YouSaid · the spoken record

Brahimi

lines on the record: 382
first: 1992-07-15
most recent: 2021-09-07
sittings or episodes: 17
sources: un-security-council

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“As a sign of his determination to avoid them, the Transitional Administration recently launched a poppy eradication programme in conjunction with the governors of the five main drug-producing provinces. It is too early to say how effective that campaign will be. At the same time, it is clear that the provision of alternative livelihoods in drug- producing areas is urgently needed for the eradication programme to be sustainable over the long term. As I said at the outset, the progress made over the past year in implementing the peace process has been remarkable, but now is not the time for complacency. This year's agenda is every bit as challenging as last year's was, if not more so. I am optimistic that the progress made to date can be capitalized upon and that the challenges ahead can be met.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“According to the 2002 Opium Survey of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, after several years of reduced production, significant poppy cultivation resumed in 2002. Much of that is driven by poverty and economic necessity. However, other aspects of the drug economy - such as the refining and transportation of drug products - are driven less by poverty than by the opportunity for massive and illicit profits. In the past in Afghanistan, such profits have been used to nurture a war economy. During this transitional period, it is crucial that such an economy not be allowed to regain its former proportions. President Karzai is well aware of these dangers.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“As the Council knows, the Afghan Government, UNAMA and other partners have been working hard to prepare for the difficult problems of winter. So far, the winter in Afghanistan has not been as harsh as had been feared. The Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development is leading in the winter response effort and continues to make progress in planning and coordinating assistance for those affected. Food commodities as well as non-food and shelter items have been dispatched where needed throughout the country, and distributions to beneficiaries are scheduled to continue during February. The United Nations Joint Logistics Cell and UNOPS are working closely together to help ensure that critical roads remain open. Drug production and trafficking in Afghanistan remain a critical concern.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“I strongly encourage donors to follow up on the initial positive response to TAPA that they demonstrated in Oslo, where firm commitments were made against the $815 million required. One of the highest priorities in assistance this year will be to support the communities likely to bear the impact of the additional 1.2 million refugees who we expect will return in 2003. Encouraging progress has already been made this year in creating labour- intensive programmes and in developing the national emergency employment programme. The latter is anticipated to generate millions of workdays and to assist in reviving local economies. In selected provinces, a preparatory employment project is already ongoing with oversight from the ministries, supported by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“The United Nations Transitional Assistance Programme for Afghanistan (TAPA) was launched in Oslo last December during the final meeting of the Afghan Support Group. TAPA reflects an agreement between the Transitional Administration and the United Nations assistance agencies on United Nations programmes and their linkage to national priorities identified by the Afghan Government itself. TAPA aims to ameliorate underlying causes of humanitarian needs and to lay the foundation for rehabilitation, reconstruction and long- term development. Noteworthy aims of TAPA include the Mine Action Programme's new target to clear high- impact areas contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance within five years, as well as preparations for the national census.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“The impact that separate education will have on girls and women has yet to be seen, but in rural areas, where there are few female teachers, the effect may be more negative. Clearly, however, the human rights climate in which it was enacted gives cause for concern and UNAMA will continue to monitor the implementation of the ban and promote the education of women in Herat and elsewhere. It is important to note that the human rights problems occurring in Herat are also happening elsewhere in Afghanistan. Human rights abuses are so endemic, after decades of war and State collapse, that real change in the human rights situation will require systemic reform. I would like to address briefly issues relating to relief, recovery and reconstruction.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“The Return Commission in the North, on which the Council was previously briefed, has completed visits to over 100 villages in northern provinces to help address problems related to the return of displaced persons. The poor human rights situation in Herat has recently been highlighted by two reports released by Human Rights Watch. These reports provoked sharp and negative reactions by Herat's Governor, Ismael Khan. In order to help identify specific problems that need to be addressed, UNAMA initiated a dialogue on human rights with representatives of Ismael Khan. The first meeting, in which the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission also participated, took place on 9 January. Despite this dialogue and its emphasis on the need to respect women's rights, Herat authorities have announced a ban on co-education.