U.S Ambassador Hugo Llorens said at a session on Tuesday the number of women prosecutors should be increased in Afghanistan in order to provide women with better access to justice. 

The program was launched by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with Afghanistan’s Attorney General’s

Office (AGO), to place 242 Afghan female Law and Sharia graduates in a six-month internship program in in AG offices in all 34 provinces of Afghanistan.

U.S Ambassador Hugo Llorens, representatives from the U.S Government, USAID, Afghanistan’s Attorney General Mohammad Farid Hamidi, the Minister of Women’s Affairs Delbar Nazari, and other dignitaries participated at the event at the U.S Embassy where they acknowledged the challenges faced by women in the country.

“We are here to celebrate these remarkable young women who are pioneers and future leaders of Afghanistan’s justice system and to celebrate their achievement, applaud their courage and inspire them to move forward and realize their dreams,” Llorens said. 

“As they do, they will be driving social change in Afghanistan and are key architects in creating a system of justice that promotes and protects all members of society.” 

“We have had a huge opportunity to move beyond symbolic inclusion. Right now we have a genuine chance to promote what will be women’s substantial role and establish a modern rule of law system and a justice system that works for all Afghans,” the ambassador stated.   

At the same event, Attorney General Farid Hamidi said he is committed to tripling the number of women prosecutors to 17 percent across the country.

“We are committed to increasing the number of female prosecutors in the country, and addressing the issues so many Afghan women face through our justice system,” said Hamidi. “We pledge our full support to the interns, and this program to address these lingering issues on a permanent basis,” he said.

Commenting on the role of women in judicial organizations, Women’s Affairs Minister Delbar Nazari said: “We are happy about the program. Such programs will boost women’s access to justice.”

A recent survey by the International Development Law Organization found that in 2013 Afghan women made up only eight percent of the country’s judges, six percent of prosecutors and less than one fifth of lawyers.