New York: Europe and the Arabs
The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in which it encouraged the implementation of the Secretary-General's recommendations on how to deal with the administration of the Afghan Taliban movement and address the challenges facing the country, including the violation of the rights of women and girls, as well as development, economic, social and human rights challenges, among a range of other issues.
Resolution 2721 received 13 favorable votes, while Russia and China abstained from voting. In the resolution, the Security Council encouraged Member States and all other relevant stakeholders to implement the recommendations made by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, in his independent assessment, “in particular to increase international engagement in a more coherent, coordinated and organized manner,” according to the UN daily news bulletin. We received a copy of it on Saturday morning
The Council stressed that the goal of this process should be “a clear end state of an Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbours, fully reintegrated into the international community and fulfilling international obligations.” It also recognized the need to ensure the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of Afghan women in all stages of this process. the operation.
The resolution also requested the Secretary-General to appoint a Special Envoy for Afghanistan to strengthen the implementation of the recommendations of the independent assessment, without prejudice to the mandate of UNAMA and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and their vital work in the country.
Independent evaluation
The independent assessment - led by Special Coordinator Feridun Sinirlioglu - was presented to the Council early last month and provides an engagement structure to guide and bring greater coherence to political, humanitarian and development activities and an objective roadmap that will enable greater effectiveness of negotiating activities and implementation of Afghan and international stakeholder priorities.
The assessment provides four broad recommendations to better meet the needs of the Afghan people, the interests of the region and the international community, and suggests ways to implement them, which include:
A series of measures that can be taken immediately and aim to meet the basic needs of the Afghan people and enhance confidence through more structured engagement;
Call for international attention and cooperation on issues that have an impact on regional and global security and stability;
A proposed roadmap for political engagement aimed at fully reintegrating Afghanistan into the international community, in line with Afghanistan’s international commitments and pledges, and with a degree of local and inclusive input conducive to achieving future peace and stability;
A set of mechanisms and formats to ensure coordination and implementation of these recommendations, including the appointment of a special envoy whose mission will be to focus on diplomacy among Afghanistan and international stakeholders, as well as on promoting intra-Afghan dialogue.