Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
[without reference to a Main Committee (A/61/L.25 and Add.1)]
61/18.  The situation in Afghanistan


	The General Assembly,
	Recalling its resolutions 60/32 A and B of 30 November 2005 and all its previous relevant resolutions,
	Recalling also all relevant Security Council resolutions and statements by the President of the Council on the situation in Afghanistan, in particular the most recent resolutions 1659 (2006) of 15 February 2006, 1662 (2006) of 23 March 2006 and 1707 (2006) of 12 September 2006, as well as the statement by the President of the Council on 26 July 2006,
	Expressing its strong commitment to the implementation of the Afghanistan Compact and the annexes thereto, launched at the London Conference on Afghanistan held on 31 January and 1 February 2006, which provide the framework for the partnership between the Government of Afghanistan and the international community,
	Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and national unity of Afghanistan, and respecting its multicultural, multi-ethnic and historical heritage,
	Recognizing the urgent need to tackle the challenges in Afghanistan, including terrorist threats, the fight against narcotics, the lack of security, in particular in the south and east, the comprehensive nationwide disbandment of illegal armed groups and the development of Afghan Government institutions, including at the subnational level, the strengthening of the rule of law, the acceleration of justice sector reform, the promotion of national reconciliation, without prejudice to the fulfilment of the measures introduced by the Security Council in its resolution 1267 (1999) of 15 October 1999 and other relevant resolutions, and an Afghan-led transitional justice process, the safe and orderly return of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons, the promotion and protection of human rights and the advancement of economic and social development,
	Expressing in this context its deep concern over attacks against both Afghan and foreign nationals committed to supporting the consolidation of peace, stability and development in Afghanistan, in particular United Nations and diplomatic staff, national and international humanitarian and development personnel, Afghan National Security Forces, the International Security Assistance Force, as well as the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, and noting with concern that the lack of security is causing some organizations to cease or curtail their humanitarian and development work in some parts of Afghanistan, 
	Recognizing the progress achieved, while nonetheless remaining deeply concerned about the problem of millions of anti-personnel landmines and explosive remnants of war, which constitute a great danger for the population and a major obstacle for the resumption of economic activities and for recovery and reconstruction efforts,
	Noting that, despite improvements in building the security sector, increased terrorist attacks caused by the Taliban, AlQaida and other extremist groups, in particular in the south and east of Afghanistan over the past months, and the lack of security caused by criminal activity and the illicit production of and trafficking in drugs, remain a serious challenge, threatening the democratic process as well as reconstruction and economic development,
	Noting also that the responsibility for providing security and law and order throughout the country resides with the Government of Afghanistan supported by the Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, recognizing the institutional progress achieved in this respect, deeply concerned about the recent increase in violence, and stressing the importance of further extending central government authority to all parts of Afghanistan,
	Commending the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police, the Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition for their efforts to improve security conditions in Afghanistan, 
	Acknowledging, in this context, that the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police require additional support to enhance their capability, including through the provision of more modern equipment,
	Stressing that regional cooperation constitutes an effective means to promote security and development in Afghanistan,
	Reaffirming in this context its continued support for the spirit and the provisions of the Bonn Agreement of 5 December 2001, of the Berlin Declaration, including the annexes thereto, of 1 April 2004 and of the Afghanistan Compact of 31 January 2006, and pledging its continued support, after the successful completion of the political transition, to the Government and people of Afghanistan as they rebuild their country, strengthen the foundations of a constitutional democracy and resume their rightful place in the community of nations,
	Applauding the inauguration of the Afghan National Assembly on 19 December 2005, which completes the Bonn process, as well as the constitution of the provincial councils,
	Welcoming the constitution of the national Government, and noting the importance of it being representative of the ethnic diversity of the country and ensuring also the adequate participation of women,
	Welcoming also the finalization of the ten-year strategy for justice reform in Afghanistan, and expressing its appreciation for the appointment and confirmation of a highly qualified Supreme Court,
	Welcoming further, in this regard, the guarantee of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Afghans in the new Constitution as a significant step towards an improved situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular for women and children,
	Recalling Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, and applauding the progress achieved in the empowerment of women in Afghan politics as historic milestones in the political process, which will help to consolidate durable peace and national stability in Afghanistan, while noting the need to promote the empowerment of women also at the provincial level,
	Noting at the same time with concern reports of continued violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law and violent or discriminatory practices, in particular against women and girls, in certain parts of the country, and stressing the need for adherence to international standards of tolerance and religious freedom,
