MOJ Launched a Three Digit Toll Free Number to Provide Free Legal Services
MOJ Launched a Three Digit Toll Free Number to Provide Free Legal Services
On February 4, 2017, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Legal Aid Department conducted a ceremony in the MoJ conference hall and launched a toll free number for callers on legal aid. MoJ authorities, representatives of the AGO, the Supreme Court, Ministry of Interior Affairs, Ministry of Information and Culture, Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs, donor organizations, justice and judicial institutions, and some other government and non-government organizations were among the participants at the ceremony.
“188” is the three-digit toll free number of the legal counseling center and each Afghan citizen can contact this number without any charge. Currently four employees, including two women and two men, operate the center. According to Sayed Mohammad Hashimi, MoJ Deputy Minister for Administration and Finance, provision of legal services and awareness are among the main responsibilities of MoJ and launching the center meets this purpose. He added, “We have made lots of efforts in this area in the past years; however, there is still the need to run awareness programs.”
Deputy Minister Hashimi said, “All Afghan citizens could receive legal counseling regarding civil, domestic, and commercial cases as well as issues from the center.”
Mohammad Ashraf Rasooli, a MoJ Senior Advisor, said the implementation of laws is one of the duties of MoJ. He added, “Legal awareness can pave the ground for the implementation of laws. These services are provided all over Afghanistan for the people who have access to telephones.”
Asadullah Wahdat, MoJ Legal Aid Director, added that people could use this number to share their suggestions and complaints. According to the Legal Aid Director, MoJ currently has 150 legal aid providers stationed in both the capital and provinces. Currently, there are 72 legal aid providers operating in 21 provinces of the country funded by the World Bank.
It is worth mentioning, that the toll free legal services call center is funded by World Bank at a sum of AFN 1,500,000. The call center provides legal services to people by telephone during official workdays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.