E/2002/27 E/CN.6/2002/13 Recognizing also that women’s effective participation in civil, cultural, economic, political and social life should be promoted and protected throughout Afghanistan, Recognizing further that Afghan women are primary stakeholders and agents of change, who must have the opportunity to identify their own needs and priorities in all sectors of society as full partners in the rebuilding of their society, Recognizing the need for the international community to ensure that a gender mainstreaming approach is adopted in all its activities and that it proceed in a gender-sensitive way that gives Afghan women a key role in the process, Recognizing also that non-governmental organizations are playing a valuable role both inside and outside Afghanistan in the provision of basic services and in the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and that they continue to be important partners in the recovery and reconstruction process, Mindful of the continued fragile humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and the importance of ensuring continued humanitarian assistance and protection for Afghan civilians, Emphasizing that a safe environment, free from violence, discrimination and abuse for all Afghans, is essential for a viable and sustainable recovery and reconstruction process, 1. Welcomes the commitments made by the Afghan Interim Authority to recognize, protect, promote and act in accordance with all human rights and fundamental freedoms, in accordance with international human rights instruments, and to respect and ensure respect for international humanitarian law; 2. Welcomes with appreciation the report of the Secretary-General to the Commission on the Status of Women on discrimination against women and girls in Afghanistan, including the conclusions and recommendations of the report; 25 3. Welcomes the establishment of the Ministry of Women’s Affairs as an integral part of the Afghan Interim Administration, and urges the Interim Authority to provide the necessary assistance to enable the Ministry to function effectively, and encourages the international community to provide funding and technical assistance so that the Ministry can fulfil its task in promoting gender equality and develop the capacity to act as a catalyst for gender mainstreaming throughout the Government; 4. Urges the Afghan Interim Authority and the future Afghan Transitional Authority to: (a) Respect fully the equal human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls in accordance with international human rights law; (b) Give high priority to the issue of ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women,12 and consider signing and ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention; 26 __________________ 25 26 E/CN.6/2002/5. General Assembly resolution 54/4, annex. 5