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“As a result of the investigation, four officials from the Ministry of Higher Education and one National Security Directorate officer were arrested on charges of corruption, while five police officers, including a general, were arrested on charges of using excessive force against the demonstrators. Ongoing investigations by UNAMA's human rights office have confirmed an increase in the incidence of ethnic conflicts related to land disputes. Our human rights officers have sought to engage with provincial authorities in mediating land disputes between Uzbek and Turkmen communities in the Kunduz area and helping to establish land-dispute settlement mechanisms.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“The Commissioners have, in addition, participated in numerous joint investigations with UNAMA and are preparing to take part, along with the Attorney General and the Ministry of the Interior, in a major investigation of conditions in prisons around the country. As the Council may recall, a commission of inquiry was established by President Karzai to investigate the November 2002 demonstrations at Kabul University that left two students killed and 15 injured. The commission concluded that wide-scale corruption was a major contributor to the miserable living conditions at the students' dormitories. These conditions, in turn, had apparently triggered the demonstrations. The commission also concluded that some leaders of the demonstrations may have had links to Al Qaeda, though it did not provide any evidence of these links.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“Priority areas continue to be cases of intimidation and violence against political party and civil society activists by regional and local commanders. There are also worrying cases of police and intelligence officers being used to target those opposed to political leaders or regional faction leaders. The use of the State apparatus for factional ends is, of course, a cause for great concern. To address this, the reform of the national intelligence services will be a high priority for the current year. UNAMA and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights are facilitating the provision of technical assistance and, in particular, the recruitment of three technical advisers for the Commission.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“The Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission has steadily been implementing its work programme with the support of UNAMA, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations Development Programme. This programme covers capacity-building in the fields of investigations and monitoring, human rights education, promotion of the rights of women, and transitional justice. Since last month's briefing, the Commission has begun to establish satellite offices in seven provinces. It has also been working to identify human rights concepts and principles that should be reflected in the new Constitution. The Commission has so far received more than 600 complaints and petitions from individuals and groups.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“These include the establishment of an electoral commission and the drafting of a "one-off" law to govern the 2004 elections. This law would provide the basis upon which to begin preparations for the elections before the Constitution is finalized, in the understanding that all subsequent elections will be governed by the relevant provisions of the new Constitution. UNAMA has been working closely with President Karzai and his Government to advance as far as is feasible on these issues. For its part, UNAMA, assisted by the Department of Political Affairs' Electoral Assistance Division here in New York, is in the process of assembling an electoral team in Kabul to assist the Afghan Government on electoral matters and to help build electoral capacity inside that Government.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“From April through early June, the Constitutional Commission is to conduct country-wide public consultations to discern the public's views on key constitutional issues. Taking into account the results of the public consultations, the Commissioners will finalize a draft by late August. The final step will be the convening of a loya jirga, we hope in October, to review and adopt the Constitution. As for the elections scheduled to take place in June 2004, as called for by the Bonn Agreement, these will also be a very important step towards restoring accountable and legitimate Government in Afghanistan. This presents a tight but still manageable timetable. President Karzai is well aware of the urgency of certain key tasks ahead.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“It is clear that a humane and well-functioning penal system is absolutely integral to the functioning and credibility of the justice sector. While all donors have recognized this, none has so far committed any funding. I would now like to turn to the constitutional and electoral processes. On 27 January, the Constitutional Drafting Commission, together with UNAMA and the United Nations and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), met with donors and interested Member States represented in Kabul to discuss the constitutional process. According to the current timetable, the Constitutional Drafting Commission will finalize a preliminary draft by March. This draft will be reviewed by the full Constitutional Commission, whose 30 or so members are currently being selected.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“Donors at the conference pledged some 29 million euros over several years to support the Commission and its reform process. The Judicial Commission's draft plan for legislative and constitutional reform and the rebuilding of the judicial system is currently being finalized in consultation with Italy, the United Nations and its agencies and donors. The plan will provide a single unified framework for donor assistance to the justice sector. There is already agreement to establish a judicial training centre and to rehabilitate the Kabul High Court. For some time to come, progress in establishing the rule of law will continue to be significantly constrained by the depleted pool of experienced lawyers and the limited capacity of the penal system. The latter in particular deserves attention.