Canada will provide $8 million towards three new projects that are aimed at helping promote the rule of law and enhancing the justice system in Afghanistan.
The three projects are being implemented by the International Criminal Defence Attorneys Association, Rights and Democracy and CANADAEM.
"Today, Canada's New Government is partnering with trusted organizations to help Afghanistan make crucial legal reforms and build a sustainable foundation for the promotion of justice and the rule of law," International Cooperation Minister Josee Verner announced Thursday in a news conference.
"Canada's funding will help extend the scope of legal-judicial reform in Afghanistan to reach the most disadvantaged, including women and some of the most vulnerable elements of society."
The announcement came amid the results of a new poll that suggested Canadians are becoming more alarmed about the growing number of Canadian casualties in Afghanistan.
The Canadian Press-Decima Research poll found that 67 per cent of those asked felt the number of Canadians killed or wounded is unacceptably high -- even when considering whatever progress has been made rebuilding Afghanistan.
By contrast, only 25 per cent of those surveyed felt the casualties were acceptable.
The federal government's news release said the announcement builds on Canada's commitment at the Conference on the Rule of Law in Afghanistan earlier this month in Rome, when Canada announced more than $30 million in rule of law spending in Afghanistan.
The money announced Thursday will be allocated as follows:
- In total, $2.9 million will go to the ICDAA, which works with the International Legal Foundation-Afghanistan to provide legal services to Afghanistan's poorest. The new funds will help create an Afghan-run legal-aid service.
- Rights and Democracy will receive $5 million for a project to promote legal and policy reforms to improve the status of women through building local capacity to conduct research, advocate for family law reform and help raise public awareness.
- CANADEM will receive $680,000 for the deployment of an advisor to provides strategic advice to the Afghan Ministry of Interior regarding the enhancement of the role and representation of female police officers in both the MOI and the Afghan National Police.
