Kabul, 8 May 2013
The construction of a permanent Crime Management College for the Afghan Ministry of Interior has been inaugurated with an official ground breaking ceremony in the presence of Deputy Minster of Interior, General Mirza Muhammad Yarmand, EU Special Representative and Head of Delegation, Ambassador Vygaudas Ušackas, Head of the EUPOL Mission, Karl-Åke Roghe, and IOM Mission Representative, Richard Danziger.
This EU-funded project, worth 3 million Euro, is part of the EU 15 million Euro programme in support of civilian police capacity building. The programme is also funding the construction of the Kabul Police Staff College, currently under construction in PD12, and a number of capacity building projects implemented by the European Police Mission Afghanistan (EUPOL). It is envisaged that the college will support up to 245 students with flexible capacity to accommodate female police in a dedicated accommodation, so as to facilitate their training and further their integration into the Afghan National Police (ANP).
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) is implementing the project, which also leads the construction of the new Police Staff College.
EUPOL is the main project partner and will continue to support the Ministry of the Interior and Training General Command in providing high quality specialised and leadership training after the constructions are complete, while it is expected that the Ministry of Interior will take over the day to day running of the training centres after completion and hand-over.
The programme reflects the EU's long-term commitment to the reconstruction and stabilisation of Afghanistan. It will contribute to advancing the professionalization of the Afghan National Police (ANP), hand in hand with the Afghan authorities and other international actors. A civilian police service capable of upholding the rule of law is crucial to democracy and to addressing the root causes of the insurgency.
Speaking at the cornerstone ceremony, Ambassador Ušackas said: "The European Union considers it vital to assist the Afghan Government in being self-reliant, and the training of Civilian Police is a step in this direction. A well trained Police force that respects the universal rights and freedoms is a key component in the transformation of Afghanistan into an independent and selfsufficient country". “The Crime Management College will be a symbol of the close cooperation between the European Union and the MoI and will help to continue the fruitful support of civilian policing in Afghanistan.” said Deputy Minister Yarmand. EUPOL's Head of Mission Roghe praised the event as: “A milestone in the history of the partnership between the EUPOL and Afghanistan, underlining the necessity to develop crime investigative capabilities for the ANP.”
Since 2002, the EU has provided support in the form of funding for police salaries and police and ministerial capacity building projects, channelled mainly through the Law and Order Trust Fund for Afghanistan (LOTFA). With a total contribution of Euro 312 million to date, the EU remains one of the largest contributors to this fund.
EUPOL, plays an important role in the training of Civilian Police in these two colleges, which are led by the Head of EUPOL Training Component – Chief Superintendent Tom Stabler. It also supports Afghan authorities in civilian policing and the development of the rule of law, specifically in areas such as strengthening Afghan criminal investigation systems and intelligence-led policing, as well as the implementation of an anti-corruption strategy.
A civilian police force capable of upholding the rule of law is crucial to state building and addressing the root causes of alienation that drive insurgency,” says IOM Chief of Mission Richard Danziger. "With these new training facilities, the Afghan National Police will be able to provide appropriate civilian policing services, thereby strengthening linkages between the government and communities which is one of IOM’s core objectives in Afghanistan."
IOM has eleven years of extensive experience in the construction of hospitals, schools and training centres in Afghanistan, including, for example, the Counter-Narcotics Training Academy in Kandahar.
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For further information please contact:
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EU Delegation to Afghanistan
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Christiane Buck
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