Security Council resolution 2041 (2012) [on extension of the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) until 23 Mar. 2013]
Symbol: S/RES/2041(2012)
Date: 2012-03-22
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/67 [47] UN ASSISTANCE MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN
S/67 [46] AFGHANISTAN SITUATION
Subjects: UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan|Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board in Afghanistan|International Security Assistance Force|NATO|UN High Commissioner for Human Rights|Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission|Organization of the Islamic Conference|Taliban (Afghanistan)|Qaida (Organization)|South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation|Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission|PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS|INTERNAL SECURITY|POLITICAL CONDITIONS|AFGHANISTAN|AFGHANISTAN SITUATION|REGIONAL COOPERATION|HUMAN RIGHTS|GOVERNANCE|RULE OF LAW|NARCOTIC DRUGS|DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE|GENDER EQUALITY|HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: AZERBAIJAN
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
country: COLOMBIA
vote: yes
country: FRANCE
vote: yes
country: GERMANY
vote: yes
country: GUATEMALA
vote: yes
country: INDIA
vote: yes
country: MOROCCO
vote: yes
country: PAKISTAN
vote: yes
country: PORTUGAL
vote: yes
country: RUSSIAN FEDERATION
vote: yes
country: SOUTH AFRICA
vote: yes
country: TOGO
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                     S/RES/2041 (2012)
               Security Council                                                 Distr.: General

                                                                                22 March 2012




               Resolution 2041 (2012)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 6738th meeting, on
               22 March 2012

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling its previous resolutions on Afghanistan, in particular its resolution
               1974 (2011) extending through 23 March 2012 the mandate of the United Nations
               Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) as established by resolution 1662
               (2006),
                     Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial
               integrity and national unity of Afghanistan,
                     Reiterating support for the Transition (Inteqal) process which will entail the
               assumption of full responsibility by Afghanistan’s institutions in the security sector,
               consistent with the London, Kabul and Bonn Conferences and the Lisbon Summit,
               recognizing that transition is not only a security process but also entails the full
               assumption of Afghan leadership and ownership in governance and development,
               and affirming that the United Nations support in Afghanistan takes full account of
               the transition process in Afghanistan,
                    Emphasizing the Kabul Process towards the primary objective of accelerated
               Afghan leadership and ownership, strengthened international partnership and
               regional cooperation, improved Afghan governance, enhanced capabilities of
               Afghan security forces, economic growth and better protection for the rights of all
               Afghan citizens, including women, and welcoming specifically the commitments
               made by the Afghan Government,
                     Stressing the importance of a comprehensive approach to address the security,
               economic, governance and development challenges in Afghanistan, which are of an
               interconnected nature, and recognizing that there is no purely military solution to
               ensure the stability of Afghanistan,
                     Reaffirming its continued support for the Government and people of
               Afghanistan as they rebuild their country, and strengthen the foundations of
               sustainable peace and constitutional democracy,
                    Welcoming the International Afghanistan Conference in Bonn on 5 December
               2011 and its Conference Conclusions (S/2011/762), as well as the declaration in
               Bonn that the Process of Transition, to be completed by the end of 2014, should be