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“However, the Government continues to face difficulties paying the salaries of the police, and that, of course, can be a contributing factor to police corruption and poor discipline. Therefore, funding the trust fund specifically established for police salaries continues to be vital. One of the greatest challenges facing the Afghan Transitional Administration in the coming year will be the reform of the justice sector. Italy, the lead nation in support of this sector, hosted a conference in December that I was privileged to attend, along with President Karzai, senior Afghan officials, members of the Afghan Judicial Commission and representatives from donor countries. The conference confirmed that the primary responsibility for reforming the justice sector lay with the Judicial Commission.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“This underscores the importance of reforming the Ministry, as called for by the December presidential decree. The Ministry of Defence, just like the army it commands, should be seen as a national body rather than as an institution favouring any faction or region. With respect to the police, a new Minister of the Interior, Ali Ahmad Jalali, has just been appointed by President Karzai with a view to furthering the reform of the Ministry and the police. A new structure for the Ministry of the Interior is being worked out between the Government and the German police project. The German-led national police training project is providing training for some 1,450 police officers, and I am pleased to note that of those trainees some 29 are females.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“The effective demobilization of former combatants is just as important as the training of new soldiers. The Japanese Government has committed significant funding to the Afghan New Beginnings Programme. The programme aims to register soldiers and, through a series of benefits and training packages, to assist them to return to civilian life so that they are contributors to their communities, rather than a burden upon them. The details for the implementation of the programme are the subject of ongoing discussions between the demobilization and reintegration commission, UNAMA and the Japanese Government. Clearly, this reform agenda represents a heavy work programme for the Ministry of Defence in a number of areas that are crucial for the advancement of the Bonn process.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“The United States and France, which are providing training for the new army, estimate that by the end of this year approximately 7,000 soldiers will have completed the basic training course. Already, some new army units have been deployed for short periods outside Kabul. In December, a company of the Third Battalion was deployed to Urgun, in the Paktika province, where it conducted patrols. Such deployments could both increase the confidence of the newly trained battalions, as well as demonstrate to Afghans that the new army is professional and competent and serves the interests of the nation as a whole. The army-building project is fundamental to security and therefore to the entire peace process, and I urge the international community to continue to support it.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“Ultimately, as this Council has repeatedly stated, responsibility for assuring security in Afghanistan remains with the Afghans themselves. The Afghan Transitional Administration has continued to implement its very challenging agenda for security sector reform. The presidential decree of 1 December establishing a national army also set an agenda for the collection of arms, the reintegration of former combatants and the reform of the Ministry of Defence. Implementation of the 1 December decree was furthered on 11 January by the establishment of sub- commissions for the recruitment of the new army and for the demobilization and disarmament of former combatants. The foundations of the new army are being laid.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“Attacks against the United States-led coalition forces have also continued over the reporting period, including in Kabul, where two United States plain- clothes soldiers and their interpreter were injured on 17 December. A number of tragic incidents occurred in the following week, among them the attack on the front gate of an International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) base in Kabul, which killed two Afghans and injured two foreign aid workers. There was also the crash of an ISAF German helicopter due to mechanical failure, which killed all seven personnel on board. In the same week, there was a series of unexplained explosions in Jalalabad. And just the day before yesterday, a United States helicopter crashed near Bagram, where, again, all four passengers died.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“Efforts are under way to take advantage of this change, which may allow for the two groups' intelligence units to be combined, thus promoting security cooperation between them. Unfortunately, the high rate of criminal activity by armed groups in and around Mazar-i-Sharif continues. The six-hundred-strong local police force, which is chronically under-resourced and internally divided, has been unable to deal with the upsurge in crime. The limitations of the police in Mazar-i-Sharif are indicative of the limitations faced by the police in all parts of Afghanistan. This underscores the importance of the national police training and reform programme, currently led by Germany.