YouSaid · the spoken record

Deborah Lyons

lines on the record: 76
first: 2020-06-25
most recent: 2021-06-22
sittings or episodes: 5
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

“I very much appreciate the participation of senior people from the capitals, and I look forward once again to the guidance of the members of the Security Council to help this wonderful country. UNAMA supports the Afghan people and Government to achieve peace and stability. In accordance with its mandate as a political mission, UNAMA backs conflict prevention and resolution, promoting inclusion and social cohesion, as well as strengthening regional cooperation. The Mission supports effective governance, promoting national ownership and accountable institutions that are built on respect for human rights. UNAMA provides “good offices” and other key services, including diplomatic steps that draw on the Organization’s independence, impartiality and integrity to prevent disputes from arising, escalating or spreading.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“This is not the time to weaken our resolve or, worse, to contribute even inadvertently to the ongoing signals of despair. I have reassured Afghans that the United Nations will not abandon them and will stay the course. Certainly, every effort must be made now by all of us to avoid the country going down the path of more bloodshed and suffering. Surely there has been enough. There is only one acceptable direction for Afghanistan – one acceptable direction – away from the battlefield and back to the negotiating table. The Security Council, with the support of the regional countries, must do all it can to push the parties in that direction. The tragic history of conflict need not repeat itself – but left to its own and our inertia it just might.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“Regional countries have an important role to play in helping Afghanistan to stabilize and integrate more fully into the region. I welcome the appointment of Jean Arnault as the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Afghanistan and Regional Issues and have been working very closely with him. As well as the existing regional formats, such as the extended troika, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Heart of Asia Process and others should all be further galvanized to reinforce a political and peaceful pathway for Afghanistan. We can all agree that any future Government of Afghanistan will need, for itself and its citizens, international engagement and support. The contributions of donors will be essential to support the ongoing development and humanitarian needs.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“In my discussions within the region over the past year, and particularly at the recent Heart of Asia Summit in Dushanbe, it was clear that the regional countries share grave concerns about an extended and fragmented conflict in Afghanistan. These concerns include refugee flows, migrant movement, increased drug smuggling, terrorism, and lost opportunities for economic connectivity and mutually beneficial trade. But these problems will not be relegated to the region alone. As we have all painfully learned, a fragmented conflict creates a more permissive environment for terrorist groups to recruit, finance, plan, and conduct operations with a global reach. We must accept the reality – increased conflict in Afghanistan means increased insecurity for many other countries, near and far.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“Enough has been built in Afghanistan to allow further building – if only there can be peace. One of the key objectives of UNAMA during this period of uncertainty is to continue to work with all partners to ensure the continuity of those institutions that support the well-being of all Afghans. Any future Government that results from a negotiation cannot start from nothing. It is my sincere hope that the Taliban understand this as much as the Government in Kabul does. UNAMA has also heard the many voices that are urging us to play a greater role in the peace process, and we are prepared and equipped to do so if the parties commit to real negotiations and together agree on a role for the United Nations. We are also working more closely and intensely with the regional countries.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“Grown men with bombs attacked little girls with schoolbooks. Earlier this month, 11 humanitarian deminers were killed and 15 injured in Baghlan Province. A week later, individual but coordinated attacks in Nangarhar targeted polio vaccinators, killing five and injuring more. These are not just attacks against the individuals, but these are attacks against the very future of Afghanistan – against girls who want to educate themselves, against experienced deminers who simply want to clear the land to allow people to farm without fear, and against vaccinators risking their lives to combat the scourge of polio so Afghan children do not suffer. So, what is to be done? There is still time, barely but still time, to prevent the worst-case scenario from materializing.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“The international community and the regional countries, in particular, must reiterate the importance of these rights in the peace negotiations. Afghanistan’s young people – now the most educated generation in the history of the country – are being deprived of their future, a future which they are seeking to build through education to contribute to their country’s development. Instead, they are drawn into war. Let me illustrate with three examples. Amid the rising violence, three attacks stand out that expose the tragic nature of this conflict and the heightened urgency of ending it. First of all was the 8 May attack on girls who were making their way home after a day at school in a majority-Hazara area of Kabul that killed nearly 100 young female students. The conscience of the world was rightly shocked.