	Welcoming the presentation of the interim Afghanistan National Development Strategy and the adoption of the first report on the Millennium Development Goals by the Government of Afghanistan as well as the further efforts of the Government to achieve the Millennium Development Goals,
	Welcoming also the continuing and growing ownership of the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts by the Government of Afghanistan, and emphasizing the crucial need to achieve ownership in all fields of governance and to improve institutional capabilities, including at the provincial level, in order to use aid more effectively,
	Expressing its appreciation for the humanitarian assistance work of the international community in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan, recognizing the necessity of further addressing the slow pace of change in the living conditions of the Afghan people, and noting the need to strengthen the capacity of the Government of Afghanistan to deliver basic services and to promote development,
	Welcoming the continuous return of refugees and internally displaced persons, while noting with concern that conditions in parts of Afghanistan are not yet conducive to safe and sustainable returns to some places of origin and that high concentration of returns to major urban areas have placed an extreme burden on limited urban resources,
	Aware of the high vulnerability of Afghanistan to natural disasters and harsh climate conditions, in particular drought or flooding, 
	Expressing its appreciation for the work of the provincial reconstruction teams and of the executive steering committee, 
	Recognizing that the social and economic development of Afghanistan, specifically the development of alternative gainful and sustainable livelihoods in the formal productive sector, is an important element of the successful implementation of the comprehensive Afghan national drug control strategy and depends to a large extent on enhanced international cooperation with the Government of Afghanistan,
	Welcoming the launching on 31 January 2006 of the updated National Drug Control Strategy at the London Conference on Afghanistan,
	Deeply concerned about the increased cultivation, production of and trafficking in narcotic drugs in Afghanistan, which is undermining stability and security as well as the political and economic reconstruction of Afghanistan and has dangerous repercussions in the region and far beyond, and commending in this context the publication of the updated National Drug Control Strategy and the reaffirmed commitment of the Government of Afghanistan to rid the country of this pernicious production and trade, including by decisive law enforcement measures, 
	Expressing its appreciation and strong support for the central and impartial role that the Secretary-General and his Special Representative continue to play in the consolidation of peace and stability in Afghanistan, and underlining the coordinating role of the United Nations in continuing to ensure a seamless transition, under Afghan leadership, from humanitarian relief to recovery and reconstruction,
	Welcoming, in this context, the establishment of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board pursuant to the Afghanistan Compact as an instrument to further improve coordination between the Government of Afghanistan and its international partners and to monitor the implementation of all benchmarks,
	Recognizing the need for a continued strong international commitment to humanitarian assistance and for programmes, under the ownership of the Government of Afghanistan, of recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction, and expressing, at the same time, its appreciation to the United Nations system and to all States and international and non-governmental organizations whose international and local staff continue to respond positively to the humanitarian, transition and development needs of Afghanistan despite increasing security concerns and difficulties of access in certain areas,
	1.	Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General and the recommendations contained therein;
	2.	Strongly condemns the upsurge of violence throughout Afghanistan, in particular in the southern and eastern parts, owing to the increased violent and terrorist activity by the Taliban, AlQaida, other extremist groups and those involved in the narcotics trade, which has resulted in increased casualties among Afghan civilians, Afghan National Security Forces, the International Security Assistance Force and the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition, as well as among the personnel of Afghan and international aid agencies and all other humanitarian workers;
	3.	Stresses the importance of the provision of sufficient security, welcomes the expansion of the presence of the Assistance Force in southern and eastern Afghanistan, and calls upon Member States to continue contributing personnel, equipment and other resources to the Assistance Force and to further develop the provincial reconstruction teams in close coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan;
	4.	Expresses its appreciation for the work of the Assistance Mission, and welcomes the extension of its presence in additional provinces, which thus ensures that the United Nations fulfils its essential coordinating role, and encourages the Assistance Mission to continue expansion of its presence throughout the country;
	5.	Calls upon the Government of Afghanistan, with the assistance of the international community, including through the Operation Enduring Freedom coalition and the Assistance Force, in accordance with their respective designated responsibilities, to continue to address the threat to the security and stability of Afghanistan posed by the Taliban, AlQaida and other extremist groups as well as by criminal violence, in particular violence involving the drug trade;
	6.	Urges the Government of Afghanistan and local authorities to take all possible steps to ensure the safe and unhindered access of United Nations, development and humanitarian personnel to all affected populations;
