A Four Days “National Coordination Conference among EVAW Entities” Launched

“Despite having the capacity and workforce, working individually will not yield a desirable and effective result” stated by Saranpoh Mohammad Farid Hamidi, Attorney General of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on National Coordination Conference among EVAW Entities.

Sawrar Danish, 2nd Vice President,  Dilbar Nazary, Minister of Women Affairs, Mohammad Zaman Sangari, member of High Council of the Supreme Court, Deputies of the AGO, in charges of IDLO, Richard, representative of the Human Rights in Afghanistan and prosecutors of anti-violence against women from the country was present at this conference.

During the first day of this the conference, Mr. Hamidi emphasized on the coordination and cooperation of governmental entities. He added, “We have good laws and workforce with the capacity and our institutions are ready for serving the nation, but individually working is not effective and will not have any desirable result. Hence, one of the main goal of this conference is to build cooperation and coordination among those entities who are working in support of the rights of the family members and ensuring justice.”

Mr. Hamidi also spoke about the behavior of the AGO employee with the visitors and added that the secret behind a successful prosecutor is to be very decisive in terms of implementing the law, ensuring justice, having a compassionate heart, being humble and behaving with dignity with the visitors of this Office.

The Attorney General also emphasis on respect to people’s freedom and added, “it is okay that due to the legal necessity, people are being monitored; but given the value and respect for citizens, imprisonment of people should be the last option of every prosecutor.”

Mr. Farid Hamidi said that we have to treat the victims of the violence against women in such a way that they ensure that justice, rule of law and government entities of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan have the necessary skills to deal with cases of violence against women. According to him, ensuring the victim’s privacy is also one of the main issues in dealing with cases of violence against women and that has to be observed.

The Attorney General emphasized that along with professional capacity, the methods of reaching the realities of the underwork cases, skills for good behaving, giving the sense of assurance and confidence, protecting the privacy and impunity to the victims of violence against women are those important responsibilities of the governmental entities who are operating in the field of combating violence against women.

The Attorney General of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan added that every citizen of the country, have the right to work in a sound working environment, as it is mentioned in the Constitution. According to him, providing such kind of opportunity and environment at both public and private educational centers is the duty of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the governmental entities. He further added that, “Whenever this principle is violated by any entity or individual, the impartial, independent and non-partial justice and judiciary entities of Afghanistan is ready to investigate such cases decisively and with an iron will.”

During this conference, Mr. Hamidi said that whoever has any complaint, he/she should dare and refer their cases for justice and judicially organs, while their identity, privacy, impunity, and dignity will be protected and their complaints will be addressed with full power and decisively.

According to the Attorney General, both public and private educational centers and public offices, are for serving the Afghan people and we must have such kind of sound working environments in light of the laws of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

Mr. Hamidi added that opinions and exchange of views during this conference will be very useful for the capacity of the AGO and other entities employees who are actively working in this field. He hoped that the findings of this conference will lead us to the desired results and practical solutions to be able to serve the people of Afghanistan based on the law.

During the first day of the conference, Mohammad Sarwar Danish, the 2nd Vice President said that during this conference it is expected to talk on all aspects of the violence against women and to find a serious, practical and vast solution for every challenge.

Mr. Danish added, “Despite the recent steps toward combatting violence against women, but with regret still there are many cultural, economic and political deprivation in the life of women.”

According to him, in the government of National Unity, in addition to serious combat in the field of violations against women, we have taken serious steps to strengthen the position and participation of women at the levels of leadership, management and economic activities, and the adoption of legislative documents.

The Vice President also praised the increase of the female staff at the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and added that during the last three years, the number of female staff at this The office has increased from 3 % to 22 %.

In terms of the achievement of the AGO for supporting women rights, Mr. Danish said, “Deputy of the Attorney General in Eliminating Violence against Women (EVAW) and 13 other directorates are being led by women. The number of the female prosecutors has reached 510 and in 32 provinces of the country the provincial offices of EVAW are led by women and there are 16 female prosecutors at districts.

The Vice President added that if the conclusions of this conference contain any cases or plans that would require a decision by the leadership of the government, on behalf of the government, I declare that I will stand by you.

During the first day of the conference, Rula Ghani, the First Lady of the country, in her video message, praised the AGO leadership's efforts for launching national conferences and educational programs to fight violence against women. According to her, the efforts of the Attorney General and his deputy in the field of combating violence against women and juvenile delinquency are tangible and acceptable. Rula Ghani added that during recent years, serious and fundamental works (drafting and approval of laws and regulations) has been done on women's access to justice, which has given women more access to justice.

Meanwhile, Dilbar Nazary, Minister of Women's Affairs who spoke at this conference, appreciated the efforts of the Attorney General's leadership to expand the presence of women, especially female prosecutors at the Attorney General's office.

He added that the Attorney General's Office, in coordination with the Ministry of Women's Affairs and Judicial Systems, has launched the project of Witness-and-Victim, but a mechanism that can solicit the number of such kind of programs requires a systematic and well-documented work plan.

He called on the Ministry of Public Health and other relevant institutions to work closely together on acute cases of violence against women and to pave the way for the treatment of those who suffered at home or abroad.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Zaman Sangari, member of the High Council of the Supreme Court, at the conference, spoke about the value and position of women in Islam, adding: "The only religion that values the greatness, merit, and status of women is the sacred religion of Islam." He added that the Supreme Court has full coordination with the AGO for investigating cases of violence against women and we are jointly struggling in this area.

Mr. Sankari also spoke about the establishment of Specialized Courts for the investigation of cases of violence against women, adding that the Supreme Court of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, concerning the international commitment of the state and the sensitivity of the matter, to address cases of violence against women, during last three years has established Specialized Courts to deal with such cases In 28 provinces of the country.

Richard, Human Rights Representative in Afghanistan, also expressed appreciation for the achievements and performances of the Attorney General's Office, adding that the Attorney General's efforts to strengthen and strengthen the prosecution and support women and their rights are appraisable. He added that in recent years, the Attorney General has increased the presence of women at the district level, which itself illustrates the support of the leadership of the Attorney General's Office for women.

He further said that investigating and prosecuting criminals and convicting them is a very heavy responsibility and doing this by alone will be very difficult, so that the relevant institutions need to work together in this area.

The conference was held in partnership with the IDLO and will continue for three days.