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“Parties must immediately take steps to further implement civilian protection measures. Civilians are deliberately and routinely targeted in clear violation of international humanitarian law. Given the enormous suffering, UNAMA stresses the importance of putting victims and their needs at the forefront of the peace negotiations. This must include specific protections for minorities. The ongoing, frequent attacks against the Hazara community in Kabul are a terrible reminder of how the overall conflict is being used to target certain groups. As the Council knows, preserving the rights of women remains a paramount concern and must not be used as a bargaining chip at the negotiating table. Men’s rights are not negotiable. Women’s rights are not negotiable. Human rights are not negotiable. Who knows this better than the Council?”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“The World Bank has estimated that as a result of the conflict, and the severe third wave of COVID-19, the drought, the weakened social fabric and other factors, Afghanistan’s poverty rate could rise from 50 per cent to more than 70 per cent. This frightening prospect highlights the importance of humanitarian aid provided from all countries. However, in spite of recent contributions, the $1.3 billion humanitarian appeal for 2021 is still only 30 per cent funded. As always, it is ordinary Afghans who pay the heaviest price. As fighting intensifies, the situation for civilians is ever worsening. Civilian casualties increased by 29 per cent in the first quarter of 2021 compared with the same period last year. Notably, and sadly, women casualties increased by 37 per cent and child casualties by 23 per cent.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“We had hoped to accelerate the stalled negotiations in Doha through a conference in Istanbul in April that would have been co-hosted by Turkey, Qatar and the United Nations. The Republic’s team was prepared to attend the conference; however, the Taliban never did officially respond to the invitation. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) continues to work within our mandate and, in cooperation with Member States, to find ways to move forward in the negotiations. But the drivers of conflict seem for now to overwhelm the reasonable and hoped-for modalities of negotiation. Even without the conflict dynamics I have described, Afghanistan would be a country facing multiple crises. Almost one third of Afghans face emergency levels of food insecurity, while this year’s drought worsens, and internal displacements increase.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“This military campaign runs directly counter to recent statements by the head of the Taliban Political Commission that, and I quote, “We are committed to forging ahead with the other sides in an atmosphere of mutual respect and reach an agreement.” For the Taliban to continue this intensive military campaign would be a tragic course of action. It would lead to increased and prolonged violence that would extend the suffering of the Afghan people and threaten to destroy much of what has been built and hard won in the past 20 years. It should be emphatically clear that any efforts to install a militarily imposed government in Kabul would go against the will of the Afghan people, and against the stated positions of the regional countries and the broader international community.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“The real test will though be on whether unity in Kabul serves to further reinfo rce the peace process and strengthen state institutions. The Council has heard me speak of the continuous increase in violence over the past year, even as the peace talks began in Doha in September. The Taliban’s recent advances are even more significant and are a result of an intensified military campaign. More than 50 of Afghanistan’s 370 districts have fallen since the beginning of May. Most districts that have been taken surround provincial capitals, suggesting that the Taliban are positioning themselves to try and take these capitals once foreign forces are fully withdrawn.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“The foreign troops would be gone, and therefore, rather than fighting one another, Afghans would have the opportunity to come together and find a path to peace. But instead, actions on the battlefield have been far greater than progress at the negotiating table. And at this critical time, the Afghan public and the diplomatic community in Kabul have been alarmed at the lack of political unity among Afghanistan’s political elite. While some of the shortcomings in Government are part of a legacy of putting politics above governance, the lack of unity must be addressed or risks contributing to further Taliban territorial advances. We are cautiously encouraged, however, by recent moves by President Ghani and his Government and the other political leaders to come together to discuss pressing security issues and demonstrate unity.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“What happens in Afghanistan remains of global consequence and the Security Council needs to be fully informed of the gravity of the present situation. The mid-April announcement that all international troops will be withdrawn in the coming months sent a seismic tremor through the Afghan political system and society at large. The withdrawal decision was expected but its speed – with the majority of troops now already withdrawn – was not. All actors have had to adjust to this new reality that is unfolding. The withdrawal is one of four parts of the February 2020 agreement between the United States and the Taliban that has indeed been acknowledged by the Council. The agreement generated hope that it would create the space for a peace to be made among Afghans.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“I welcome the level of interest on Afghanistan, as shown by this meeting taking place at the foreign minister level today. There could be no better time for this attention. I cannot overstate to the Council my concern regarding the present situation in Afghanistan. All of the major trends – politics, security, the peace process, the economy, the humanitarian emergency and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) – all of these trends are negative or stagnant. If there is a sense of hope, it indeed resides in the fact that previous worst-case predictions did not materialize. But the relentless spirit of the Afghans and their incredible resilience is being severely tested and the possible slide towards dire scenarios is undeniable.”
