U.S. Government Provides Additional Funding for Continuation of Key Rule of Law and Counternarcotics Programs in Afghanistan

July 14, 2012

U.S. Government Provides Additional Funding for Continuation of Key Rule of Law and Counternarcotics Programs in Afghanistan

Deputy Foreign Minister Jawid Ludin and Deputy Ambassador of the United States of America James B. Cunningham participated in a signing ceremony on July 14, 2012, in which the Government of the United States of America, through the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), officially allocated an additional $151 million in funding for rule of law, counternarcotics and law enforcement programs to be carried out jointly with the Government of Afghanistan.  This is in addition to the $238 million allocated earlier in the year.  Through this total allocation of more than $389 million in 2012, the Government of the United States of America demonstrates its continued commitment to assisting the Afghan government and people in creating a safer and more secure Afghanistan.

The funding will help the United States and Afghanistan to achieve two of our shared major strategic objectives in Afghanistan.  INL’s rule of law programs will continue working with the Government of Afghanistan and our international partners to strengthen the criminal justice and corrections systems through programs that develop professional legal organizations, provide legal training, and fund support centers.  Reintegrating women into the legal sector and facilitating greater access to justice for all Afghan citizens are pivotal to programmatic success.  Supporting specialized training and mentoring for judges, prosecutors, members of the Bar and investigators on issues such as counternarcotics, alternatives to incarceration, case management, trafficking, corruption, and prosecutorial investigations remain key programs.  INL will continue to assist the Ministries of Interior and Justice to maintain correctional facilities, as well as mentor key corrections officials on management initiatives, such as providing safe and humane treatment of inmates, budget execution, transportation, and prison industries throughout the corrections system.

INL funding for counternarcotics will also continue to support programs that focus on reducing both the supply of and demand for opiates.  Programs include public information campaigns and outreach events to dissuade farmers from planting poppies and warn the public of the dangers of drug use.  INL will also continue to support 29 residential drug treatment centers, with plans to add four additional residential centers and ten outpatient centers in Afghanistan this year.  Governor-Led Eradication (GLE) efforts in the provinces, the Good Performers Initiative (GPI), and support of joint interdiction efforts will remain cornerstones of our counternarcotics efforts to combat the illicit drug trade in Afghanistan.