YouSaid · the spoken record

Tanin

lines on the record: 865
first: 2007-01-31
most recent: 2021-10-15
sittings or episodes: 78
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

“After having hundreds of thousands of military and non-military Government employees in the early 1990s, educated and skilled workers fled the country and its Government was left with fewer than 2,000 employees with higher educations. Many Government institutions were non-functional because basic staffing and resourcing needs were not met. Given the magnitude of destruction, stabilization efforts in Afghanistan have produced impressive results. Despite its uphill climb since the time of Taliban rule, Afghanistan has experienced political transformation and development over the past decade, achieved through the support of the international community. The political process for the continued growth of the country is in place. Nearly 7 million refugees have returned. Women's roles in politics have steadily increased.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“An environment such as Afghanistan's, which has faced complex conflict, power struggles and ongoing violence for decades, cannot be changed overnight. As we engage in each and every discussion about the training of the Afghan army and police, the timeline for military engagement or international partnerships, we must keep this context in mind. In 2001, Afghanistan was considered to be the most failed State in the world. The fall of the Taliban left a weakly governed State with no professional police or army to quell the ongoing fighting around the country. In 2001, Afghanistan lacked State institutions and had a budget of merely $27 million.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“The requirements for successful institution-building in post-conflict settings include recognizing unique contexts; steady provision of resources; growth of human capital; national, regional and international cooperation; and strategic patience through the transition period. In Afghanistan, we have learned first hand the importance of each of these requirements. In the ubiquitous debate on the current situation in Afghanistan, it is easy to overlook the 30 years of conflict that Afghanistan has overcome in order to reach a point at which, today, we can discuss institution-building and post-conflict peacebuilding. Let us not underestimate the time it takes to surpass the challenges of history.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“Please allow me to begin by congratulating you, Madam, and your delegation on assuming the presidency of the Council for the month of January. I thank you for convening today's important meeting on post-conflict peacebuilding and institution-building. Our thanks also go to the Secretary-General for his remarks. I would also like to thank His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Jose Luis Guterres, who spoke on behalf of the Group of Seven Plus, of which Afghanistan is a member. Institution-building is one of the essential components in establishing a peaceful and sustainable future in any post-conflict situation.”
2011-01-21 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6472 (2011) · source
“The transition process goes far beyond the training of Afghan security forces; our partnership must actively address not only security, but development and governance. A stable and prosperous Afghanistan requires unity of understanding, unity of efforts and unity of action. And I assure the Council that we will spare no effort to do our part.”
2010-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6464 (2010) · source
“The most important assessment of the situation in Afghanistan comes from Afghans themselves. Public opinion in Afghanistan, according to recent surveys, reflects that the majority of Afghans continue to positively assess their Government and support national reconciliation efforts, and most importantly, they share the perspective that the country is heading in the right direction. As transition begins, there are clear roles for both the Afghan Government and the international community. In the four years ahead, the measure of success will be determined by the strength of the partnership of the international community and Afghanistan. The focus of this partnership must be on building the Afghan Government's capacity to take responsibility.”
2010-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6464 (2010) · source
“Recent progress in all three of those areas is outlined in the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board's Progress Report on the Afghanistan National Development Strategy, released in November. The results overall were highly encouraging, particularly in the areas of governance, national transparency and accountability. In the first 100 days since the Kabul Conference, 95 per cent of planned activities for creating an efficient and effective government were completed, including recruitment of 24 new district governors and the drafting of new anti-corruption laws. The Afghan Government will continue to pursue effective and timely implementation of all national priority strategies. In that regard, we are monitoring progress and challenges in relation to all programmes through the recently established monitoring mechanism.”
2010-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6464 (2010) · source
“Once the transition process begins, reintegration and reconciliation will be pursued as a matter of high priority in Afghanistan. In fact, reconciliation is becoming an essential political dimension of the transition strategy. For reconciliation to work, the Taliban must be ready to engage sincerely in peace talks; but for reconciliation to succeed, the Taliban must put down their arms, renounce violence and choose the path of peace. Success lies in maintaining our key asset: Afghan leadership and ownership of the reconciliation process. There is also a role for others - the international community, the region and the United Nations - to support the Afghan Government to succeed in its reconciliation efforts. The Afghan Government has worked diligently toward implementing our goals in security, development and governance.”