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               followed by a Decade of Transformation (2015-2024) and welcoming further the
               strategic consensus between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the
               International Community on a renewed and enduring partnership for this
               Transformation Decade based on firm mutual commitments,
                    Looking forward to the ministerial conference on Afghanistan to be held in
               Tokyo in July 2012, which will address the international community’s commitments
               and support towards Afghanistan’s sustainable economic development through the
               Transition period and beyond, built upon the firm mutual commitments within the
               Bonn Conference Conclusions, which also recognized the need for the Government
               of Afghanistan to take forward governance and economic reforms,
                    Reaffirming specifically in this context its support for the implementation,
               under the leadership and ownership of the Afghan people, of the commitments set
               out in the London (S/2011/65) and Kabul Conference Communiqués, of the
               Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS) and of the National Drugs
               Control Strategy, as part of the comprehensive strategy to be taken forward by the
               Government of Afghanistan with the support of the region and the international
               community and with a central and impartial coordinating role for the United
               Nations, consistent with the Kabul Process and in line with the National Priority
               Programmes,
                    Welcoming the “Third Ministerial Conference of the Paris Pact on Combating
               the Illicit Traffic in Opiates Originating in Afghanistan”, held in Vienna on
               16 February 2012, taking note of the Vienna Declaration and emphasizing the aim of
               the Paris Pact to establish a broad international coalition to combat illicit traffic in
               opiates, as part of a comprehensive approach to peace, stability, and development in
               Afghanistan, the region and beyond,
                     Stressing the crucial importance of advancing regional cooperation as an
               effective means to promote security, stability and economic and social development
               in Afghanistan, recalling the importance of the Kabul Declaration of 22 December
               2002 on Good-Neighbourly Relations (Kabul Declaration) (S/2002/1416),
               welcoming, in this regard, the continued commitment of the international
               community to support stability and development in Afghanistan, noting international
               and regional initiatives such as the Istanbul “Heart of Asia” Summits, the
               quadrilateral Summits of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and the Russian
               Federation as well as the Trilateral Summit of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan in
               February 2012 in Islamabad, as well those as by the Shanghai Cooperation
               Organization (SCO), the Collective Security Organization (CSTO) and the South
               Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and looking forward to the
               Fifth Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) to be
               held in Tajikistan on 26-27 March 2012,
                      Commending the outcome of the Istanbul Conference for Afghanistan held on
               2 November 2011, where Afghanistan and its regional partners, with the support of
               the international community, affirmed their commitment to strengthen regional
               security and cooperation for a secure and stable Afghanistan, including through
               enhanced regional dialogue and confidence-building measures, and looking forward
               to the first follow-up on the Istanbul Conference, scheduled to convene at the
               ministerial level in Kabul on 14 June 2012, and welcomes also, in this regard, the
               first Senior Officials Preparatory Meeting of 29 February 2012 in Kabul,



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                 Looking forward also to the International Conference on Afghan Refugees in
           May 2012 in Switzerland and a successful outcome for the population of Afghan
           refugees and returnees in the region, which aims at the adoption of a roadmap for
           action,
                 Stressing the central and impartial role that the United Nations continues to
           play in promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan by leading the efforts of the
           international community, including, jointly with the Government of Afghanistan, the
           coordination and monitoring of efforts in implementing the Kabul Process through
           the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board (JCMB) in support of the priorities set
           up by the Government of Afghanistan and expressing its appreciation and strong
           support for the ongoing efforts of the Secretary-General, his Special Representative
           for Afghanistan and in particular the women and men of UNAMA who are serving
           in difficult conditions to help the people of Afghanistan,
                Expressing its appreciation to the Secretary-General for the comprehensive
           review undertaken in accordance with the request in paragraph 43 of Security
           Council resolution 1974 (2011) and taking due note of its findings contained in the
           Secretary-General’s report on Afghanistan dated 5 March 2012 (SC/2012/133),
                 Reaffirming that, consistent with the transition process, the role of
           international actors will evolve further from direct service delivery to support and
           capacity-building for Afghan institutions, enabling the Government of Afghanistan
           to exercise its sovereign authority in all its functions, including the phasing out of
           all Provincial Reconstruction Teams, as well as the dissolution of any structures
           duplicating the functions and authority of the Government of Afghanistan at the
           national and subnational levels,
                 Stressing the importance of a comprehensive and inclusive, Afghan-led and
           Afghan-owned political process in Afghanistan to support reconciliation for all
           those who are prepared to reconcile as laid forth in the 20 July 2010 Kabul
           Conference Communiqué and further elaborated in the 5 December 2011 Bonn
           Conference Conclusions supported by the Government of Afghanistan and the
           international community, with full respect for the implementation of measures and
           application of the procedures introduced by the Security Council in its resolutions
           1267 (1999) and 1988 (2011) as well as other relevant resolutions of the Security
           Council and noting, in this context, the establishment of the Committee pursuant to
           Security Council resolution 1988 (2011),
                Recalling the support of the Traditional Loya Jirga in November 2011 to the
           Government of Afghanistan’s reconciliation process and supporting the aims of the
           High Peace Council and its outreach efforts both within and outside Afghanistan,
                 Recalling the Government of Afghanistan’s commitments at the Kabul
           Conference to strengthen and improve Afghanistan’s electoral process, including
           long-term electoral reform, in order to ensure that future elections will be
           transparent, credible and democratic, and reaffirming that Afghanistan’s peaceful
           future lies in the building of a stable, secure, economically sustainable state, free of
           terrorism and narcotics and based on the rule of law, strengthened democratic
           institutions, respect for the separation of powers, reinforced constitutional checks
           and balances and the guarantee and enforcement of citizens’ rights and obligations,




