YouSaid · the spoken record

Safi

lines on the record
24
first
2018-03-08
most recent
2022-03-02
sittings or episodes
2
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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

  1. “For years, I held on to this bit of soil to remind me of where I started. While so much has changed, this soil, like the will of the Afghan people, has endured. To my fellow Afghans, let this soil be proof of our resilience and a banner of our hope.”

    2022-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8984 (2022) · source

  2. “But to do so effectively, it must unite and set clear benchmarks on fundamental issues such as women’s rights, freedom of the press, inclusive governance and the equal representation of men, women, young people, civil society, victims and LGBTQI+ individuals from all ethnic and religious communities, which can then be supported and monitored through UNAMA. The international community must be willing to withhold its support if those benchmarks are not met. I believe the United Nations is fit to serve the Afghan people if it has the courage to uphold its own values, to promote peace and to protect the human rights of all Afghans, including women, even when it is difficult. The United Nations can achieve that only if the Security Council gives it a strong mandate and the support to do so.”

    2022-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8984 (2022) · source

  3. “The Taliban want an Islamic emirate, a form of Government where power is consolidated in a leader selected by a council — whereas in the past 20 years Afghans have experienced life under a democracy, where citizens choose their leaders through elections. Afghans must have a means to freely express their views, and all Afghans must be represented in any future Government. The international community can play an important role in facilitating discussions between Afghans and the Taliban, as well as in monitoring progress towards that goal.”

    2022-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8984 (2022) · source

  4. “And neither have they fulfilled their assurances of security. On the contrary, the Taliban has maintained close ties with foreign terrorist fighters, mainly through the Haqqani Network and Al-Qaida. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Sham- Khorasan Province has expanded its reach into the country, and the Taliban has created battalions of suicide attackers to integrate into its own defence forces. Being in a position of power requires being able to govern and to do so responsibly. It means being accountable to the people you serve and having the wisdom to accept should they disagree with you. There are no two ways about it.”

    2022-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8984 (2022) · source

  5. “Let me be clear: the recent decision of the United States to split $7 billion of Afghanistan’s frozen assets and keep them from the Afghan people is nothing short of theft. Those funds belong to Afghans and must be returned to them. In order to avoid benefitting the Taliban, the funds can be gradually released to the Central Bank, which should remain independent and managed by a neutral technical team of Afghans. Moreover, since taking power, the Taliban has been collecting sufficient revenues, yet civil servants are being paid irregularly. Where is that revenue going? We need transparency on how those funds are being spent, as well as accountability for any additional funds going into the country. That brings me to my final point. It has been six months, and the Taliban has yet to articulate its vision for a political path forward.”

    2022-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8984 (2022) · source

  6. “Afghan women’s organizations are calling for at least 40 per cent of those funds to be dedicated to women, girls and female-headed households and for a significant increase in funding to local humanitarian organizations. Moreover, women’s participation in delivering humanitarian assistance is essential. The humanitarian response must be carried out in partnership with Afghan civil society, which, if given the resources, is ready to support. It is time for the international community to return ownership of those processes to Afghans. While humanitarian assistance is critical, it cannot take the place of a strong national economy. Development aid is necessary to prevent the collapse of the banking system and to allow ordinary Afghans and local organizations access to much-needed resources.”

    2022-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8984 (2022) · source

  7. “The Council will have no one to protect unless it also advocates for the active participation of women in the public and political life of their country. Therefore, I implore the Security Council to ensure that UNAMA has an explicit mandate to support the full, safe, equal and meaningful participation of women across all processes and regularly consults with women and civil society more broadly, including persons identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and others (LGBTQI+), young people, victims and all ethnic and religious communities. Today nearly 60 per cent of Afghans are in need of humanitarian assistance, and an estimated $4.4 billion is required to provide it.”

    2022-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8984 (2022) · source

  8. “That is why it is essential for UNAMA to have a robust mandate to monitor and report on human rights and to support the implementation of Afghanistan’s international obligations. The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, while also critical, cannot replace UNAMA or the local infrastructure that existed before August. Without the free functioning of the media and civil society and without the scrutiny of the international community, neither the Taliban’s abuses nor its commitments can be monitored. UNAMA must therefore have the resources and capacity to extend its reach and support local organizations to carry out their human rights work. Most important, the Security Council must ensure that UNAMA prioritizes gender equality and the rights of women in terms of both their protection and their participation.”

