Evaluation Program, where district justice officials received training and mentoring concerning the entire justice process from suspicion of a crime to trial.
With only one registered defense attorney in Kapisa and Parwan provinces, a Pro Bono clinic in coordination with Albironi University Law School and the Afghan Bar Association was initiated, allowing more Afghans to be represented by qualified defense counsel when accused of a crime. In addition, five local national attorneys were hired to move throughout the provinces conducting training for judges, lawyers, and tribal elders regarding ethics, criminal procedures, and human rights.
CJTF-82 Staff Judge Advocate, Army Lt. Col. Jeffrey Hagler, attended the ground breaking ceremony.
"This court house will enable the people of Bagram District to resolve conflicts through and with their government," he said, excited and confident about the growing capacity of the police, the prosecutors, and the judiciary to effect change and provide security for their own citizens.
| Date Taken: | 07.11.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 07.14.2009 12:15 |
| Story ID: | 36358 |
| Location: | BAGRAM AIR FIELD, AF |
| Web Views: | 168 |
| Downloads: | 133 |
This work, Task Force Warrior furthering rule of law in Afghanistan, by 1LT Lory Stevens, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