2010-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6464 (2010) · source
“We maintain high-level communications with the Government of Pakistan with a view to broadening cooperation in the fight against terrorism and order to promote peace, stability and economic development in both our countries. We continue to strengthen cooperation with all our neighbours in the region. Afghanistan holds a unique position in the region, in which it is increasingly able to serve as an economic hub or an Asian crossroads in the greater region. An historic event occurred on 11 December in Ashgabat at the Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India (TAPI) summit meeting, where important agreements for the implementation of the gas pipeline project were signed. The summit was a key step forward in the realization of a regional framework for cooperation in providing energy and energy security.”
2010-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6464 (2010) · source
“Our recent parliamentary elections, the second since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, reaffirmed the commitment of the Afghan people to the democratic process. Millions of Afghans braved security threats to cast their votes to elect members of the National Assembly. Nobody expected a perfect election process. Indeed, the circumstances under which the elections took place gave rise to certain irregularities, including the closing of polling stations and the discounting of 6 many votes by election bodies. As has been announced, the new Parliament will be inaugurated in late January. The Afghan Government continues to focus on enhancing the country's relationships with its neighbours in the region. Effective regional cooperation is indispensable for solving the many challenges that Afghanistan and countries in the region face.”
2010-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6464 (2010) · source
“In that context, emphasis must continue to be placed on ensuring basic services for Afghans, as well as on avoiding civilian casualties during military operations. We welcome strengthened measures to foster coordination among international forces and the review of tactics, so that harm to local communities may be prevented. It is now clear to all that an end to the sanctuaries in the region is crucial to the success of the international campaign to stabilize the region and eliminate the threat of terrorism. We cannot underestimate the importance of addressing the sanctuaries and safe havens in the region, which operate as command and control headquarters for terrorists and extremists. Without progress on that front, all our efforts will have been in vain.”
2010-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6464 (2010) · source
“The latest assessments show that ISAF and Afghan forces have for the first time in the past two years begun to regain the military initiative. That is particularly the case in the southern provinces, which once saw high levels of insecurity. The zone of security has expanded, with Afghan security forces exerting greater presence and control in areas previously held by enemy combatants. Such success has a direct effect on public perception. In Afghan villages, specifically in the south, people acknowledge the progress being made and have begun to engage with local authorities and the Afghan and international forces. Consolidating the support of the local populace is vital for successful international engagement in Afghanistan.”
2010-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6464 (2010) · source
“The Lisbon NATO Summit sent three key messages: first, a message to the Afghan people that the international community will not abandon Afghanistan and will remain engaged with the Afghan people for the long haul; secondly, a message to terrorists and extremists that they will fail in their efforts to take Afghanistan back to the days of tyranny and oppression; and thirdly, a message for the region that cooperation is vital and that our neighbours have a role to play and a stake in the security and stability of Afghanistan. Improving security, which remains a top priority of the Afghan Government, has been a key focus of the Afghan and International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) forces. Despite isolated incidents of attacks and suicide bombings by the Taliban and other extremists, overall security has improved.”
2010-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6464 (2010) · source
“High-level mechanisms, which include key national and international stakeholders, have been established to oversee the transition. In 2011 we will see the launch of the transition process. Practical preparations are under way to that end. The commitment of our international partners to sustained and expedited recruitment, training and resourcing of the Afghan national army and police will constitute a key component of their redefined mission.”
2010-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6464 (2010) · source
“The year began with the London Conference, which was followed by the Peace Jirga, the Kabul Conference, the second parliamentary elections and the NATO Summit in Lisbon. This year, we made momentous strides towards defining and strengthening our relationship with international partners, and sought to re-engage the Afghan people in all efforts to bring peace and security to our country, enhance collaboration with regional partners and reach out to the armed opposition. The Lisbon Conference was a milestone on the road towards reassuring an enduring partnership between Afghanistan and NATO. Among the key outcomes of the meeting was the framework that we adopted for the transition to increased Afghan leadership over the next four years through a province- by-province approach.”