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“Also positive, in the north, is that the formal commitment signed by General Dostum and General Atta in May of last year has contributed to reducing conflict generally in the last few weeks, although fighting has occurred in Faryab and Dar-i-Souf. With the assistance of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Generals Dostum and Atta have agreed to hold more regular meetings between their factions in order to resolve armed conflicts and reduce tensions. In addition, last year's presidential decree dismissing corrupt or unfit civil servants led to the removal of two senior intelligence staff from the rival Jumbesh and Jamiat parties in the north.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“On 26 January, a police vehicle escorting a convoy of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees west of Jalalabad came under fire and one Afghan policeman was reportedly killed. While the motivation for the attack is still to be determined, it appears that the guards following the convoy may also have been targeted as a result of tensions emanating from the poppy eradication campaign. More positively, in the south, tensions that arose from a dispute between the Kandahar governor and police chief have been reduced through mediation and an agreement on the division of security responsibilities.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“However, security incidents continue to occur as a result of inter-factional tension and sporadic terrorist activity. Today, in Kandahar, a bus carrying 16 passengers detonated an explosive device as it approached a bridge to the southwest of the city. Investigations are still ongoing, but we already know that unfortunately 12 people have been reported killed. Across the country tensions between factions continue. In the west, fighting broke out recently in the province of Badghis, where the authority of Ismael Khan is being challenged by the Governor, Gul Muhammad. In the eastern province of Nargarhar, resistance by farmers to the ongoing campaign to eradicate poppy crops has also led to tensions.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“We continue to hear worrying reports that support for the remnants of the Taliban may be growing in some parts of Afghanistan. These reports remind us that the peace process is far from secure. Still, I believe that if real progress is made on the objectives I have just outlined for 2003, there is every reason to hope that the peace process will, in time, become irreversible. To achieve this, Afghanistan will need to count on the continuing financial and political commitment of the international community. Let me now narrow the perspective to provide the Council with an update on the specific events in Afghanistan since the briefing it received last December. Over the last month, the security situation in Afghanistan has been relatively calm in the sense that there has been no outbreak of major, sustained fighting.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“The drafting and ratification of the new constitution this year will also be a fundamental State-building exercise. Secondly, with respect to national reconciliation, the political base supporting the peace process must be broadened. Currently, too many Afghans feel excluded from the Government and the political transformation which Afghanistan is undergoing. The door should be open to those who wish to participate in good faith, rather than leaving them outside the fold, where they would have a growing incentive to join the ranks of those who wish to undermine the peace process. Thirdly, with respect to reconstruction, Afghans must be presented with clearly identified projects that can build the economy and increase confidence in the Government. These projects must be implemented.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“In 2003 Afghanistan will have to strengthen and rebuild the foundations of the State, address the political and security uncertainties and meet the rising expectations of its people. To that end, President Karzai has been discussing with us and other partners the need for the Government to articulate, and the international community to support, a clear plan of action setting out the main goals for 2003. Broadly, there are three main areas to focus on: first, solidifying the key institutions of the State; secondly, pursuing national reconciliation; and thirdly, showing tangible results on reconstruction projects throughout the country. With respect to the institutions of State, progress must be made on building the army and training and reform of the police.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“The Government developed a comprehensive budget through inter-ministerial planning, and successfully launched a new currency that is helping it to reassert control over the country's fiscal regime. The Commissions called for under Bonn were all formed and have begun in earnest to tackle the formidable tasks that face them in the fields of human rights, constitutional and judicial reform and the reorganization of the civil service. The year 2002 also saw the return of over 1.5 million refugees from neighbouring countries and more than 500,000 internally displaced persons to their homes, as well as the return of three million children to school. However, the peace process in Afghanistan will need to progress much further before we can safely say that it is irreversible. The challenge in 2002 was to shore up the fragile foundations of peace.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“Mr. President, it is a great honour for me to be present here once again to report to the Council concerning the situation in Afghanistan, and it is a privilege for me to take the floor under your presidency. Allow me, on this last day of your presidency, to convey to you my congratulations and admiration for the work that you have carried out during this month, the first in a year that is likely to be quite a difficult and complex one. (spoke in English) As we look back on the first year of the Bonn peace process it is clear that Afghanistan has made progress on many fronts. Major political milestones were reached on time, including the holding of the Emergency Loya Jirga and the establishment of the current Transitional Administration under President Hamid Karzai's leadership.”