2021-06-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/601 (2021) · source
“I hope that by then, we will be able to discuss real progress, brought about by continued negotiations in Doha, tangible outcomes from the Turkey meeting, and, if not a ceasefire, at least a substantial de-escalation in violence. The coming months will also see further increased activity on the regional front, starting with the Heart of Asia ministerial meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, at which regional countries will gather and, I know, reaffirm their ongoing support for peace and stability in Afghanistan. All this could mark a turning point, but the road ahead is still not clear. We will continue working with all parties — the Government of Afghanistan, the Taliban, community leaders and the international community — to foster coherent support for a much-needed peace.”
2021-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/291 (2021) · source
“Sustained cooperation will be needed to mitigate this threat to Afghanistan and the region. Another enduring threat is that of transnational terrorism, particularly associated with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. In the last quarter, the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan Province claimed responsibility for 25 violent attacks, a steep increase over the previous three months. Recently, the group claimed responsibility for the brutal killing of three female media representatives in Jalalabad city. This violence is a vivid demonstration of the ongoing threat that terrorism poses to Afghanistan, the region and the world. When I speak to you next, we will have passed the proposed date for the withdrawal of international troops under the United States-Taliban agreement.”
2021-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/291 (2021) · source
“While we must remain vigilant about a potential third wave, vaccinations have now begun, thanks to donations from the Government of India and the support of the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) facility. As the vaccination campaign continues to ramp up, we must ensure that vaccines reach all prioritized groups across the country. Developments in Afghanistan do not affect only Afghans — they affect the global community. To take just one example, the cultivation and trafficking of illegal narcotics continues to threaten stability in Afghanistan and the region. Last year saw opium poppy cultivation increase by over a third, while the number of counter- narcotics operations was reduced significantly. We know from other processes that an illicit economy can continue to threaten peace and security long after a peace agreement is signed.”
2021-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/291 (2021) · source
“Humanitarian workers continue to be targeted with threats, violence and interference with the impartial delivery of assistance. Such acts are illegal and unjustifiable. They also have grave consequences for the lives and livelihoods of Afghans. Humanitarian partners must be able to operate without being illegally taxed, harassed, threatened or killed. I raised this issue recently with the Taliban, and members of our humanitarian team are following up with them in Doha. We have also been working with the Afghan Government to ensure its legislative framework protects the space of non-governmental organizations carrying out humanitarian work. For now, Afghanistan seems to have weathered the second wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.”
2021-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/291 (2021) · source
“We must all raise our voices against these egregious acts of violence. Against this backdrop, Afghans continue to suffer from a deepening humanitarian crisis, and the threat of drought is looming. Food insecurity is at record levels, with more than 40 per cent of the population in emergency and crisis situations. The low precipitation and high temperatures witnessed over the La Niña season have raised concern over a further deterioration, and as always, the poorest Afghans will suffer most. I count on you, and all Member States, to contribute generously to the humanitarian response plan, which stands at just 6 per cent funded. Much more support is needed if Afghanistan is not to fall further behind. But money alone is not enough.”