2010-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6464 (2010) · source
“First of all, allow me to congratulate you, Madame President, on your assumption of the presidency of the Council for the month of December. I would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his latest report (S/2010/630) and Special Representative Staffan de Mistura for his informative briefing and his dedicated and very able leadership of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). I would also like to join my good friend, Mr. de Mistura, in paying tribute to the memory of the late Ambassador Holbrooke, whose tireless efforts for peace and security in Afghanistan will be remembered for many years to come. We have arrived at the end of an eventful and historic year in Afghanistan.”
2010-12-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6464 (2010) · source
“Engaging the armed opposition in peace talks, creating Afghanistan's High Peace Council and selecting 60 members for it are significant steps towards strengthening peace and reconciliation efforts. Our national reconciliation process is based on our growing responsibility for the promotion of human rights, building trust and continuing outreach to the people of Afghanistan. Going forward, the issue of protecting civilians in armed conflict will continue to be central to our national efforts. Today's meeting reminds us of the importance of civilians in the overall work of the United Nations and the international community's efforts in general. We look forward to further collaboration with our international partners in achieving our ultimate objective: ending violence and attaining lasting peace.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“The recent Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board's progress report on the Afghanistan National Development Strategy, covering the first 100 days after the Kabul Conference, rightly points out that we have achieved more success in improving security. Afghanistan has completed 89 per cent of planned activities in the area of security and has exceeded expectations in the growth of the national army and national police. In addition to military efforts, the Afghan Government is engaged in a comprehensive outreach initiative aimed at achieving lasting peace and security. The Afghan-led peace process calls on the Taliban to lay down their arms and join the peace process and reconciliation efforts.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“In his address to the heads of State at the NATO summit in Lisbon, President Karzai said, "We are in dialogue with the International Security Assistance Force on issues of serious concern to the Afghan people, in particular: civilian casualties, detentions, lawless behavior by some security companies and, at times, NATO's posture. We need the space to discuss these issues and resolve them in a spirit of collaboration and teamwork. The sustainable solution to these issues will, of course, come from the realization of our common objective of replacing international forces with Afghan security forces." We are of the conviction that civilian protection is not confined to preventing civilian casualties. Ending the loss of civilians requires the establishment of lasting peace and stability.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“It is essential that NATO and our international partners enhance training for Afghan security forces in order to ensure enduring security and consequently the elimination of civilian casualties. The transition is happening while the enemy is attempting to disrupt the Government's activities and continuing its attacks on the Afghan people and Government and the international forces. As the Afghan Government seeks to prepare itself to take on the responsibility for leading security efforts, the continuing support of the Afghan people for our shared efforts and their active participation in the stabilization process are crucial to success. The protection and promotion of the rights of civilians should be among the top priorities of the international engagement in Afghanistan.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“We appreciate the NATO commanders' commitment to give a central place to the protection of civilians in their new military strategy. We hope that further necessary steps will be taken in this regard so as to safeguard the lives and rights of Afghan civilians, particularly in the areas affected by conflict. To protect the lives of civilians, Afghanistan is committed to working with the international community to achieve lasting peace and stability in the country. The protection of civilians must be placed in the context of the emerging transition, in which Afghan national forces will begin to assume full responsibility by 2014. Just this weekend at the NATO summit in Lisbon, we embarked on the transition from an internationally guided process to an Afghan-led one. Security is at the core of this transition.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“Such deaths must not be looked at as merely the consequences of ongoing violence or as collateral damage. Each death in Afghanistan represents a life lost, a family left behind and an entire future denied its potential. The protection of civilians during military operations is our shared responsibility and an international obligation. Increased coordination between international and Afghan forces during military operations and greater cooperation between the international community and the Afghan Government are necessary for ensuring the safety and security of civilian populations. This is an important issue that has long been a crucial point of discussion with Afghanistan's international partners. My Government has called on international forces to take measures necessary to minimize or eliminate civilian casualties.