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Afghanistan

Download video of the Independent Afghan Bar Association Inauguration Part 1
Download video of the Independent Afghan Bar Association Inauguration Part 2

First general meeting of the Afghan Bar

The first ever Afghan bar association, the Independent Afghan Bar Association (IABA), came to fruition on 30 July 2008 at a General Assembly in Kabul which was attended by over 400 leaders and lawyers representing all parts of Afghanistan.  Since 2004, the IBAHRI has been engaged in a project to establish an independent bar association in Afghanistan under a grant from the Swedish Foreign Ministry and the assistance of the International Legal Assistance Consortium.  The IBAHRI was instrumental in drafting the legislation for creating the bar association in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and also played a key role in explaining the legislation to parliamentarians during debates.

The establishment of a Bar Association in Afghanistan will act as a necessary counterpoint to government and the courts in the delivery of justice and the rule of law in the country. It is anticipated that the number of trained lawyers will rise and the scope of their work will expand as a direct result of the Bar’s inception.

Press release: IBA assists in set up of first ever Afghan bar association, August 2008

Legal Specialist

In September 2008, the IBAHRI placed a legal specialist in Kabul to assist with the development of the bar thanks to support further support from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  The legal specialist will work closely with the bar association on behalf of the IBAHRI to continue assisting in the development of the bar to a fully-functioning, independent and sustainable organisation. 

The IBAHRI has previously placed two other legal specialists in Kabul to liase with local and international stakeholders to ensure understanding and acceptance of the legislation and work on a glossary of legal terminology to be referred to in the drafting and translation of legislation.

For more information on the programme in Afghanistan please contact phillip.tahmindjis@int-bar.org