2021-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/291 (2021) · source
“In the first two months of 2021, we have witnessed the continued trend of rising civilian casualties, documented since the start of the Afghanistan peace negotiations in September. Particularly worrying is the spate of attacks deliberately targeting civilians. Already this year, UNAMA has documented more than 80 Afghans — including in the media, civil society, members of the judiciary, religious scholars and government officials — who have lost their lives in these brutal targeted attacks. But this does not convey the full, crippling impact of the violence on Afghanistan’s civic life. For every Afghan killed, there are many more who leave their professions or intend to leave their country. I thank members of the Council for their statement of 12 March condemning the recent spate of attacks deliberately targeting civilians (SC/14464).”
2021-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/291 (2021) · source
“Because this is not the Afghanistan of 20 years ago! Both the peace process and any peace agreement must reflect the Afghan population of today. Allow me to recall that half of all Afghans were born after the signing of the Bonn Agreement in 2001. This generation has grown up in a different Afghanistan — one in which women have access to positions of power; young people aspire to a proper education; media play a vital civic role and civil society has had the space to flourish. These Afghans are now a majority. They deserve to have their voices heard during negotiations and to have a substantial role in Afghan society after a peace agreement is concluded. But all Afghans are suffering from unprecedented levels of violence, even as peace negotiations continue.”
2021-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/291 (2021) · source
“Akbar, who, along with her colleagues in the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission and other organizations, such as the Afghan Women’s Network, has done tremendous work to make the process more inclusive — of women, of youth, of ethnic minorities, of victims of war. As the international standard bearer for human rights, the United Nations is working side by side with all Afghans to promote an inclusive peace. I have followed with admiration the work of many Afghan women throughout these negotiations. While still too few in numbers, they are demonstrating through their contributions how the country has changed over the past two decades. Women must and will inform discussions on all topics. They must be present in the room and at the table when the future of the country is decided on.”
2021-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/291 (2021) · source
“None of this can be resolved in the work of a moment or in a few meetings, no matter the location or format. Addressing these issues will require patience and commitment on both sides. But my experience, from speaking to the parties in Doha and to Afghans from all walks of life, tells me that peace is possible. Afghans are not just ready for peace: they are demanding it. And all sides need the violence to stop. If the peace process is to be sustainable, the parties must look not to Afghanistan’s past, but to its future. Any peace settlement must take into account the views and concerns of all Afghans — not just those of an elite few. I pay tribute to Ms.”
2021-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/291 (2021) · source
“Above all, they must reinforce, rather than undermine, the Afghanistan peace negotiations in Doha. As we enter this upcoming period of heightened intensity, all of us — neighbours, regional players and international partners — have the responsibility to ensure that our actions are well integrated, mutually reinforcing and, most importantly, are in the best interests of the Afghan people. Given the many interests involved — domestic and international — we always knew that this would be a complicated peace. Decades of conflict have created real grievances on all sides and there remains a lack of trust among the parties. There are also genuine and profound differences between the Islamic Republic and the Taliban over their desired end state.”
2021-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/291 (2021) · source
“For their part, Member States have played a vital role in coming up with new initiatives to reinvigorate the peace process. International attendees at the recent meeting in Moscow made it clear that they all wanted to see fresh impetus in the negotiations. The extended troika — comprising Russia, China, the United States and Pakistan — released a statement advocating a “durable and just political resolution” resulting in “the formation of an independent, sovereign, unified, peaceful, democratic, and self-sufficient Afghanistan”. The proposed meeting to be held in Turkey is another opportunity to solidify the principles on which the process will be based and potentially lay the foundations for a just and inclusive political settlement. These initiatives must be focused and coherent.”
2021-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/291 (2021) · source
“It is notable that both sides have been dedicated to remaining at the negotiating table. In my recent trip to Doha, I was encouraged to hear from both sides of substantive progress being made on key agenda items. But more must be done to demonstrate to Afghans that the negotiations are truly progressing in the interests of the Afghan people. As talks continue, many stakeholders are increasingly looking to the United Nations to play a more prominent role. I welcome the appointment of my experienced colleague Jean Arnault as the Secretary-General’s new Personal Envoy on Afghanistan and Regional Issues, which will enhance and complement our ongoing work on regional cooperation. We in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) will be working closely with the Personal Envoy in support of Afghan peace and regional engagement.”