	7.	Strongly condemns all acts of violence and intimidation, in particular that directed against development and humanitarian personnel and United Nations and associated personnel as well as against Afghan civilians, including women activists, regrets the loss of life and physical harm, and urges the Government of Afghanistan and local authorities to make every effort, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 60/123 of 15 December 2005, to bring to justice the perpetrators of attacks, to ensure the safety, security and free movement of all United Nations, development and humanitarian personnel and to protect the property of the United Nations and of development or humanitarian organizations;
	8.	Welcomes the successful completion of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former Afghan combatants, which started in October 2003;
	9.	Also welcomes the launching of the programme of disbandment of illegal armed groups, and stresses the importance of advancing its full implementation throughout the country under Afghan ownership, while ensuring further coordination and coherence with other relevant efforts regarding security sector reform and community development;
	10.	Further welcomes, in this context, the commitment of the President of Afghanistan to stand firm on the disbandment of illegal armed groups, at the Second Tokyo Conference on Consolidation of Peace in Afghanistan on 5 July 2006, and encourages the Government of Afghanistan to work actively at national, provincial and local levels to advance this commitment;
	11.	Welcomes the development of the new professional Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police, calls for accelerated efforts to modernize and strengthen both institutions, welcomes the progress made in the creation of a fair and effective justice system as important steps towards the goal of strengthening the Government of Afghanistan, providing security and ensuring the rule of law throughout the country, and urges the international community to continue to support the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in these areas in a coordinated manner; 
	12.	Also welcomes the completion of the disarmament and demobilization of child soldiers in the Afghan Military Forces, stresses the importance of the reintegration of child soldiers and of care for other children affected by war, commends the Government of Afghanistan for its efforts in this regard, and encourages it to continue efforts in cooperation with the United Nations;
	13.	Expresses its concern about the recruitment and use of child soldiers by illegal armed groups in Afghanistan, reiterates the importance of ending the use of children contrary to international law, and welcomes the accession by Afghanistan to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the two optional protocols thereto;
	14.	Urges the Government of Afghanistan to meet its responsibilities under the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, to cooperate fully with the mine action programme coordinated by the United Nations, and to eliminate all existing stocks of anti-personnel landmines;
	15.	Recognizes the completion of the establishment of democratic institutions according to the Bonn process, notes the challenges lying ahead identified in the Afghanistan Compact,_Ref151812470 \h  \* MERGEFORMAT 1 and calls upon the international community to continue to provide sustained support;
	16.	Notes with concern the negative impact of the security situation on the enjoyment of human rights, and calls for all parties to fully respect human rights and international humanitarian law throughout Afghanistan and, with the assistance of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and of the Assistance Mission, to fully implement the human rights provisions of the new Afghan Constitution, and commends the commitment of the Government of Afghanistan in this respect;
	17.	Calls for the full respect of the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all, without discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of gender, ethnicity or religion, in accordance with obligations under the Afghan Constitution and international law;
	18.	Stresses the need to ensure respect for the right to freedom of expression and the right to freedom of thought, conscience or belief;
	19.	Continues to emphasize the necessity of investigating allegations of current and past violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law, including violations committed against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, as well as against women and girls, of facilitating the provision of efficient and effective remedies to the victims and of bringing the perpetrators to justice in accordance with international law;
	20.	Reiterates the important role of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, stresses the need to expand its range of operation in all parts of Afghanistan in accordance with the Afghan Constitution, welcomes the adoption by the Government of Afghanistan of the Action Plan on Peace, Justice and Reconciliation, and stresses the importance of judicial accountability of human rights offenders in accordance with national and international law;
	21.	Recalls Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women and peace and security, commends the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan to mainstream gender issues and to protect and promote the equal rights of women and men as guaranteed, inter alia, by virtue of its ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and by the Afghan Constitution, welcomes the level of participation of Afghan women in the parliamentary and provincial council elections, including the election of female candidates to these bodies, and reiterates the continued importance of the full and equal participation of women in all spheres of Afghan life;
	22.	Welcomes the presentation of the interim national action plan for women in Afghanistan currently under consultation and the significant efforts by the Government of Afghanistan to counter discrimination, urges the Government to actively involve all elements of Afghan society, in particular women, in the development and implementation of relief, rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction programmes, and encourages the collection and use of statistical data on a sex-disaggregated basis to provide information on gender-based violence and accurately track the progress of the full integration of women into the political, economic and social life of Afghanistan;
