76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly
On the occasion of the adoption of the UNSC resolution renewing the mandate of UNAMA
Joint Press Stakeout by Estonia and Norway delivered by Norway
September 17, New York
• It is our pleasure to inform you that the Security Council has just unanimously decided to extend the mandate of UNAMA in Afghanistan for 6 months, until mid-March next year.
• This means that UNAMA will maintain its current broad and flexible mandate, which includes: human rights, ‘Women, Peace and Security’, and humanitarian assistance.
• As the situation Afghanistan remains unpredictable. The members of the Security Council have agreed to use the next half year to assess how UNAMA best can support the people of Afghanistan going forward.
• In my national capacity, I would like to add that Norway has consistently engaged with the Taliban and various parties throughout the past decades, including on women’s rights, and we will continue to do so. We have recently evacuated a number of women peacebuilders, human rights defenders, and journalists, to Norway, where they can safely continue their work. We will continue to support the work of women peacebuilders and human rights defenders both in and outside of Afghanistan. Their voices must be heard.
BY ESTONIA
• We would like to underline what this adoption enforces: the unanimous position of the Security Council to support the Afghan people through a continued presence of the United Nations on the ground.
• We have also reiterated our expectations for a new government in Afghanistan that would be inclusive and representative, and would uphold human rights, including for women, children and minorities.
• As penholders, Estonia and Norway will continue to support and strengthen the voices of women peacebuilders and human rights defenders in Afghanistan. Afghan women are pillars of society and must play an essential role in building sustainable peace and stability in Afghanistan.
• Finally, and as you know, the people in Afghanistan are affected by a growing humanitarian crisis. Half the population is in urgent need of aid. We applaud the international community’s commitment this Monday, to scale-up humanitarian funding, but it is also critical to ensure that humanitarian assistance, in particular women humanitarian workers, will have safe and unhindered access throughout the country.
• Thank you.