2021-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/291 (2021) · source
“Over six months have now passed since the launch of the Afghanistan peace negotiations on 12 September. It has been one year since the signing of the agreement between the United States and the Taliban, and the concurrent joint declaration between the Government of Afghanistan and the United States. It is therefore a timely moment to take stock and to assess what more must be done to support the Afghan people on their path towards peace. The killings, the displacement, the suffering of the Afghan people must end now. Since my last briefing (see S/2020/1274), progress at the negotiations in Doha has slowed. Afghans and their international partners have begun to voice understandable frustrations about the lack of real outcomes, against the backdrop of extreme violence around the country.”
2021-03-23 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2021/291 (2021) · source
“Clearly Afghanistan will continue to move forward in this new year, but equally it will continue to need the dedicated support of the Council. I look forward to our discussion.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“As the year draws to a close, we must acknowledge that 2020 has brought a profound shift for this country — with the United States-Taliban agreement, the United States-Afghan Government joint declaration, three months of intra-Afghan negotiations, the renewal of pledges from international donors and a revitalized regional cooperation effort — all under a new Government in Kabul. By all accounts, this was a big year. But a bigger year lies ahead — a full security transition, peace negotiations, which must and will advance, the health and socioeconomic challenges resulting from COVID-19, the ongoing commitment of the international donors and the expected results of even more regional cooperation — all of that with whatever political and societal changes accompany it.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“Already the effects of the pandemic have been devastating, and we are moving into a winter second phase that is likely to be much more damaging than the spring first wave. Hunger and malnutrition have spiked, and livelihoods have been eroded, with women and children particularly affected. And so, in coordination with the Government and civil society, the larger United Nations family has scaled up to ensure that work is getting done to respond to the pandemic. Just this week, the President and I launched, and will be heading up, an emergency SWAT team to oversee the process on a daily basis. I encourage Member States to fund humanitarian activities generously. We must ensure that Afghanistan’s most vulnerable people are not left further behind in the pandemic.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“Eleven human rights defenders have also lost their lives, and many more have been injured or continue to be threatened. Such attacks are completely unjustifiable. They risk chilling the public discourse just when dialogue is most needed. So I call upon the Government to take effective measures to protect the media and to investigate and prosecute violent crimes against journalists. The Taliban, too, must refrain from attacking civilian targets. The Taliban must recognize the critical role that the media and civil society fulfil in a modern-day Afghanistan, as a vital member of the global community. Like much of the world, Afghanistan is now facing a new wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“Sustaining the current level of funding will require tangible improvements on peace, governance, the rule of law, certainly anti- corruption, and human rights, especially women’s rights. There is no time to lose, and it is not business as usual. And so we have begun to work with the Afghan Government and development partners to galvanize the reform priorities. Together we can ensure — and will ensure — that donors’ assistance serves its intended purpose: building strong and accountable institutions and delivering services to the Afghan people. And yet, unfortunately, Afghanistan remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists — and I want to take note of that today. Six have lost their lives this year alone — six journalists — with scant accountability for perpetrators.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“Adopted by no less than 66 countries, the conference communiqué reaffirmed support for “a unified, sovereign, peaceful and democratic Afghanistan”; it was signed by 66 countries. And then, three days later, that message was echoed at the session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation in the Niger, where member States committed to “helping Afghanistan achieve a lasting peace, sustainable development, rehabilitation and reconstruction.” They also once again called for a ceasefire. It is important to note, however, that donors have made clear that their generous financial assistance comes with conditions. A short year from now, we will all gather again — the Government and the donors — at a Senior Officials Meeting to assess the progress made against those pledges.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“UNAMA convened three high-level meetings: one on regional cooperation; another on the peace-security-development-humanitarian nexus — that complex Rubik’s cube that we will have to understand as we move forward to face the challenges of the coming year; and, of course, a high-level meeting in which Afghan private-sector actors participated to discuss how they can move towards self-reliance in the new peace environment. Those meetings brought a diverse range of voices to Geneva to address the challenges of governance and economic growth. But above all, the conference sent a clear signal to the people of Afghanistan: the international community still stands with them.