Commitments Database: A 1325 Call to Action Statement Afghanistan

Statement by Mr. Mohammad Erfani Ayoob, Deputy Permanent Representative

Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations to the Ministerial Meeting in Preparation for the 10th Anniversary on Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) On Women, Peace and Security, New York, 25 September 2010

Honorable Minister Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Mr. Secretary General, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I would like to express my appreciation to the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations for organizing this event which is highly important for Afghanistan.

H.E. Dr. Zalmai Rasul, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, due to other pre arranged engagements, could not participate in today's meeting and I would like to make some brief remarks on his behalf.

Madam Chair, Afghanistan is committed to the goals of Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000). In this regard, we welcome the establishment of the new UN entity for gender equality and women's empowerment, UN Women, as well as the appointment of a Special Representative of the Secretary General on women. We thank the SG, Canada and other organizing countries for giving new momentum to the commitments of 1325 as we approach the tenth anniversary of the resolution.

The timing of the adoption of this resolution coincided with the most difficult moment of the history of Afghanistan, when the Afghan people, in particular women and girls, were suffering under the rule of Taliban and were deprived of the very basic principles of their rights. The adoption of Security Council Resolution 1325 ten years ago was a promising fresh message of hope and freedom for the women and girls in Afghanistan.

For the last nine years, Afghanistan, supported by our friends in the international community, has made tremendous progress to improve the lives of women and girls in the country and now the people of Afghanistan have plenty of reasons to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the adoption of Security Council Resolutions. Today, Afghan women serve as police officers, judges, prosecutors, members of parliament, members of civil society, as participants to the reconciliation process and play an active role in the stabilization and development process in Afghanistan. Afghanistan still faces challenges and there is much more work to be done in order to achieve empowerment of women in our country.

The government of Afghanistan is strongly committed to improving the lives of women and girls. We are taking the necessary steps toward the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325. We are convinced that, in order to have a stable and prosperous Afghanistan, women and girls must be able to enjoy their full rights and participation in the stabilization and development process must be guaranteed. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express our gratitude to all who helped us and will continue to contribute to work toward a stable and prosperous Afghanistan and the improvement of the life of Afghan women and girls.

Thank you.