Burma
[Remarks as Prepared]
Today the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, joins with the Union Attorney General's Office in announcing the United States Government's significant commitment to strengthening the rule of law for the people of Myanmar.
The Union Attorney General's Office is launching their new five-year strategic plan for 2020-2025. This plan builds the institutional capacity of the Union Attorney General's Office by adopting modern, progressive, and internationally accepted procedures across all departments. We all understand and appreciate how vital this effort is. The United States is proud to have partnered with the Union Attorney General's Office in supporting your efforts to develop this Strategic Plan.
The Union Attorney General's Office is the cornerstone institution in the Government's efforts to strengthen the rule of law for the people of Myanmar. The people of the United States, through USAID, our Department of Justice, and the Department of State, are committed to strengthening our partnership with the Union Attorney General's Office to reach the goal of providing justice for all.
All of us recognize the hard work of the Union Attorney General's Office staff in developing this excellent blueprint for future operations for the next five years.
Our collaboration with the Union Attorney General's Office began in early 2019 when USAID's Promoting the Rule of Law in Myanmar project conducted a Human and Institutional Capacity Development Assessment. Mr. Attorney General, your staff studied the data and conducted an extensive evaluation of the operations and policies of the organization. This provided a detailed understanding of the scope of your operations. You have a strong framework for evaluating the results you achieve against your goals and objectives. This demonstrates your clear commitment to the rule of law and service to all of the people of Myanmar.
Your strategic plan is designed to advance many goals and objectives of the Union Coordination Body for Rule of Law Centers and Justice Sector Affairs’s Strategic Plan. The government's blueprint for the sector heavily influenced Goal 5 of the new Union Attorney General's Office Strategic Plan, where you commit to taking an active role in Justice Sector reform. You are to be commended for your efforts, and USAID was honored to contribute to this important process.
Your Strategic Plan is something all Union Attorney General's Office staff should be proud of; it is ambitious and forward-looking. The first goal recognizes that effective and efficient operations and administration lay the foundation for providing high-quality services to the people and Government of Myanmar … but as you have recognized, efficiency on its own is not enough.
In the Union Attorney General's Office’s role as the government's lawyer, the plan recognizes that sound advice to the government, and the Hluttaw, is required for a successful functioning government, and to the ongoing reform efforts within the government and in the economy
You have committed to enhancing the role of prosecutors; ensuring your law officers become pillars of a fair and just criminal justice system. The plan acknowledges the importance of public trust. Integrity, along with a high-performing Union Attorney General's Office, can only be achieved by holding law officers to the highest standards of professionalism. Your emphasis on Fair Trial standards and the Code of Ethics will build greater public trust and confidence in this important institution.
The Union Attorney General's Office is at the heart of the government's efforts to advance Myanmar's democratic transition. The final goal recognizes the Union Attorney General's Office's crucial role in strengthening and improving the justice sector, a necessity for a thriving democracy.
USAID is honored to join with you in launching this landmark Strategic Plan, which brings us well into the new decade. The United States Government is committed to its partnership with the Union Attorney General's Office to strengthen this important program's implementation. The work ahead will be challenging, but it is good work and well-worth it.
