A/RES/73/88
The situation in Afghanistan
women of the Afghan and international security forces who have given their lives in
the course of duty,
Reiterating the urgent need to tackle the challenges facing Afghanistan, in
particular the region-based terrorist or violent extremist activities of the Taliban,
including the Haqqani Network, as well as Al-Qaida, Islamic State in Iraq and the
Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh) affiliates and other terrorist and violent extremist groups and
criminals, the development of the institutions of the Government of Afghanistan,
including at the subnational level, the strengthening of the rule of law and democratic
processes, the fight against corruption, the continuation of justice sector reform, the
promotion of the peace process, without prejudice to the fulfilment of the measures
introduced by the Security Council in its relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions
1267 (1999) of 15 October 1999, 1988 (2011) and 1989 (2011) of 17 June 2011,
2082 (2012) and 2083 (2012) of 17 December 2012, 2160 (2014) and 2161 (2014) of
17 June 2014, 2253 (2015) of 17 December 2015, 2255 (2015) of 21 December 2015
and 2368 (2017) of 20 July 2017, an Afghan-led transitional justice process, the safe
and voluntary return of Afghan refugees and internally displaced persons in an orderly
and dignified manner, the promotion and protection of human rights, interfaith and
intra-faith tolerance and the advancement of economic and social development,
Expressing its deep concern about the continuous high level of violence in
Afghanistan, especially the number of civilian casualties, condemning in the strongest
terms all terrorist activity and all violent attacks, recalling that the Taliban, as well as
Al-Qaida, ISIL (Da’esh) affiliates and other terrorist and violent extremist groups and
illegal armed groups are responsible for the significant majority of the civilian
casualties in Afghanistan, and calling for compliance with international humanitarian
law and international human rights law, as applicable, including the obligation of all
parties to armed conflict to ensure respect for and the protection of civilians and
humanitarian and medical personnel, as well as aid and humanitarian and medical
facilities,
Welcoming the courageous steps taken by the Government of Afghanistan to
promote an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace through the Kabul Process for Peace
and Security Cooperation, including through the offer of talks without preconditions
and the temporary ceasefire during Eid al-Fitr, and calling upon the Taliban to respond
to the call for peace from the Afghan people and Government,
Welcoming also the achievements of the National Unity Government in political,
economic, governance and social reforms and in the management of the transition,
underlining the need to preserve past achievements, and urging further improvement
in this regard, in particular to address poverty and the delivery of services, stimulate
economic growth, create employment opportunities, increase domestic revenue and
promote human rights, especially women’s full and equal enjoyment of these rights,
children’s rights and the rights of persons belonging to minorities,
Welcoming further the holding of parliamentary elections in October 2018,
which marked another important step towards the consolidation of democracy in the
country, condemning in the strongest terms all terrorist activity and violent attacks
aimed at disrupting the elections, commending, in that regard, the people of
Afghanistan for their courage and determination in defying terr orism and insecurity
to take part in that national process, as well as the Afghan National Defence and
Security Forces for the effective manner in which they provided security for the
elections, and urging further technical and operational improvements to the electoral
process ahead of the presidential elections in April 2019,
Emphasizing the central and impartial role of the United Nations in promoting
peace and stability in Afghanistan, expressing its appreciation and strong support for
all of the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Representative for
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