Years of war and Taliban rule have devastated Afghanistan’s judicial system, and many judges lack the skills and legal tools to manage their courts effectively.  Since 2005, USAID has made tremendous strides in restoring rule of law to Afghanistan through a series of innovative training programs for judges.  By the end of the three-year initiative in January 2009, USAID had provided legal knowledge and resources to 860 sitting judges – including 43 women – from all 34 provinces. 

The judges who participate in the program are dedicated to building a modern, transparent legal environment in Afghanistan, and are willing to undergo hardships to participate in the program.  One judge walked for eight days from his rural province to attend the training.   He commented, “I walked 14 hours a day to reach Kabul. The road is difficult, but the training is so important that it was worth the problems.” 

The final training program concluded on January 14, 2009.  Twenty-six judges from 16 provinces spent four weeks learning about topics including constitutional law, criminal law and procedure, contracts, commercial law, family law, and fair trials.  The graduating judges returned home equipped with new knowledge, a set of legal reference books, and a renewed passion to restore the rule of law throughout the country.

USAID/Afghanistan Program Highlights Double Issue: 1/16/2009-2/15/2009 2/15/2009