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                    Welcoming the contribution of the International Contact Group to the United
               Nations efforts in coordinating and broadening international support for
               Afghanistan,
                    Emphasizing once again the agreement reached at the North Atlantic Treaty
               Organization’s (NATO) Lisbon Summit 2010 between the Government of
               Afghanistan and countries contributing to the International Security Assistance
               Force (ISAF) to gradually transfer full security responsibility in Afghanistan to the
               Afghan National Security Forces country-wide by the end of 2014, taking note of
               the Declaration by NATO and the Government of the Islamic Republic of
               Afghanistan on an enduring partnership signed in Lisbon on 20 November 2010
               acknowledging the joint efforts under the Transition (Inteqal) process, welcoming
               the progress made so far in the implementation of the first and second tranche of
               Transition, and looking forward to the phased and responsible extension of the
               process to the rest of the country,
                     Underlining the importance of operationally capable, professional and
               sustainable Afghan National Security Forces for meeting Afghanistan’s security
               needs, with a view to lasting peace, security and stability, stressing the long-term
               commitment, beyond 2014, and into the Transformation Decade (2015-2024), of the
               international community to support the further development, including training, and
               professionalization of the Afghan national security forces,
                   Looking forward to the discussion on Afghanistan at the forthcoming NATO
               Summit in Chicago,
                     Recognizing that security gains must be supported by progress in Afghan
               governance and development capacity, noting, in this context, the synergies in the
               objectives of UNAMA and of ISAF as also noted in resolution 2011 (2011), and
               stressing the need for optimized cooperation, coordination and mutual support,
               taking due account of their respective designated responsibilities,
                     Recognizing once again the interconnected nature of the challenges in
               Afghanistan, reaffirming that sustainable progress on security, governance, human
               rights, the rule of law, and development, as well as the cross-cutting issues of
               anti-corruption, counter-narcotics and transparency are mutually reinforcing and
               welcoming the continuing efforts of the Afghan Government and the international
               community to address these challenges through a comprehensive approach,
                     Reiterating the need for all United Nations agencies, funds and programmes,
               through the Country Team mechanism and a “One-UN” approach under the
               guidance of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, to increase efforts,
               in full consultation and cooperation with the Government of Afghanistan, to achieve
               greater coherence, coordination, efficiency and full alignment with the National
               Priority Programmes identified by the Government of Afghanistan,
                     Welcoming the efforts of countries that are increasing their civilian, including
               humanitarian efforts to assist the Government and the people of Afghanistan and
               encouraging the international community to further enhance their contributions in a
               coordinated manner with the Afghan authorities and UNAMA, with a view to
               strengthening Afghan leadership and ownership, including at the Tokyo Conference
               in July 2012,




