Security Council resolution 2721 (2023) [on appointment of a Special Envoy for Afghanistan]
Symbol: S/RES/2721 (2023)
Date: 2023-12-29
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/78 [46] AFGHANISTAN SITUATION
S/78 [47] UN ASSISTANCE MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN
S/ X The situation in Afghanistan.
Subjects: UN. Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan|UN. Special Envoy of the Secretary-General to Afghanistan|UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan|POLITICAL CONDITIONS|AFGHANISTAN|HUMAN RIGHTS|WOMEN'S RIGHTS
Votes in favour: 13
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 2
Voting record:
country: ALBANIA
vote: yes
country: BRAZIL
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: abstention
country: ECUADOR
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GABON
vote: yes
country: GHANA
vote: yes
country: JAPAN
vote: yes
country: MALTA
vote: yes
country: MOZAMBIQUE
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: abstention
country: SWITZERLAND
vote: yes
country: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                  S/RES/2721 (2023)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General
                                                                                29 December 2023




               Resolution 2721 (2023)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 9521st meeting, on
               29 December 2023

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling its previous resolutions on Afghanistan, in particular resolution 2679
               (2023) which requested an integrated, independent assessment on Afghanistan,
                     Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial
               integrity and national unity of Afghanistan, as well as its continued support for the
               people of Afghanistan,
                   Reaffirming its support for a peaceful, stable, prosperous and inclusive
               Afghanistan,
                      Reiterating the need to address the challenges faced by Afghanistan, including
               but not limited to, humanitarian, human rights and especially the rights of women and
               girls, religious and ethnic minorities, security and terrorism, narcotics, development,
               economic and social challenges, dialogue, governance and the rule of law,
                    Reaffirming the indispensable role of women in Afghan society, and
               emphasizing the importance of the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of
               women, and upholding human rights, including those of women, children, minorities,
               and persons in vulnerable situations,
                     Stressing the importance of an engagement architecture to guide and bring more
               coherence to political, humanitarian and development activities; and a substantive
               roadmap that will enable more effective negotiation and implementation of th e
               priorities of Afghan and international stakeholders,
                     Reaffirming that an integrated and coherent approach among relevant political,
               humanitarian and development actors, within and outside of the United Nations
               system, consistent with their respective mandates, is critical to building and
               sustaining peace in Afghanistan,
                   Recognizing that the health, well-being, prosperity and security of the people of
               Afghanistan affect the entire region and beyond,
                     1.  Stresses the critical importance of a continued presence of the United
               Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and other United Nations
               Agencies, Funds and Programmes across Afghanistan, and reiterates its full support
               to the mandate and the work of UNAMA and the Special Representative of the
               Secretary-General;



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S/RES/2721 (2023)

                    2.   Takes positive note of the independent assessment on Afghanistan
               (S/2023/856);
                     3.   Encourages member states and all other relevant stakeholders to consider
               the independent assessment and implementation of its recommendations, especial ly
               increasing international engagement in a more coherent, coordinated and structured
               manner, affirms that the objective of this process should be a clear end state of an
               Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neighbors, fully reintegrated into the
               international community and meeting international obligations, and recognizes the
               need to ensure the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of Afghan women in
               the process throughout;
                    4.    Requests the Secretary-General, in consultation with members of the
               Security Council, relevant Afghan political actors and stakeholders, including
               relevant authorities, Afghan women and civil society, as well as the region and the
               wider international community, to appoint a Special Envoy for Afghanistan, in a
               timely manner, provided with robust expertise on human rights and gender, to
               promote implementation of the recommendations of the independent assessment,
               without prejudice to the mandate of UNAMA and the Special Representative of the
               Secretary-General and their vital work in Afghanistan;
                     5.   Welcomes the Secretary-General’s intention to convene the next meeting
               of the group of Special Envoys and Special Representatives on Afghanistan initiated
               in May 2023 in a timely manner, and encourages the meeting to discuss the
               recommendations of the independent assessment;
                    6.   Requests that the Secretary-General brief the Security Council on the
               outcome of these consultations and discussions within 60 days;
                    7.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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