    2022-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8984 (2022) · source

  9. “That is why, despite the life and death choices they face, women continue to protest across the country. Those are home-grown movements that have persisted despite the Taliban’s systematic efforts to harm, detain and even force them into making fake confessions. As we speak, the Taliban is searching homes and offices in Kabul, spreading fear among ordinary Afghans. That campaign of intimidation should signal to the international community, particularly those who seek to engage the Taliban, that it should be judged by its actions and not its words. Engagement without conditions is complicity. The Taliban is willing to silence those who criticize them. The international community must therefore be clear that it is watching.”

    2022-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8984 (2022) · source

  10. “As the Council is well aware, there has been a rapid deterioration of women’s rights since the Taliban seized power. Members have heard from multiple Afghan women and the United Nations about restrictions on women’s movement, dress, access to education and work. While the Taliban has announced the lifting of some of those restrictions, it remains to be seen whether it will follow through on those commitments. Women’s access to justice and due process has been severely curtailed due to the absence of an independent, functioning judicial system. Freedom of expression, along with civic space, has almost entirely disappeared. Nearly 70 per cent of media outlets have closed, and 72 per cent of the journalists who have lost their jobs are women. The repression of women’s rights appears to be central to the Taliban’s vision for Afghanistan.”

    2022-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8984 (2022) · source

  11. “Peacebuilding in Afghanistan has been intrusive, externally driven, top-down and technocratic for two decades. Afghanistan has been exploited by powerful countries for their own ends. Instead of supporting Afghans in shaping their own destiny, the international community’s approach was short-sighted and undermined local autonomy. That is why we are here today. Since August, five Afghan women have briefed the Security Council. They told the Council to stand strong on human rights and inclusive governance, and they warned members of the consequences should they fail to do so. Today it is in the Council’s power to make decisions that could uplift the people of Afghanistan, the region and the world, breaking the cycle of conflict and violence. But it must act now.”

    2022-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8984 (2022) · source

  12. “It is the tens of thousands of Afghans killed so far; it is the Hazaras and other ethnic groups who continue to be persecuted — the 1 million children at risk of malnutrition, the 24 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and the dozens of women protesters, civil society and journalists who have been detained, disappeared or killed since 15 August. Council members’ decision in this Chamber affects nearly 40 million lives. My statement today will focus on priorities for the new mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the humanitarian crisis and the political path forward for Afghanistan. As Secretary-General Guterres remarked, Afghanistan is hanging by a thread. I would add that so is the credibility of the United Nations, the Security Council and the international community.”

    2022-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8984 (2022) · source

  13. “Ms. Safi: I thank the members of the Security Council for this opportunity to address them on the situation in Afghanistan. I am Mariam Safi, an Afghan-Canadian with 15 years of experience working as a researcher and peacebuilding practitioner in Afghanistan. Before I begin my briefing today, I want to express my solidarity with the people of Ukraine. As a people that have suffered conflict for decades, Afghans understand their pain. And I salute their resolve. Today I brought with me a piece of Afghanistan — a bit of soil that I have kept with me from my first visit in 2007. To me, every grain represents an Afghan woman, man and child — their aspirations, their courage and their sacrifices. Let this soil remind Council members that Afghanistan is more than images on television or numbers on a page.”

    2022-03-02 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8984 (2022) · source

  14. “The Security Council and the international community must persuade Pakistan to engage constructively in all efforts to curb the threat of terrorism and support an intra-Afghan dialogue for peace. Afghanistan's international partners have repeatedly expressed their intention and will to stand behind the people of Afghanistan to bring about lasting peace, security and stability. Today, I urge those present to stand beside us, and not behind us.”

    2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source

  15. “I appeal to the Security Council to closely monitor any amendments to the Constitution, ensure that the sequencing of peace-making activities and overtures are supported with confidence-building measures from the Taliban and, lastly, facilitate greater engagement between the High Peace Council and diverse actors of Afghan society to ensure that all narratives are represented and supported through national consensus. In conclusion, past experiences show us that supporting an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process is not enough to prevent and combat terrorism. When we asked women at the rural level what they saw as an obstacle to achieving peace in Afghanistan, almost all highlighted regional interference.”

    2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source

  16. “The selective nature with which the High Peace Council chooses the narratives it incorporates into its peace agenda, the civil society actors it decides to engage with and the priorities it chooses to focus on have led many to question its legitimacy, credibility and objectivity. Real and meaningful progress notwithstanding, the Afghan Government remains weak, with financial, security and internal strife mounting. We must therefore be cognizant that any proposed changes to the Constitution as a result of a peace agreement must not erode the rights and freedoms of all Afghan citizens.”