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“As shown in the 2010 mid-year report of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (S/2010/463), the number of civilian casualties due to violence in my country has increased. In the first six months of 2010, there were 3,268 civilian casualties, including 1,271 deaths as a result of armed conflict - or an average of over 18 civilian casualties a day. It shows a 31 per cent increase from the same period last year. Seventy-six per cent of the incidents were the result of the activities of the Taliban and Al-Qaida terrorist groups. Six thousand civilian casualties occurred in 2009. In discussing civilian casualties, let us remember that we are referring to people - to the loss of human life, all too often of innocent women, children and elders.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“Civilian casualties are caused mainly by intentional acts of the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups. Terrorists and extremists have recently expanded the scope of their activities, attacking all sectors of Afghan society. By resorting to new and brutal tactics, including suicide bombings, abductions, targeted assassinations and the indiscriminate use of improvised explosive devices, they show complete disregard for human life. Furthermore, terrorists and extremists continue to conduct attacks from densely populated areas and to use civilians as human shields. Nevertheless, there are also a number of unfortunate, unintended casualties resulting from the military operations and activities of international forces and the joint military operations of both international and Afghan forces.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“From 2001 to 2006, the trust and cooperation between the Afghan people and the international community helped the country to become increasingly stable. However, with the re-emergence in 2006 of the Taliban from sanctuaries in the region and its attempts to attack national and international forces, parts of the country began to slide back into conflict. Violence and insecurity, particularly in the past two years, have widely affected people's security, and thousands of civilians have lost their lives. The increase in the number of civilian casualties has negatively affected the people's trust in the prospect of peace, security and development in the country. Afghans are the first to feel the tragic effects of conflict in their country.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“First, let me thank you, Mr. President, for convening this meeting on the protection of civilians in armed conflict - a topic of particular importance in Afghanistan. I would also like to thank the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs for their briefings, and welcome the recent report of the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in armed conflict (S/2010/579). Nine years ago, the Afghan people overwhelmingly supported the United States-led intervention and joined the United States and coalition forces in the fight against terrorism. They saw the international military campaign as crucial to security in the country and the region and to bringing an end to their suffering.”
2010-11-22 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6427 (2010) · source
“Moreover, Afghanistan's relevant national institutions, in particular the security and judicial sectors, are working diligently to further strengthen our counter-terrorism efforts. In conclusion, I should like to state that the fight against terrorism is a key component of our partnership with the international community, and we look forward to strengthening that partnership in the coming years.”
2010-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6424 (2010) · source
“In regard to the 1373 Committee, we underscore its important work and welcome the continued efforts of the Committee and its Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate for increased collaboration with Member States. Terrorists have proved their readiness to terrorize people, societies and countries as a demonstration of their strength. They will spare no effort and go to all lengths, including resorting to nuclear, chemical and biological terrorism. In that connection, we commend the ongoing efforts of the 1540 Committee to prevent non-State actors from participating in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Afghanistan is actively engaged in implementing the relevant Security Council resolutions on terrorism, on which we have presented national reports. Needless to say, Afghanistan is party to all 13 conventions on terrorism.”
2010-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6424 (2010) · source
“That new practice provides Member States with concise information, such as the date of and reason for listing. Moreover, in August the Committee concluded its review of all individuals on the consolidated list, which led to the de-listing of additional names. We join other speakers in underscoring the importance of a periodic review of the list so as to ensure its accuracy. In that connection, Afghanistan welcomes the de-listing of 10 former Taliban members during the course of the year. Such measures will benefit Afghanistan's peace and reconciliation initiative. That said, we urge the Committee to also give consideration to Afghanistan's additional de- listing requests, and we look forward to the Monitoring Team's Visit to Kabul at the end of this month.”
