Profiled Technical Advisors

Fouz Abdel Hadi, Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Justice

Fouz Abdel Hadi has been collaborating with the Afghan Ministry of Justice since February 2009 through her capacity as Technical Advisor. She assists the unit in many aspects, including the integration of modern information technology capacities and mainstreaming human rights concepts in the writing of bills and legislation.

Fouz is a leading legal and human rights expert, with over 10 years of experience in the legal field including legal drafting, counseling, specializing in Islamic legislative methodologies, with focus on human rights enhancement and three legal systems: Common law, civil law and Islamic law. Fouz's work is based on the foundations laid in the “Legislative Drafting Assistance” Project Document funded by the Government of Canada in oder to develop a work plan, strategic advice and capacity development support for the legislative drafting process by conducting organizational analyses, training and mentoring and enhancing Afghan, Donor and NGO coordination.

• Read on Fouz's participation in conferences promoting gender awareness and human rights in Afghanistan's judicial system: Gender Justice in Afghanistan
• Read an excerpt of an interview where Fouz describes her activities within the Ministry of Justice: Q&A with Fouz Abdel Hadi, Canadian Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Justice

Anne Longston, Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Education

Advisor to the Ministry of Education, Anne Longston provided policy advice to the Ministry, including how to provide women and girls better access to education. Pictured left with a group of Afghan girls and boys.

Anne is a senior executive within the Department of Education for the Province of Manitoba with 23 years of experience as an administrator and teacher and leadership in the areas of team development and innovative programming. Anne provided independent advice for the Minister of Education on key initiatives, built capacity of the ministry, identified research needs, acted as liaison for existing education sector donor and NGO coordination group, and supported the Ministry’s organizational reform process of Public Administrative Reform. Anne was a key advocate in the establishment of the Education Development Board, established by the Ministry of Education to discuss education policy and ensure donor coordination.

• Read Anne Longston's article "Education in Afghanistan", from the Official Magazine of the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents, published in Fall 2009

Tonita Murray, Gender Advisor to the Ministry of Interior

Tonita Murray, newly retired from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), where she served as Director General for the Canadian Police College, is currently working with the Ministry of Interior as a senior police and gender advisor. With 35 years experience in leadership in policing at the international, federal and provincial levels, Tonita also possesses extensive international development experience in post-conflict situations in Eastern Europe and Australia. She has extensive knowledge and experience in strategic and operational planning  to pass on to her Afghan counterparts. Her main objectives are to conduct an evaluation on the status of police women within the Afghan National Police. She is assists in gender mainstreaming and raising awareness among male and female police officer on the importance of gender equity.