E/2004/27 E/CN.6/2004/14 Recognizing also that Afghan women are primary stakeholders and agents of change, who must have the opportunity to identify their own needs, interests and priorities in all sectors of society as full partners in the rebuilding of their society, Strongly 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: (a) The ongoing commitments made by the Afghan Transitional Administration to recognize, protect and promote all human rights and fundamental freedoms and to respect and promote respect for international humanitarian law; (b) The provisions of the new Constitution, which state that the citizens of Afghanistan, whether men or women, are equal before the law and that at least two women are to be elected to the Wolesi Jirga (Lower House of Parliament) from each province, as a national average, and which provide for half of the President’s nominees to the Meshrano Jirga (Upper House of Parliament) to be women; (c) The ongoing security sector reform processes being undertaken by the Afghanistan Transitional Administration with the support of the international community, including the demobilization, disarmament and reintegration of former combatants and the recruitment of a new cadre of women police; 2. Also welcomes the report of the Secretary-General to the Commission on the Status of Women on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan;19 3. Urges the Afghan Transitional Administration and future Government: (a) To ensure that the provisions of the new Constitution are implemented fully and that any legislative, administrative and other measures support the full enjoyment by women and girls of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including by mainstreaming gender issues into the activities of all Afghanistan Transitional Administration ministries; (b) To enable the full, equal and effective participation of women and girls in civil, cultural, economic, political and social life throughout the country at all levels; (c) To protect the right to freedom of movement, expression and association for women and girls; (d) To implement fully its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and prepare the initial report due in March 2004 and to raise awareness and strengthen the knowledge of women and girls and their families about their rights, including the full enjoyment of all human rights by women and girls; (e) To ensure that the electoral processes, including those in 2004, are carried out and monitored closely to make certain that women are able to register, participate fully and support special measures that would guarantee that they are represented in local, provincial and national government positions; __________________ 19 E/CN.6/2004/5. 3