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