INTERNATIONAL DONORS COORDINATE ON RULE OF LAW

UNCLAS KABUL 005299 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/FO DAS GASTRIGHT, SCA/A STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR AHARRIMAN CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A. CG CJTF-76 POLAD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KJUS PGOV PREL AF SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL DONORS COORDINATE ON RULE OF LAW ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Members of the international community met to try to better coordinate donor assistance to rule of law projects in Afghanistan. Major donors discussed the formation of an international justice reform coordination group that could facilitate information sharing and help better address the needs of the Afghan justice sector. The meeting was called by representatives from the United Nations Assistance Mission Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the new Italian Rule of Law Officer and it seems that the two entities are trying to push better donor coordination and attention for the justice sector. In advance of the next meeting, participants agreed to create a mission statement and a matrix listing donor activities in the provinces. This will lay the groundwork for a broader discussion on better ways to coordinate aid in the provinces and on where the gaps and overlaps presently exist. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) New Embassy Rule of Law Coordinator, Gary Peters, along with Deputy ROL Coordinator, INL, and USAID officers attended a meeting on international justice reform coordination, on October 31, called by UNAMA and the Italian Rule of Law officer. The purpose was to create a new body consisting of the major international contributors to justice programs in order to better coordinate the distribution of aid and to harmonize guidance to the GOA on justice reforms. Participants felt that the group could help the international community speak with one voice developing a single position as a group. The secretariat of the group is to be shared by UNAMA and the Italian representative while the chairperson will be selected on a rotating basis. Meetings are set to take place monthly at the UNAMA and Italian Justice compounds. Membership includes: UNAMA, UNODC, UNDP, UNIFEM, UNICEF, the Italian Embassy, American Embassy, British Embassy, Canadian Embassy, German Embassy, ISAF, European Commission, and the Office of the European Union Special Representative. The group decided to also invite a representative from the Norwegian Embassy. No Afghans were invited, but the group intends to be transparent with the GOA about its existence and activities. (NOTE: A name for the group has not yet been agreed upon. END NOTE.) ¶3. (U) The scope of the group's work remains under debate. Some of the participants advocated to keep the mandate broad, but most agreed that the focus should be on justice reform from the point where the prosecutors pick up a case to the release of prisoners. The Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court, National Directorate for Security (with regards to Security Courts),and the Attorney General's office would be included for discussion but the Ministry of Interior would, for the most part, remain the responsibility of the German-led Police working group. The ISAF representative emphasized that they are key supporters of justice reform and consider it a necessary component of security. ¶4. (U) The group decided to start its work focusing on better provincial coordination. A matrix will be created to collect information on all international donor programs in one place. After collection, the group will gather to discuss the creation of a provincial level mechanism to coordinate aid, similar to the Supreme Court Training Committee that oversees all judicial training. The matrix will also help donors better identify areas that need additional aid and potential overlaps. The UK will take the lead in drafting a mission statement and distribute to the group for clearance. The consensus of the group was that it should serve a strategic function, not merely as a forum for information sharing. ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: Post believes that this group has potential to improve donor coordination on justice reform efforts. The small size of the group, and determination of the members to see action are positive factors. END COMMENT. NEUMANN