ACKU’s Motto Is Nation Building Through Information Sharing. The Main Objective Of ACKU Is To Provide Open Access To Information On Afghanistan To Researchers, University Students, Teachers And Public As A Whole. This Is Achieved By Collecting, Categorizing, Cataloging And Digitizing More Than 14,905 Volume Of Books, Magazines, Newspapers, Reports And Articles About Afghanistan And Publish It Online Through A State Of The Art Web Based Database (Portal), And Are Available For Access Through Internet Globally.
ACKU’s Goal For This Particular Project Is To “Establish A Digital Library/Repository Of Afghanistan’s Contemporary Laws” By Acquiring And Completing The Collection Of All Official Gazettes, Which Contains These Documents; Professionally Categorize (Classified) And Catalog Them; Digitize And Place Them In A Dedicated User-Friendly Web Base Database To Be Accessible Through Internet To The National And International Researchers, Legal Authorities (Lawyers, Judges, Legal Advisors, Attorney), University Students, Teachers And Public As A Whole. Currently The Project Is Ongoing. Official Gazettes Published Till Date Are Acquired, And Laws Are Classified In To Three Categories; They Are Scientific, Hierarchical, And Sectoral.
Laws In Dari And Pashto Are Typed, Quality Checked. After The Receipt Of Approval From The Committee Comprising Members From Academia, And Legal Sectors, These Typed Laws Will Be Made Available For Users At Free Of Cost. Search For Laws Are Simplified By Categorizing Them Under These There Classifications. Over And Above The Contents Are Full Texts Searchable In Dari, Pashto, And English. To Help The Users, A Comprehensive But Brief History Of Afghanistan Laws Is Also Offered As Below:……
Since The Human’s Individual Life Grows Into A Social Life, Was Contrary To The Nature Of Human’s Life To Continue And Improve The Life Without Sets Of Social Rules. These Rules (Religious, Moral, Customary And Legal) Have Passed Through Different Phases In The Evolution Of Stages Of Life In Every Society, Considering The Aspects Like Moral Conviction, Social, Economic And Geographical – Strives To Enforce Rule Bring About Order In The Social Life. Considering Above And Based On The Needs, Human Then Created States And Governments. It Was Then Contrary To The Nature Of States To Continue Without Rules And Regulation For Social Norms. In The Process Of Transformation In Our Country, Starting In 1298 Hijri (1919) Various Governments Attempted For Law Making And Adopted Laws Which, This Trend Can Be Seen In Three Separate Phases:
• First – Law Of The State (Nizam Naama): – This Phase Began From 1298 To 1307 Solar. (Area Of Amanullah Regime);
• Second – Code Of Principle (Osul Naama): – This Stage Starts From 1308 Solar And Continued Through 1342;
• Third – The Official Gazettes: – This Stage Began In 1342 And Continues Up To Now. This Phase Of Law Making In Afghanistan Is Distinct From Different Aspects:
– The Term Of Law ((قانون Was Officially Recognized In Afghanistan Legal System And Is An Official Terminology.
– The Official Gazette Recognized As Official Legislative Publication Magazine, When The First Issue Of Official Gazette Published In Five Articles And Entering Into Force, With The Beginning Of The Official Gazettes All Legislations And Other Legal Matters, Administrative And Legal Aspects, Brought To Public Awareness. Legislations Published During This Period Included: Royal Decrees, Laws, Ratifications, Bills, Amendments And Annexes, Parliaments, Supreme Council Of Ministers Ratification, International Agreements And Treaties, Agreements, Official Announcements And Advertisements, Courts, And Financial Agreements.
– Hierarchy Of Legislation Was Considered By National And International Standards, Following The Regulation For Preparation And Process Of Legislative Documents, Including Laws, Decrees, Agreements (International Obligation). After Official Process Approved Legislations Documents Will Be Published In Official Gazette Which Has Its Particular Hierarchy.
On The Other Hand, Pleasure That Laws And Legislation From Independence Period (1919) Till Now, Including Official Gazette Which First Published On March 1964 Are All Available. However The Utilization Of Legislation Was Not Simplified. In Order To Address The Need Laws Of Afghanistan Are Classified Into Three Categories. They Are:
• Scientific Classification Of Afghanistan Laws
• Sectoral/Thematic Classification Of Afghanistan Laws
• Hierarchical Classification Of Afghanistan Laws
Currently All Official Gazettes (Dari And Pashto) Published Till Date, Are Continued To Upload And Be Open Access For Public Globally Through A User-Friendly Legal Database Launched By Afghanistan Centre At Kabul University (ACKU). This Activity Will Be Continuous. The Translation Of The Laws Into English Language Is Expected To Happen In A Separate Phase Of The Project. Thank You For The Efforts And Dedicates Continues From ACKU In Implementing This Outstanding Project.
With Respect
Nasrullah Stanikzai
Project Consultant