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                Stressing the need to further improve the reach, quality and quantity of
           humanitarian aid, ensuring efficient, effective and timely coordination and delivery
           of humanitarian assistance, including through enhanced coordination among the
           United Nations agencies, funds and programmes under the authority of the Special
           Representative of the Secretary-General and between the United Nations and other
           donors, especially where it is most needed, supporting the Afghan Government to
           increasingly take the lead in coordinating humanitarian assistance to its citizens,
                 Emphasizing the need for all, within the framework of humanitarian
           assistance, of upholding and respecting the humanitarian principles, of humanity,
           neutrality, impartiality and independence,
                 Reiterating its concern about the security situation in Afghanistan, in particular
           the ongoing violent and terrorist activities by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other
           violent and extremist groups, illegal armed groups, criminals and those involved in
           the production, trafficking or trade of illicit drugs, and the strong links between
           terrorism activities and illicit drugs, resulting in threats to the local population,
           including children, national security forces and international military and civilian
           personnel,
                 Recognizing the continuously alarming threats posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida
           and other violent and extremist groups and illegal armed groups as well as the
           challenges related to the efforts to address such threats, and expressing its serious
           concern over the harmful consequences of violent and terrorist activities by the
           Taliban, Al-Qaida and other violent and extremist groups and illegal armed groups
           on the capacity of the Afghan Government to guarantee the rule of law, to provide
           security and basic services to the Afghan people, and to ensure the improvement and
           protection of their human rights and fundamental freedoms,
                 Recalling its resolutions 1674 (2006), 1738 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the
           protection of civilians in armed conflict, expressing its serious concern with the
           increased high number of civilian casualties in Afghanistan, in particular women
           and children, the increasingly large majority of which are caused by the Taliban,
           Al-Qaida and other violent and extremist groups and illegal armed groups,
           reaffirming that all parties to armed conflict must take all feasible steps to ensure
           the protection of civilians, calling for all parties to comply with their obligations
           under international law including international humanitarian and human rights law
           and for all appropriate measures to be taken to ensure the protection of civilians,
           and recognizing the importance of the ongoing monitoring and reporting to the
           United Nations Security Council, including ISAF, of the situation of civilians and in
           particular civilian casualties, taking note of the progress made by Afghan and
           international forces in minimizing the civilian casualties, as recognized in the
           4 February 2012 report by UNAMA on the protection of civilians in armed conflict,
                 Expressing also concern with the serious threat that anti-personnel mines,
           remnants of war and improvised explosive devices pose to the civilian population,
           and stressing the need to refrain from the use of weapons and devices prohibited by
           international law,
                 Encouraging the international community and regional partners to further
           effectively support Afghan-led sustained efforts to address drug production and
           trafficking, notably through the JCMB’s working group on counter-narcotics as well
           as regional initiatives, recognizing the threat posed by illicit drug production, trade



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               and trafficking to international peace and stability in different regions of the world,
               and the important role played by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
               (UNODC) in this regard, and stressing the important role of the United Nations to
               continue to monitor the drug situation in Afghanistan,
                      Supporting the Afghan Government’s continued ban of Ammonium Nitrate
               fertilizer, and urging prompt action to implement regulations for the control of all
               explosive materials and precursor chemicals, thereby reducing the ability of
               insurgents to use them for improvised explosive devices, and calling upon the
               international community to support the Afghan Government’s efforts in this regard,
                    Recalling the declaration addressed to the International Narcotics Control
               Board (INCB) by the Government of Afghanistan that there is no legal use for acetic
               anhydride in Afghanistan for the time being and that producing and exporting
               countries should abstain from authorizing the export of this substance to
               Afghanistan without the request from the Afghan Government, and encouraging,
               pursuant to resolution 1817 (2008), Member States to increase their cooperation
               with the INCB, notably by fully complying with the provisions of article 12 of the
               United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
               Psychotropic Substances, 1988,
                     Recalling its resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006), 1738 (2006)
               and 1894 (2009) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, its resolutions 1325
               (2000), 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) and 1960 (2010) on women and
               peace and security, and its resolution 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009) and 1998 (2011) on
               children and armed conflict, and taking note of the report of the Secretary-General
               (S/2011/55) on Children and Armed Conflict in Afghanistan as well as the
               conclusions of the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict
               (S/AC.51/2011/3),
                    1.   Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 5 March 2012
               (S/2012/133);
                    2.    Expresses its appreciation for the United Nations long-term commitment
               to support the Government and the people of Afghanistan and reiterates its full
               support to the work of UNAMA and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General;
                    3.    Decides to extend until 23 March 2013 the mandate of UNAMA, as
               defined in its resolutions 1662 (2006), 1746 (2007), 1806 (2008), 1868 (2009), 1917
               (2010), 1974 (2011) and paragraphs 4, 5, 6 and 7 below;
                     4.   Recognizes that the renewed mandate of UNAMA takes full account of
               the transition process and is in support of Afghanistan’s full assumption of
               leadership and ownership in the security, governance and development areas,
               consistent with the understandings reached between Afghanistan and the
               international community in the London, Kabul and Bonn Conferences and the
               Lisbon Summit;
                     5.   Calls on the United Nations, with the support of the international
               community, to support the Government of Afghanistan’s National Priority
               Programmes covering the issues of security, governance, justice and economic and
               social development and to support the full implementation of mutual commitments
               made on these issues at the Kabul and London Conferences, and reaffirmed as part



