E/2001/27 E/CN.6/2001/14 against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,12 the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 13 the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women,14 the Convention on the Rights of the Child 15 and the optional protocols thereto on the involvement of children in armed conflict 16 and on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, 17 the Beijing Declaration 18 and Platform for Action,19 the further actions and initiatives to implement the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted by the General Assembly at its twenty-third special session,20 accepted humanitarian rules as set out in the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, 21 and other instruments of human rights and international law, Recalling that Afghanistan is party to the Convention on the Prevention of the Crime of Genocide, 22 the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,11 the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,11 the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, 23 and that it has signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Reaffirming that all States have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms and to fulfil the obligations they have freely undertaken under the various international instruments, Welcoming the substantive report of the Secretary-General to the Commission on the Status of Women on the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan, and the conclusions contained therein, including the need to monitor and evaluate the promotion and protection of the human rights of women and girls who reside in all areas of Afghanistan,24 Noting the report of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on violence against women, 25 and deploring the “official, widespread and systematic violation of the human rights of women in Taliban controlled areas” as found in the report, Deploring the deteriorating economic, social and cultural conditions of women and girls in all areas of Afghanistan, in particular in areas under the control of the Taliban, as documented by the continued and substantiated reports of grave violations to the security of the person and integrity as well as the human rights of women and girls, including discrimination in terms of access to health care, to levels __________________ 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 General Assembly resolution 39/46, annex. General Assembly resolution 34/180, annex. General Assembly resolution 48/104. General Assembly resolution 44/25, annex. General Assembly resolution 54/2 63, annex I. Ibid., annex II. Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 ( U n i t e d Nations publication, Sales No. E.96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex I. Ibid., annex II. General Assembly resolution S-23/3, annex. United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, Nos. 970-973. General Assembly resolution 260 A (III). United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 75, No. 973. E/CN.6/2001/2/Add.1. E/CN.4/2000/68/Add.4. 3