	23.	Recognizes the significant progress achieved on gender equality in Afghanistan in recent years, and strongly condemns incidents of discrimination and violence against women in Afghanistan, wherever they occur;
	24.	Welcomes the initiative of the Government of Afghanistan to formulate a national plan of action on combating child trafficking, encourages the Government to formulate the plan of action guided by the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, and stresses the importance of considering becoming a party to the Protocol;
	25.	Urges the Government of Afghanistan to continue to effectively reform the public administration sector in order to implement the rule of law and to ensure good governance and accountability at both national and local levels, and stresses the importance of meeting the respective benchmarks of the Afghanistan Compact, with the support of the international community;
	26.	Encourages the Government of Afghanistan to vigorously pursue its efforts to establish a more effective, accountable and transparent administration at all levels of Government leading the fight against corruption in accordance with the Afghanistan Compact, and notes with concern the effects of administrative corruption with regard to security, good governance and combating the narcotics industry;
	27.	Stresses once again the need for further progress on a comprehensive judicial reform in Afghanistan, and urges the Government of Afghanistan and the international community to devote resources also to the reconstruction and reform of the prison sector in order to improve respect for the rule of law and human rights therein, while reducing physical and mental health risks to inmates;
	28.	Urges the Government of Afghanistan to address, with the assistance of the international community, the question of claims for land property through a comprehensive land titling programme, including formal registration of all property and improved security of property rights, and welcomes the steps already taken by the Government in this regard;
	29.	Welcomes the presentation of the interim Afghanistan National Development Strategy at the London Conference on Afghanistan,4 underlines the need to finalize the Strategy as soon as possible, and urges the international community actively to support this process;
	30.	Reiterates the necessity of providing Afghan children with educational and health facilities in all parts of the country, recognizing the special needs of girls, strongly condemns terrorist attacks on education facilities, and encourages the Government of Afghanistan, with the assistance of the international community, to expand these facilities, to train professional staff and to promote full and equal access to them by all members of Afghan society, including in remote areas;
	31.	Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that continue to host Afghan refugees, acknowledging the huge burden they have so far shouldered in this regard, and reminds them of their obligations under international refugee law with respect to the protection of refugees, the principle of voluntary return and the right to seek asylum and to allow international access for their protection and care;
	32.	Urges the Government of Afghanistan, acting with the support of the international community, to continue and strengthen its efforts to create the conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return and reintegration of the remaining Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons;
	33.	Calls for the provision of continued international assistance to the large numbers of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons to facilitate their voluntary, safe and orderly return and sustainable reintegration into society so as to contribute to the stability of the entire country;
	34.	Welcomes the efforts to date of the Afghan authorities to carry out the updated National Drug Control Strategy presented at the London Conference on Afghanistan on 31 January 2006,5 and urges the Government of Afghanistan to take decisive action, in particular to stop the processing of and trade in drugs, by pursuing the concrete steps set out in the Strategy and in the Afghanistan Compact;
	35.	Calls upon the international community to assist the Government of Afghanistan in carrying out its National Drug Control Strategy, aimed at eliminating the cultivation, production, trafficking in and consumption of illicit drugs, including through increased support for Afghan law enforcement and criminal justice agencies, rural development, demand reduction, the elimination of illicit crops, increasing public awareness and building the capacity of drug control institutions;
	36.	Expresses concern about the recent increase in the cultivation of opium, notes that opium cultivation, and the related drug production and trafficking, pose a serious threat to security, the rule of law and development in Afghanistan, urges the Government of Afghanistan, supported by the international community, to work to mainstream counter-narcotics throughout all the national programmes, commends the efforts of the Government in this regard, and urges it to increase its efforts against opium cultivation;
	37.	Encourages the international community to increasingly channel counter-narcotics funding through the Government of Afghanistan’s counter-narcotics trust fund;
	38.	Urges the Government of Afghanistan, while carrying out its National Drug Control Strategy, to promote the development of sustainable livelihoods in the formal production sector as well as other sectors, thus improving substantially the lives, health and security of the people, particularly in rural areas, and calls upon the international community, in cooperation with the Government, to continue to assist it in this regard;
	39.	Supports the fight against the illicit trafficking in drugs and precursors within Afghanistan and in neighbouring States and countries along trafficking routes, including increased cooperation among them to strengthen anti-narcotic controls to curb the drug flow;