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“I anticipate that in the coming months that larger security transition will become a central topic in the dialogue among Afghan officials, countries of the region and the larger international community. And yet at the 2020 Afghanistan Conference in Geneva the international community came together to reaffirm its financial support for Afghanistan. The conference exceeded expectations, and I congratulate our co-hosts, the Governments of Afghanistan and Finland, for making it a success. The generous pledges — remarkable in today’s fiscal environment — will enable Afghanistan to pursue its core development priorities and deliver vital services to its people. But it is not just about the money. It was also about a very important dialogue.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“Since the start of November alone, two separate rocket attacks in Kabul, the attack on Kabul University, the increased conflict in Helmand and Kandahar and a brutal bombing in Bamyan — to name but a few incidents — have strained the public’s already fragile confidence and exacerbated the fears around the emergence of new terrorist threats. I ask all countries to continue to pressure all parties to the conflict to bring about a sustained reduction in violence, and I expect that will be a top priority when the negotiations resume. The ongoing security transition, coupled with the emerging reality of international troop withdrawals, have obviously added to the anxieties felt by the Afghan population.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“In the third quarter of 2020, child casualties rose 25 per cent over the previous three months, while attacks against schools in the same period increased fourfold. In the first 11 months of 2020, targeted killings by anti-Government elements rose by nearly 40 per cent as compared with the same period in 2019. It is no surprise, then, that the Global Peace Index 2020 ranked Afghanistan as the least peaceful country in the world for the second year in a row. Such a ranking illustrates the psychological impact of the violence: as one Afghan official told me recently, “the sense and perception of violence and insecurity is higher now than ever”. Let me say that again: the sense and perception of violence and insecurity is higher now than ever.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“During my recent visits to Iran and Pakistan and my participation in events hosted by the Government of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, I am happy to say that I noted an increasing commitment among regional players to making peace in Afghanistan a reality, as well as the critical recognition that regional stability does indeed require an enduring peace in Afghanistan. Regrettably, the unrelenting violence remains a serious obstacle to peace and a threat to the region. I will admit that we are still compiling this year’s data, but I would like to mention a few provisional statistics on the impact of the violence. In October and November, improvised explosive devices caused over 60 per cent more civilian casualties than in the same period last year.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“It is therefore important to support regional efforts, and I particularly want to take note today of the regional efforts on counter-narcotics and transnational organized crime — two serious threats to the countries in the region — and I want to highlight that those topics were part of a major discussion that I participated in with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime regional Steering Committee meeting, which is made up of Central Asia, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan. Addressing those issues and the incredibly destructive impact on Afghanistan and the people of the region will be essential to promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and in the region.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“I am proud to say that, through our youth-focused local peace initiatives, which are conducted throughout Afghanistan, UNAMA has provided a platform for the young people of Afghanistan to have their say on peace. Most recently, in the rural province of Faryab, young participants issued their own declaration, with strong recommendations specifying an immediate ceasefire; setting out the role of Islam under Afghanistan’s Constitution; identifying the all-important Sustainable Development Goals; and emphasizing the need for transitional justice. Those are the young people of Afghanistan. Their voices deserve to be heard. As we all know, cooperation throughout the region, Central and South Asia, will be essential to an enduring peace. Increased trade and connectivity will build the foundation for peace and regional prosperity.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“The recent formation of the High Council for National Reconciliation will allow the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to establish a broad base for consolidating its negotiating positions. The Taliban, too, must expand and broaden its consultations with Afghan constituencies. One of the key constituencies for both negotiating parties must be Afghanistan’s young people. Two thirds of Afghan citizens are below the age of 25. That is also the most educated generation of young people in Afghanistan’s history. Young Afghans have clear views on the future of their country, and we must do all we can to amplify their voices. And so I am delighted that Shkula Zadran, Afghanistan’s Youth Representative, will join us here today. I look forward to hearing her thoughts once again.