Security Council Meeting: United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

Canada strongly condemns yesterday’s terrorist attacks in Afghanistan by the Taliban, including the attack on a bus carrying security guards who protect the Embassy of Canada to Afghanistan, in Kabul. I offer my sincere condolences to the families and friends of the Nepalese and Indian security guards killed, and I wish a speedy recovery to those who have been injured. Many of the victims have been part of our embassy family for years, and they will be remembered for their service in the protection of the men and women at the Embassy of Canada to Afghanistan.

Improved security remains essential to Afghanistan’s stability today and to the achievement of its long-term economic and development goals.  Afghan security forces have withstood considerable challenges as armed insurgency increases across much of the country.  The international community must continue to support the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces in the face of this challenge.  The NATO Summit in Warsaw in July will provide Canada—along with other NATO Allies and Partners—an opportunity to pledge continuing support to the Afghan government and stand against the violence and terrorism that is undermining Afghanistan’s development and prosperity. 

Canada supports an Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process and calls on the Taliban to come to the table and negotiate in good faith.  Canada recognizes the importance of ensuring that the peace process includes meaningful participation of Afghan women, and the Afghan government’s efforts to ensure this through appointments to the High Peace Council.  So much has been invested by the Afghan government and Afghan women’s groups to uphold women’s and girls’ rights that it would be a travesty to jeopardize them through a peace that would predominantly benefit only half the population.

We are encouraged by the positive steps that Afghanistan has made in recent years to promote and protect the rights of women, including stronger legal protection from violence, greater educational opportunities, and more inclusion in public and political life.  Canada welcomes the Afghan Government’s initiative to develop a National Women’s Economic Empowerment Strategy and National Priority Programme.  Sustainable development cannot happen without women’s full economic and civic participation.  These gains, however, remain fragile and Canada calls on Afghanistan to press forward with full implementation of the law on Elimination of Violence Against Women as well as Afghanistan’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

The promotion and protection of human rights, especially those of women and girls, continues to be a priority for Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan.  Gender equality is the cornerstone of all Canadian development programming in education, health, human rights, and capacity-building of Afghan humanitarian assistance actors.  At the same time, Canada’s development assistance investments in Afghanistan’s future serve to advance the rights, security, and empowerment of all Afghans. 

Canada remains concerned about minority, ethnic and religious rights in Afghanistan, as well as for the safety of journalists and ability of Afghan media operations to freely report the news.  Recurrent attacks against minorities by insurgents and repeated targeting of journalists by the Taliban are particularly worrying.  Canada calls on the government of Afghanistan and armed insurgents to uphold the human rights of all, including freedom of expression.

Mr. President, Canada stands with the Afghan people as they strive for a more secure and prosperous future.  We support the Afghan government and its people in the face of challenging circumstances, and welcome Afghanistan’s efforts to counter an escalating insurgency, broker peace, and pursue economic and social development.  We call on Afghanistan’s leaders to intensify their efforts to uphold and protect all human rights, in particular the rights of women and girls, and to sustain progress towards stability and security, accountability, and self-reliance.