    2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source

  17. “The time has come to expand women's roles from one of mere presence to active engagement, consultation and inclusion. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the Afghan Government and civil society organizations must work together towards identifying where the bottlenecks lie and adopt concrete and genuine measures to address those gaps. Only then can we create spaces where women, both formally and informally, are able to realize their agency. There is also a great disconnect between the rhetoric of local ownership and how it is actually implemented.”

    2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source

  18. “On the question of reintegrating ex-combatants, women, particularly those living in rural areas, expressed fear of an escalation of violence and further suppression of women. How those reintegrated would be monitored after a peace agreement is also a significant source of concern. The Afghan Government's launch of the national action plan on resolution 1325 (2000), on women and peace and security, in 2015 offered great possibilities for the promotion of women's involvement in all areas related to peace and security. However, its implementation continues to suffer setbacks, rendering women's voices as symbolic at decision-making levels. For example, while gender units have been created within most ministries in legal structures, they lack the necessary tools and budget required to carry out the mandate of resolution 1325 (2000).”

    2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source

  19. “What would justice look like in an eventual settlement? How will the rights of women be upheld and protected? How will the participation of women at all levels be guaranteed in the implementation and monitoring of any agreement reached? What is the way forward after a peace agreement is reached, and what will that peace mean to different sectors of Afghan society? For women, it is imperative for the State to define the type of peace that would ensue from reconciliation. Our findings show that women believe that the future of their rights is intricately tied to the outcomes of the peace process. Habiba from Kunduz province told us that the gains of the past 17 years in women's empowerment, freedom of speech, human rights and civil values should not be open for negotiation.”

    2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source

  20. “Our recent findings indicate that insecurity and political instability go hand in hand, and are the two primary drivers for Afghans fleeing. For the first time in Afghanistan's history, we are now witnessing young, single Afghan women making up a significant portion of those undertaking the dangerous journey out of the country. As Ms. Sarabi just described, the second round of the Kabul Process culminated last week with the Afghan Government presenting a detailed offer of peace to the Taliban for the first time. While there has long been national consensus on the need for peace among Afghans, there still remain serious and diverging concerns on the best way forward for peace to unfold. Fundamental questions remain on whether the time is right for such negotiations. What are the red lines for negotiations?”

    2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source

  21. “Despite the Taliban committing to a code of conduct on the protection of civilians, the group continues to carry out attacks in densely populated areas, showing no regard for civilian lives. I implore the Security Council and the international community to ensure that transitional justice is not compromised in the pursuit of peace and reconciliation. The peace deal with Hizb-i Islami, signed in September 2016, showed us that peace is possible in Afghanistan. However, it also showed how easily actors could sideline the need for community healing, exclude women and civil society engagement and take steps that reinforce a culture of impunity in the pursuit of achieving peace. While security challenges remain the predominant source of concern, it is not the only cause of despair among Afghans.”

    2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source

  22. “The Taliban, its affiliated group the Haqqani Network, and fighters affiliated with the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant are now targeting civilians, including women and children. In 2009, 285 women were killed as a result of the ongoing conflict. As mentioned earlier, that number rose to 1,224 in 2017. That is extremely alarming. Let us not forget last year's killing of 9-year-old Shukria, who, while travelling with her family from Ghazni province to Quetta, was stopped by insurgents, held captive and later beheaded. That incident prompted nationwide protests and made it very clear that Afghans would not tolerate impunity for those targeting civilians.”

    2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source

  23. “This is reflected in the emergence of a bright and vibrant new generation of youth, the representation of women in all sectors of Afghan society and the strengthening of a promising democratic system of governance. Seventeen years ago, hope replaced despair as Afghans embarked on the path towards a peaceful and stable future where conflict would become a distant memory. We welcomed international investment and commitment to supporting that hope. But as I speak here, Imust tell Council members that this hope is fading. The theater of conflict is becoming more confusing, complicated and lethal. In 2001, we were fighting one group; we are now fighting over 20 regional and international terrorist organizations. Safe zones have now become battlefields that extend from rural to urban areas.”

    2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source

  24. “Ms. Safi: I thank you, Madam President, for giving me the opportunity to address the Security Council today. I should like to thank the Netherlands, as the President of the Council this month, for inviting me to share my perspectives on the Afghan peace process. Today, in my capacity as a peacebuilder and member of the research community in Afghanistan, I would like to touch on the current trends, conditions on the ground and key issues relating to the Afghan peace process. The perspectives I will be sharing with the Council today have been deeply informed by a decade of consultations I have led as part of our efforts at the Organization for Policy Research and Development Studies with diverse sectors, community members and the brave and resilient women of Afghanistan. Afghanistan has witnessed great progress since 2001.”

    2018-03-08 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.8199 (2018) · source