2010-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6424 (2010) · source
“The reconciliation and reintegration of former combatants with no links to terrorist organizations are critical to achieving lasting peace and security. Afghanistan commends the Security Council for the able manner in which it is leading international efforts in combating terrorism. In that regard, we highlight the importance of the Security Council Committees established pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1373 (2001) and 1540 (2004). The 1267 Committee remains one of the most important instruments of the Security Council in countering terrorism. Consistent with resolution 1904 (2009), the Committee has taken a number of important steps to increase the transparency and effectiveness of its work. In July, the Committee revised its working guidelines. Another important achievement is the publication of narrative summaries for listing.”
2010-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6424 (2010) · source
“That is why they resort to desperate tactics, such as suicide bombings, assassinations and abductions. Further, as we get ready to begin the transition process, we have given new focus to building the size and strength of our national army and police. A detailed plan for the transition strategy will be presented at the NATO summit in Lisbon later this week. We are confident that a stronger and more efficient security force will lead to further progress in the fight against terrorism and to improvement in the security situation. As long as terrorism remains a threat, the fight against it will continue. By the same token, it is widely recognized that military efforts alone are not the solution to Afghanistan's security problem.”
2010-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6424 (2010) · source
“As we have echoed time and again in this very Council, terrorism in our part of the world is a growing threat to international peace and security. The enemy we face is part of a complex and sophisticated network, with safe havens and sanctuaries in our region from which terrorists still enjoy support. Afghanistan remains alarmed at the presence of those support centres and reiterates that, unless they are addressed, the terrorism that has been raging like wildfire will, regrettably, continue. As we speak, our national army and police are engaged in fierce combat against enemy forces in joint military operations with international forces. We have taken the fight to the terrorists and prevented their ability to carry out large-scale conventional attacks.”
2010-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6424 (2010) · source
“As this is the first time that I am taking the floor this month, permit me at the outset to congratulate you, Sir, on assuming the presidency of the Council for November. We thank you for holding today's debate on the work of the subsidiary bodies of the Security Council dealing with terrorism. Afghanistan remains the primary victim of international terrorism. Nearly a decade ago, Afghanistan and the international community joined hands to end the rule of the terrorists and extremists who used our country as a base for international terrorism. Today, notwithstanding important progress on the political, social and economic fronts, the terrorist campaign of the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other extremist groups continues to be the main challenge to Afghanistan's security, reconstruction and development.”
2010-11-15 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6424 (2010) · source
“Afghan women are not damsels in distress. They have been victimized, but they are not helpless victims. They have their own ideas about the needs of women in their country and must be listened to and supported on their paths to self-empowerment. Honouring resolution 1325 (2000) and the subsequent resolutions 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009) and 1889 (2009) is not only a commitment on the part of the Afghan Government, but a necessity. While women are generally the first to be affected by conflict, let us all look forward to witnessing women as the first beneficiaries of peace.”
2010-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6411Resumption1 (2010) · source
“in completing our report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women in the near future. We also appreciate the roles of all United Nations bodies, such as UNICEF, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Population Fund, for their efforts towards improving the lives of women in Afghanistan. We have high expectations for the work of UN Women and support the development of a strong relationship with that institution going forward. Resolution 1325 (2000) is not just about rescuing women, nor jus about helping women who are struggling to overcome conflict, but about recognizing the unique role of women as peacemakers and creating opportunities for women to excel in leadership roles. What better place in the world than Afghanistan to demonstrate the importance of that issue.”
2010-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6411Resumption1 (2010) · source
“We must revisit the original goals and objectives of resolution 1325 (2000) in order to strengthen the monitoring process, address potential gaps and learn from one another's best practices. We are appreciative of the crucial role of the international community and thank the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for its support of all national efforts towards improving the situation of women in Afghanistan. We extend our gratitude to the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) for engaging women's groups to support the efforts of authorities to improve the investigation of sexual violence, thus strengthening the capacity of communities to prevent such horrendous acts. We are committed to further working with UNIFEM.”