	40.	Welcomes the outcome of the Second Ministerial Conference on Drug Trafficking Routes from Afghanistan, organized by the Government of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, held in Moscow from 26 to 28 June 2006, within the framework of the Paris Pact initiative, and therefore calls upon States to strengthen international and regional cooperation to counter the threat to the international community posed by the illicit production of and trafficking in drugs;
	41.	Also welcomes the establishment of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board for the implementation of the political commitments of the Afghanistan Compact, and expresses its appreciation for the support to the Assistance Mission and the Government of Afghanistan by the international members of the Board;
	42.	Endorses the key principles for cooperation between the Government of Afghanistan and the international community as referred to in the Afghanistan Compact: respect for the pluralistic culture, values and history of Afghanistan, based on Islam; partnership between the Government of Afghanistan, with its sovereign responsibilities, and the international community, with a central and impartial coordinating role for the United Nations; further engagement of participation and aspiration to ownership of the Afghan people; pursuit of fiscal, institutional and environmental sustainability; building of lasting Afghan capacity and effective State and civil society institutions; ensuring balanced and fair allocation of domestic and international resources throughout the country; recognition of equal rights and responsibilities of men and women in all policies; promotion of regional cooperation; and fight against corruption, and ensuring public transparency and accountability;
	43.	Commends the continuing efforts of the signatories of the Kabul Declaration on Good-neighbourly Relations of 22 December 2002 to implement their commitments under the Declaration, including, within that framework, those under the Kabul Declaration of 5 December 2005, adopted at the first Regional Economic Cooperation Conference, and furthermore calls upon all other States to respect and support the implementation of those provisions and to promote regional stability;
	44.	Welcomes efforts by the Governments of Afghanistan and its neighbouring partners to foster trust and cooperation with each other, and looks forward, where appropriate, to increasing cooperation between Afghanistan and all its neighbouring and regional partners against the Taliban, AlQaida and other extremist groups and in promoting peace and prosperity in Afghanistan, in the region and beyond;
	45.	Appreciates the efforts of the members of the Tripartite Commission, namely, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States of America, to continue to address cross-border activities and to broaden its cooperation, welcomes the participation of the Assistance Force, and calls upon the international community to support those efforts;
	46.	Invites all States, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations providing assistance to Afghanistan to focus on institution-building in a coordinated manner and to ensure that such work complements and contributes to the development of an economy characterized by sound macroeconomic policies, the development of a financial sector that provides services, inter alia, to microenterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises and households, transparent business regulations and accountability;
	47.	Encourages the international community, including all donor nations, to assist the Government of Afghanistan in making capacity-building and human resources development a cross-cutting priority;
	48.	Urges the international community, in accordance with the Afghanistan Compact, to increase the proportion of donor assistance channelled directly to the core budget, as agreed bilaterally between the Government of Afghanistan and each donor, as well as through other more predictable core budget funding modalities in which the Government participates, such as the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund, the Law and Order Trust Fund and the Counter-Narcotics Trust Fund;
	49.	Urgently appeals to all States, the United Nations system and international and non-governmental organizations to continue to provide, in close coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and in accordance with its national development strategy, all possible and necessary humanitarian, recovery, reconstruction, financial, technical and material assistance for Afghanistan;
	50.	Emphasizes the need to maintain, strengthen and review civil-military relations among international actors, as appropriate, at all levels in order to ensure complementarity of action based on the different mandates and comparative advantages of the humanitarian, development, law enforcement and military actors present in Afghanistan, bearing in mind the central and impartial coordinating role of the United Nations;
	51.	Requests the Secretary-General to report to the General Assembly every six months during its sixty-first session on developments in Afghanistan, as well as on the progress made in the implementation of the present resolution;
	52.	Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its sixty-second session the item entitled “The situation in Afghanistan”.

58th plenary meeting
28 November 2006
 S/2006/90, annex.
 Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-establishment of Permanent Government Institutions (see S/2001/1154).
 Available from www.unama-afg.org.
 S/2006/105, annex.
  S/2006/106, annex.
 A/61/326S/2006/727.
 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1577, No. 27531.
 Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531; and ibid., vol. 2173, No. 27531.
 Ibid., vol. 2056, No. 35597.
 Ibid., vol. 1249, No. 20378.
 Resolution 55/25, annex II.
 See A/61/208-S/2006/598, annex.
 S/2002/1416, annex.

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 United Nations A/RES/61/18
 General Assembly Distr.: General
24 January 2007
Sixty-first session
Agenda item 16


06-49551

A/RES/61/18

A/RES/61/18

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