2003-01-31 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4699 (2003) · source
“There is also a continued need for international attention and sustained support to the people of Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan are looking to the United Nations in general, and to the Security Council in particular, to continue to mobilize and organize the support of the international community for the peace process in Afghanistan.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“Unfortunately, a significant increase in opium production is foreseen this year. It is expected that it will take the best part of the decade before opium production is eradicated, as strengthened legal and security measures and the creation of alternative livelihoods become effective realities. I am often asked if, in the light of events over the last 12 months, there is real scope for optimism in Afghanistan. My answer is a confident but somewhat qualified yes. Considering where it was a year ago, Afghanistan has made remarkable progress. But considering where it needs to go, Afghanistan needs continued commitment from its leaders to work together, to achieve genuine reconciliation, and as I said earlier, to accept and strengthen the idea that Afghanistan belongs to all its citizens.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“Work is therefore being undertaken to coordinate the return process with the host countries. On 22 October, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) held discussions on the return operations for the coming year, and an agreement in principle was reached regarding a framework for the voluntary repatriation of Afghans from Pakistan. A similar tripartite commission, comprising Iran, Afghanistan and UNHCR, is scheduled to meet on 3 and 4 November in Kabul. Following the Implementation Group meeting, the Government presented its counter-narcotics strategy at an international meeting in Kabul convened by the National Security Council, which is now in charge of coordinating Afghanistan's counter-narcotics effort.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“In the health sector, a three-day nationwide immunization campaign against polio started in Afghanistan on 22 October, supported by the Ministry of Public Health, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Afghan health professionals have made significant strides in recent years towards the global objective of polio eradication, a remarkable achievement given the circumstances they face. So far in 2002, there have been only seven new cases of polio reported compared to 27 two years ago. With regard to the return of refugees, we remain concerned that Afghanistan does not currently have the capacity to absorb the large numbers of refugees who are returning. More than 1.5 million Afghans have returned this year from Pakistan alone.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“Special attention is also being given to those living in rural areas who will potentially be cut off, and in need of support. In urban areas, priority will be given to returnees and internally displaced persons who lack adequate shelter or support mechanisms, and extremely vulnerable indigenous families. The United Nations has begun stockpiling and pre-positioning food and shelter items, and plans are being finalized to ensure that access to isolated communities is maintained. However, there are still outstanding needs for shelter, fuel, blankets and other items, for which additional resources are urgently needed from donors.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“Thus, the Programme should reflect immediate and medium-term aims for reconstruction and recovery as set out in the national development budget, while at the same time addressing urgent humanitarian needs associated with the effects of drought, conflict and large population movements. Consultations among Government counterparts, non- governmental organizations, donors and United Nations agencies are currently under way to finalize this document. At the moment, the Government and the United Nations are giving high priority to preparing for winter and putting in place the assistance that vulnerable groups will need to survive. Some 2.2 million people have been identified as being the most vulnerable and in need of winter assistance in the north, the west, the central highlands and the south.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“The United Nations is helping the Government implement this important project. One promising example of the United Nations effort to complement Government-led efforts is the 2003 consolidated appeal for Afghanistan that is known as the Transitional Assistance Programme for Afghanistan. It will set out the priorities, strategies and requirements for coordinated international assistance in support of relief, recovery and reconstruction during 2003 and beyond. It will be structured to fit in with the Government budget cycle, and, most important, its programmes will build upon the priorities and programmes set out by the Government during its budget process.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“These are the ongoing national solidarity and public works programmes and projects in education, infrastructure, urban infrastructure and water resources investment, national governance and transport, mainly major roads and airports. The Government has received enough funds to cover its operating budget for the current fiscal year, and the donors are to be commended for their generosity. However, if the Government is to sustain its efforts, further revenue from the regions will have to be returned to the Government coffers. The Government has taken an important step to reform the country's finances through the introduction of a new currency. This ongoing process aims to revitalize the financial and banking systems throughout the country and to end the ability of other groups to print currency.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“This illustrates how far the Government has come in developing policies and decisions through intra- ministerial processes. The draft budget arranges the Government's programme into 12 areas, organized within three pillars: first, human capital and social protection; secondly, physical infrastructure; and thirdly, trade and investment and the rule of law and security. The next step will be to present a full national development budget before the beginning of the Afghan fiscal year in March 2003. Pending the finalization of the budget, the Government has identified a number of national projects as priority areas for the period through March 2003.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“Among them are the formation of an electoral commission, the determination of elector-identification systems, the drafting of an electoral law and other laws governing the functioning of political parties. On the relief, recovery and reconstruction side, a very successful meeting of the Implementation Group was held in Kabul in mid-October, bringing together the Government, donors, the United Nations and other multilateral and non-governmental organization partners. The Government presented a working draft of its development plan and budget, which outlines a vision for Afghanistan's budget and its priorities. The working draft was developed through a consultative process, led by a tripartite group comprised of the Ministries of Finance, Planning and Reconstruction and supported by the programme secretariats and UNAMA.