2010-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6411Resumption1 (2010) · source
“We see our reconciliation process as the way to end violence for all Afghan people, including women. The representation of women in the Afghan Peace Jirga in June 2010 and the inclusion of 10 women representatives in the newly established High Peace Council are important steps in efforts to guarantee the active involvement of women in the peace process and facilitate reconciliation talks with those who are willing to renounce violence. At the 10-year mark, as we reflect on the successes and challenges of resolution 1325 (2000), we welcome the Secretary-General's report of 28 September 2010 (S/2010/498), which suggests clear, revised indicators for measuring the success of that resolution. We now have an extremely useful set of tools, which must be implemented in order to gauge our impact in that area going forward.”
2010-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6411Resumption1 (2010) · source
“The commitment of the Government of Afghanistan and the support of the international community have been crucial factors in our achievements regarding women in the past decade. During the London and Kabul Conferences, in January and July of this year, we reaffirmed our commitment to protecting the rights of women. As the country moves towards seeking a new political framework for peace and reconciliation, it is vital to make sure that those achievements are sustained and that the rights of women are protected in the future. While we consider the peace talks to be an important part of our shared stabilization efforts, the human rights and women's rights enshrined in our Constitution are non-negotiable. Today, I can affirm that women's rights will remain a priority in all peace talks and at every single step of the reconciliation process.”
2010-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6411Resumption1 (2010) · source
“We are proud of their resilience and bravery in protecting our population. Remarkable progress has been made in terms of the number of women and girls at all levels of education and the increased literacy ratio of girls to boys. Around 37 per cent of the 7 million students in Afghanistan are female. Today, Afghan boys and girls have equal access to education. We must continue our efforts to teach girls to read and to provide more accessible schooling for women and girls, particularly in rural areas. Furthermore, by providing basic health services to nearly 90 per cent of our population, in Afghanistan, health care has improved tremendously for both men and women. That sector also provides employment opportunities for women, as over 20 per cent of doctors and half of the health-care workers in Afghanistan are women.”
2010-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6411Resumption1 (2010) · source
“As we finalize the results of our second parliamentary election, we recall that, last month, millions of Afghans went to the polls to make their voice heard. In those recent elections, 406 out of 2,556 candidates were women. That compares with 328 women candidates in 2005, and ensures that women will fill at least all the 68 seats, or 25 per cent, allocated for women and will likely win additional seats. Women will fill at least a quarter of the Afghan parliament, nearing our Millennium Development Goal of 30 per cent, and will make up 18 per cent of Government employees. There are now over 1,000 women in the Afghan National Security Forces. We plan to increase the number of women in the Afghan National Police to over 5,000 in the next five years. The presence of women in those crucial positions has had a significant impact.”
2010-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6411Resumption1 (2010) · source
“They misrepresent Afghan traditions, using their own interpretations of Islam to justify their actions. Since 2001 Afghanistan has made considerable progress in the advancement of women. The Government of Afghanistan has committed its energy and resources to strengthening the rights of women and improving their role in all aspects of political, social, cultural and economic life, as shown through our National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan. The voices of Afghan women have been increasingly amplified by our growing, vibrant civil society and the active presence of women in the media. Key areas of success for the improvement of the lives of women have been in the spheres of political participation, education and health.”
2010-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6411Resumption1 (2010) · source
“During this time, my country has emerged from decades of suffering to achieve major progress for women. We now work in solidarity with the international community to eliminate the deeply rooted tragedy of the disproportionate effects of conflict on women and to highlight the crucial role of women's leadership in the peace process. The Afghan people have suffered immensely for more than 30 years under foreign invasions, civil wars and Taliban rule. In the 1990s, Afghan women were the targets of brutality and widespread violence, including gender-based violence and oppression. The Taliban completely removed women from all aspects of public life, depriving them of such fundamental rights as education and participation in both the economic and political sectors. The enemies of women's rights remain strong in their efforts.”
2010-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6411Resumption1 (2010) · source
“I thank you, Mr. President, for convening this important and historic debate on women and peace and security. On behalf of my delegation, I commend you on your able leadership of the Council this month. We welcome not only the Secretary-General's extensive report (S/2010/498) before us, but also the Secretary- General's first cross-cutting report on women and peace and security (S/2010/173). On the tenth anniversary of resolution 1325 (2000), it is important to take a step back to gain a more global perspective and to celebrate how far we have come, as well as to recognize areas for improvement in terms of the participation and protection of women in situations of conflict. These have been 10 years of overwhelmingly strong consensus around the resolution.”
