Madam President,
I would like to begin by thanking Special Representative Lyons and Ms. Akbar for their detailed and sobering briefings on the situation in Afghanistan. With the violence and attacks on civilians, the need for humanitarian assistance and the COVID-19 pandemic, the conditions now in Afghanistan are looking worse than they have in a decade.
It is deeply troubling to hear that the security situation has deteriorated to its worst level since the start of UNAMA. The intensifying armed clashes continue to take the heaviest toll on the civilian population, with the number of casualties noticeably increasing since the start of the peace negotiations. The recent wave of deliberate attacks targeting civilians is indefensible. These assassinations, in particular of prominent civil servants, human rights defenders, and journalists must be investigated and perpetrators held accountable. I would like to recall that this council has recently underlined that these targeted killings of civilians may constitute war crimes and must stop immediately.
The increased violence has been accompanied by the humanitarian situation deteriorating to unprecedented levels. Nearly half the population of Afghanistan is in need of humanitarian assistance, but at the same time, increasing violence is severely impeding humanitarian access and claiming the lives of more and more aid workers. It is vital to support UNAMA’s efforts to improve the accessibility of humanitarian aid to people in dire need.
I would like to separately highlight the distressing effect the conflict is having on children in Afghanistan, with almost a third of all civilian casualties being children and half of all kids under the age of five now facing acute malnutrition.
Madam President,
Today we reiterate once again our call for an immediate, permanent and comprehensive ceasefire, to save the Afghan people from more meaningless suffering and to create a conducive environment for sustainable peace in the country, as well as stability in the region. The current soaring violence has contributed to diminishing public confidence and trust in efforts towards peace. All parties, particularly the Taliban must fulfill their commitments and work towards ending violence to save civilian lives.
We welcome the recent agreement to accelerate Intra-Afghan peace negotiations. Sustainable peace can only be achieved through a sustainable political settlement accepted by all constituencies, including marginalized groups. To achieve this, the peace process must protect and reinforce the rights of all Afghans, including women, youth and persons belonging to minorities, and preserve the gains achieved in the past two decades and guaranteed by the Afghan Constitution. We emphasize the importance of the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in the peace process. Women are equally experiencing the devastating impact of this unending war and have been fighting for the survival of countless families.
Estonia and the EU remain ready to support Afghans as they pursue the peace process. Such sustained cohesive support by the international community, in particular countries of the region, is crucial in facilitating and guaranteeing peace in Afghanistan. We welcome active outreach by all parties in support of the peace process and endorse here the engagement of UNAMA and the Secretary General’s new envoy, Mr. Arnault.
Madam President,
This is certainly the most difficult phase that UNAMA has witnessed since the beginning of the mission in Afghanistan. I would like to conclude by commending UNAMA for its continuous efforts, in particular for its work in promoting the role of women with regard to peace and security agenda, addressing the situation of children affected by armed conflict, supporting transitional justice and victim-centered justice, the inclusion of civil society, and their activities in supporting the protection of human rights under challenging conditions in Afghanistan.
Thank you.