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“The Mission now has one international human- rights officer in each of its regional offices, and we envisage that each of them will be assisted by two national officers. Two United Nations Special Rapporteurs have visited Afghanistan very recently: Mrs. Asma Jahangir, Special Rapporteur on extrajudiciary, summary and arbitrary executions and Mr. Kamal Hossain, Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan. Another key component of the Bonn process is the preparation for elections, which are called for by the middle of 2004. As I informed the Council in September, the Electoral Assistance Division of the Department of Political Affairs visited Afghanistan, and consultations are now under way with the Afghan authorities, as well as with donors, on how to proceed with the various issues that need to be addressed.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“It will be important to convey our intention to proceed in an impartial manner and to defuse the tensions caused by the exclusive media focus on the gravesite at Dasht-e- Leily. On a positive note, the support project to the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission has now become operative. Donors have shown significant interest in contributing to the Commission, which will soon be able to recruit additional staff and start opening its regional offices throughout the country. UNAMA and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights are facilitating the provision of technical assistance and expertise in accordance with the programme of work established by the Commission itself. UNAMA's investigation and monitoring capacity has been strengthened with the arrival of new staff members assigned specifically to the area of human rights.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“At this stage, given the conflict-rich and volatile situation in the North and the fact that we cannot provide effective protection to witnesses, we cannot go beyond that objective. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is negotiating on behalf of UNAMA with experienced forensic teams to carry out the technical aspects of the investigation into the gravesites that have been identified. Regrettably, we are now receiving answers from those forensic experts that it would be difficult to start the investigations before next spring, because of adverse weather conditions during the winter months. We still believe that some preparatory work could and should be done before the winter, at least on the protection of the sites.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“In order to improve its capacity to identify significant trends on gender issues, UNAMA has encouraged the establishment of data collection through meetings of a gender network that includes the Ministry of Women's Affairs, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations. On the highly publicized issue of gravesites in the North, we are of the view that impartial investigations should commence as soon as possible. UNAMA agrees with the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission that the following steps should be taken. First, a multi-site investigation should be undertaken, reflecting a politically impartial approach. Secondly, investigations should, at present, have the limited objective of finding and preserving evidence.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“Unfortunately, at present, local commanders continue to violate the rights of Afghans in remote rural areas, with little or no response from any State law- enforcement authority. In spite of the progress made since the fall of the Taliban regime, the situation of women continues to be a matter of concern in many parts of the country. Local authorities are apparently not intervening in serious cases of domestic violence. Forced marriages are still a frequent phenomenon, and exchanges of girls are sometimes used as a dispute settlement tool between families and factions.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“This is particularly the case in the provinces of Faryab, Sar-e P01 and Jowzjan. On 17 October, the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UNAMA agreed on the establishment of a Return Commission for the North to help overcome those problems. I should note, however, that those problems transcend human rights and humanitarian concerns and threaten to have an adverse impact on the peace process itself. It is imperative for the Transitional Government and other forces committed to the reconstruction of the country to strengthen the idea that Afghanistan belongs to all of its citizens, regardless of their ethnic origin or political affiliation.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“We at UNAMA look forward to a well-coordinated international effort to support those processes, on the clear understanding that, in those fields even more than in others, success requires strong national ownership and leadership. Despite gradual progress in some areas, the human rights situation remains worrisome in many respects. Underlying causes of the situation include the lack of security and the weakness of the central Government, warlordism, persistent factional conflicts in some parts of the country and a very basic and dysfunctional justice system. Harassment, intimidation and other abuses against the Pashtun ethnic group in the North have receded somewhat in the last month or two, but in many of the northern districts, Pashtun internally displaced persons who were obliged to flee their villages are not yet able to return home.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“At the Supreme Court seminar on 24 October, President Karzai also said that he would formally announce the creation of a new judicial commission this week. Considerable time has been lost in this regard as the earlier commission was recognized as being insufficiently independent. There is substantial and very welcome interest in the international community for both the constitutional and judicial reform processes. Promises have been made to provide generous financial support to both commissions. The Government of Italy, as the lead nation for judicial reform, has already provided some funds to support the establishment of the judicial commission. We very much hope that additional funds will be made available soon to support the vast needs for judicial reform, as well as the constitutional process.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“In the meantime, I can only repeat what the Secretary-General and I have said consistently since the Bonn Conference: the Government and the people of Afghanistan need, and are asking for, international support to provide security while the national police and national army are being trained. A drafting committee to prepare the new constitution has been formed, and was announced by the Government one month later than called for in the Bonn Agreement. That delay will not affect the schedule of work, as the draft constitution will be submitted to the Constitutional Loya Jirga only at the end of next year. The committee has started its work, and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) is providing support as mandated by the Bonn Agreement.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source
“It is encouraging that the Vice-President and Minister of Defence Fahim Khan, as well as other factional leaders, have repeatedly expressed their commitment to these principles. It is hoped that the necessary financial resources will be made available by donors to support the formation of the national police and the national army. Of course, the formation of a national police and a national army will take time. But if both programmes are firmly on track, the peace process will be consolidated and security very significantly improved long before the last policeman and the last soldier have been trained.”
2002-10-30 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.4638 (2002) · source