2010-10-26 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6411Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Increasingly, we should measure our success not by abstract measures, but by concrete improvement in the lives of the people. It is both responsible and necessary that we continue to search for ways to better meet our responsibilities and to bring to Afghans and others the peace, justice and stability that are the birthright of all humankind.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354Resumption1 (2010) · source
“President Karzai continues to raise this issue with our international partners at the highest level, including in his May meetings with President Obama, and we know that our allies share our belief that every civilian death is unacceptable. In addition, my Government is working to build an efficient, effective and responsible army and police force dedicated to the protection of Afghans and the maintenance of security and the rule of law. The safety of the Afghan people should be our central concern, and we must continue to work together to be worthy of their trust and confidence in our future efforts. Afghanistan supports the growing trend of including the protection of civilians in the mandates of ISAF and other military missions.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354Resumption1 (2010) · source
“We have achieved remarkable progress on this in the past year. We welcomed steps taken by the former commander of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), General McChrystal, to change the rules of engagement in order to better protect the lives of civilians, and the Security Council noticed the results in its mission last month. We expect that General Petraeus, as the new commander of ISAF, will continue this emphasis. However, we can and must do more to prevent collateral damage and friendly fire, such as in the unfortunate incident yesterday that cost the lives of five Afghan servicemen. Every civilian casualty undermines the belief of the people in the good will of the international community and emboldens the enemy.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354Resumption1 (2010) · source
“In this regard, and on behalf of my Government, let me reiterate our gratitude to the men and women of the United Nations and our international friends, who work in Afghanistan under very difficult circumstances for the sake of the Afghan people and in the pursuit of international peace and security. The Afghan Government and people recognize the critical work of the Organization in supporting the efforts of my Government and in providing basic services to and meeting the humanitarian needs of the 10-43968 people. We fully support all United Nations efforts in Afghanistan and at Headquarters to improve security conditions for United Nations staff. It is not only the terrorists who are to blame; we, too, bear an enormous responsibility to safeguard the security of non-combatants.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Last month, in a particularly gruesome example, they hanged a seven- year old child, accusing him of being a Government spy. The same day, they attacked a wedding ceremony and killed over 40 people in Kandahar. Last week, in another province of Afghanistan, they killed another child, with the same accusations. In addition to the cost of this conflict to Afghans, our international friends are also targeted for their efforts to build a stable, prosperous Afghanistan. Attacks on humanitarian workers, United Nations personnel and those working in education and health care continue to increase. The attack in October on Bakhtar Guest House, which took the lives of five United Nations staff members and three others, was just one of several such incidents.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354Resumption1 (2010) · source
“Over 6,000 Afghans, including women, children and the elderly, were killed and injured last year alone, and even more are being killed this year. More than half are killed by suicide attacks and improvised explosive devices. Mines and other remnants of war continue to claim lives, particularly of children. In recent years, the Taliban, Al-Qaida and their terrorist allies have been responsible for an increasing and overwhelming majority of civilian casualties, and they have embraced assassinations, executions and threats in an attempt to control the population through terror. They show a complete disregard for human life and a willingness to particularly target vulnerable groups, including schoolchildren and teachers.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354Resumption1 (2010) · source
“There can be no legitimacy of efforts or sustainability of progress without the support and partnership of the people themselves. This awareness has led the Government of Afghanistan, in partnership with the international community, to focus on finding ways to meet the needs and expectations of the people. In this 2 regard, last month, my Government convened a Consultative Peace Jirga, which brought together all segments of Afghan society in the search for stability and the end of conflict. One thing was very clear - all Afghans desire peace. This is, at heart, the only way to truly protect the Afghan people and stabilize the country. This is my Government's ultimate and most fundamental goal. In the meantime, civilians continue to pay a staggering price.”
2010-07-07 · UN Security Council · Security Council, S/PV.6354Resumption1 (2010) · source