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The Security Council, with Russia abstaining, renews the mandate of the political mission in the country
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The resolution does not imply formal recognition of the regime that returned to power last August
United Nations continues, like the international community, without recognizing the government of the taliban who took power in Afghanistan in August after the abrupt withdrawal of troops led by United States after 20 years of war but this Thursday it has approved in the Security Council a resolution that renews and strengthens the mandate of the political mission in the country. That mandate establishes a relationship with “all relevant political actors and interested parties, including as necessary the relevant authorities”, which in practice means with the Taliban, whom the resolution does not mention by name.
The document, prepared by Norway and subjected to intense negotiations, has been approved with 14 votes in favor. Only Russiawho wanted the text to mention “the de facto authorities” and also requested approval of the presence of the UN by the host country, has abstained. Despite not using his veto power, the Russian ambassador, Vasili Nebenzia, has criticized the fact that the Afghan government has not been consulted and has denounced the “obstinate ignorance of the new realities” since the Taliban seized power.
Women, human rights and government
The resolution renews UNAMA, the UN mission in Afghanistan, for one year, authorizing both that mission and the UN special representative for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons, to “work closely” with the authorities. It focuses on promoting in Afghanistan the gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, “including education and full, equal, meaningful and safe participation and leadership at all levels and in all stages of decision-making”.
The mission will also promote the human rights of all Afghans and an inclusive and representative government. Although the Taliban promised such inclusion and representation, the government is majority Pashtun and has no women.
“In no way does it imply recognition”
Mona Juul, Norway’s ambassador to the UN, stressed after the vote that the UN mission “has a crucial role to play in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan and in support of the Afghan people as they face unprecedented challenges and uncertainty.” He has also wanted to emphasize that the resolution does not represent formal recognition of the Taliban. “It gives the mission a strong mandate to engage with all relevant actors on all aspects of this mandate. That includes the Taliban but in no way implies UN recognition of the Taliban,” the diplomat stressed.
The UN has not yet accepted the credentials of Suhail Shaheen, the Taliban spokesman Kabul appointed to be its ambassador to the United Nations.
Humanitarian and economic disaster
Louis Charbonneau, director of the UN in Human Rights Watch, has stated that the mission “must ensure that it remains the eyes and ears of the international community in Afghanistan” and has called for it to “regularly and publicly document and report on human rights abuses, especially violations of the rights of girls and women”. Charbonneau has also urged UNAMA to “speak loud and clear about the impact of sanctions in the disastrous humanitarian situation in Afghanistan”, where more than half of the 38 million inhabitants face hunger and where the UN has warned that 96% of the population could be in a situation of poverty this year.
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The resolution approved this Thursday, which contemplates the coordination and delivery of humanitarian aid, also expresses deep concern about the “dire economic and humanitarian situation” in the country. Lyons, the UN envoy, already warned earlier this month at another Security Council session that Afghanistan’s economy was heading to “an irreversible point.” In January, the organization made the largest appeal for donation of funds in its history for a single country, 5,000 million dollars, warning that “a humanitarian catastrophe In all rules”.
After the Taliban came to power, governments and international institutions froze 10,000 million dollars from the Central Bank of Afghanistan outside the country. Most of those assets, $7 billion, are in the US, where the Taliban is designated a terrorist organization. In February the president, Joe Bidensigned a controversial order by which, pending court decisions, half of that money could be used to compensate families of victims of the attacks on the 9/11.
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.