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“I want to thank the State of Qatar for hosting the talks, as well as the United States and members of the host country support group — Germany, Indonesia, Norway and Uzbekistan — for their diplomatic efforts. I look forward to further constructive engagement by the larger international community in the various existing and developing formats to further enlarge the support for the peace process. Any sustainable peace will need to be owned by Afghanistan’s very diverse society. That is possible only if the process is inclusive from the outset, with meaningful participation by all constituencies, including women, young people, minorities, victims of conflict and religious leaders.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“We hope that will allow both sides to regroup, consult internally and externally and resume negotiating with a renewed commitment. The parties have committed indeed to return to the negotiating table on 5 January, after that short three-week break. Along with members of our humanitarian, development and human rights teams, I visited Doha twice recently to meet with both Afghan parties, and, of course, members of the diplomatic community. I should note that on each trip to Doha I have met with the women negotiators to seek their views on how we can help. And the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) also retains a team on the ground in Doha, working alongside the parties and members of the international community to support the process.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“I am addressing the Security Council as we close on one of the most momentous years that Afghans have endured. Since my most recent briefing (see S/2020/891, annex I), the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban have made incremental but genuine progress in their peace talks. On 2 December, the two parties announced that they had agreed to the rules and procedures for negotiations. The two sides then formed a working committee to discuss the agenda and both parties presented to each other an initial list of topics for discussion. Those developments are an early but positive sign that both sides are willing and able to compromise when needed. Earlier this week, following 93 days of uninterrupted talks, the parties agreed to take a 20-day recess.”
2020-12-17 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/1274 (2020) · source
“The people of Afghanistan have heard Council members’ voices of support and appreciate the ongoing commitment of the United Nations to their future. We stand ready to assist them in any way we can.”
2020-09-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/891 (2020) · source
“Rebuilding those lives will be a painstaking task. I thank the members of the Council for their support for Afghanistan’s national COVID-19 response and for the concern expressed by many of them for our staff here on the ground. Fortunately, the situation seems to have stabilized since my most recent briefing (S/2020/597, annex I), but the pandemic has affected our operations dramatically, and we do not know what the autumn has in store. Despite those challenges, it remains a privilege for us to execute the mandate given to us by the Security Council in service of the people of Afghanistan. I am confident that the next time we meet, we will discuss the progress that will have been made in the intra-Afghan negotiations. The Council’s support and that of Afghanistan’s neighbours and international donors will be essential for success.”
2020-09-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/891 (2020) · source
“Combined, the two will set the course for Afghanistan’s future. For that reason, we are engaging regularly with the Taliban to ensure that it is well-informed about Afghanistan’s obligations as a member of the global community, including through expanded discussions on development and governance issues, as well as our ongoing human rights dialogue. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has hit Afghanistan hard. More than 38,000 confirmed cases of COVID have been reported and more than 1,400 people have lost their lives to this disease, although the actual figures are probably many times higher. Millions of Afghans have suffered lost income and livelihoods. Children have missed crucial months of schooling. Anecdotally — and, sadly, as is the case in many countries around the world — women have suffered an increase in gender-based violence.”
2020-09-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/891 (2020) · source
“In preparation, we are working closely with the conference co-Chairs, Afghanistan and Finland, as well as line ministries and donors, to promote alignment between the Government’s priorities and the expectations of the international community. This year we are facing the added complication of the global fiscal crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which will likely constrain the financial commitments of key donors. But we are determined to help Afghanistan make the best case possible for ongoing donor support. Just as peace can pave the way for development, continued international support for development is needed to consolidate peace. It is noteworthy that the pledging conference will be taking place in parallel with intra-Afghan negotiations. Each process must reinforce the other.”
2020-09-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/891 (2020) · source
“For peace to take hold, Afghanistan will need strong, trusted public institutions. I am pleased to note the Government’s announcement of the formation of its cabinet as well as of appointments to the High Council for National Reconciliation. But there is still much work to be done. The most recent UNAMA anti-corruption report identified significant institutional gaps, which have stymied progress. We are working with the Government, civil society and donors to encourage concrete initiatives, including a comprehensive anti-corruption strategy and an independent anti-corruption commission. In the lead-up to the pledging conference in November, tackling corruption is essential to building donors’ confidence.”
2020-09-03 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/2020/891 (2020) · source