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           of the strategic consensus at the Bonn Conference, as well as on continuing
           implementation of the National Drug Control Strategy, and requests that UNAMA,
           in an increasingly enabling function, assist the Government of Afghanistan on its
           way towards ensuring full Afghan leadership and ownership, as defined by the
           Kabul process;
                 6.    Decides further that UNAMA and the Special Representative of the
           Secretary-General, within their mandate and guided by the principle of reinforcing
           Afghan sovereignty, leadership and ownership, will continue to lead and coordinate
           the international civilian efforts, in accordance with the London and Kabul
           Conference Communiqués and the Bonn Conference Conclusions, and with a
           particular focus on the priorities laid out below:
                 (a) promote, as co-chair of the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Board
           (JCMB), more coherent support by the international community to the Afghan
           Government’s development and governance priorities, including through supporting
           the ongoing development and sequencing of the National Priority Programmes,
           mobilization of resources, coordination of international donors and organizations,
           and direction of the contributions of United Nations agencies, funds and
           programmes, in particular for counter-narcotics, reconstruction and development
           activities; at the same time, support efforts to increase the proportion of
           development aid delivered through the Afghan Government, in line with the
           commitments made at the Kabul Conference, and support efforts to increase the
           transparency and effectiveness of the Afghan Government’s use of such resources;
                 (b) continue the cooperation with ISAF and the NATO Senior Civilian
           Representative at all levels and throughout the country in support of the ongoing
           transition to full Afghan leadership and ownership agreed to at the Kabul and
           London Conferences and the Lisbon Summit, in a sustainable manner to ensure the
           protection and promotion of the rights of all Afghans, in accordance with their
           existing mandates, in order to optimize civil-military coordination, to facilitate the
           timely exchange of information and, to ensure coherence between the activities of
           national and international security forces and of civilian actors in support of an
           Afghan-led development and stabilization process, including through engagement
           with provincial reconstruction teams and engagement with non-governmental
           organizations, in particular through its participation on the Joint Afghan-NATO
           Inteqal Board (JANIB) as an observer;
                 (c) provide outreach as well as good offices to support, if requested by the
           Afghan Government, the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of peace and
           reconciliation, including through the implementation of the Afghan Peace and
           Reintegration Programme and proposing and supporting confidence-building
           measures within the framework of the Afghan constitution and with full respect for
           the implementation of measures and application of the procedures introduced by the
           Security Council in its resolutions 1267 (1999), 1988 (2011) and 1989 (2011) as
           well as other relevant resolutions of the Council;
                 (d) support, at the request of the Afghan authorities, the organization of
           future Afghan elections, as well as to strengthen, in support of the Government of
           Afghanistan’s efforts, the sustainability, integrity and inclusiveness of the electoral
           process, as agreed at the London, Kabul and Bonn Conferences, and provide
           capacity-building and technical assistance to the Afghan institutions involved in this
           process;


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                     (e) support regional cooperation, with a view to assisting Afghanistan utilize
               its role at the heart of Asia to promote regional cooperation, and to work towards a
               stable and prosperous Afghanistan, building on the achievements made;
                     7.   Also reaffirms that UNAMA and the Special Representative, leveraging
               the competencies of the United Nations country team and taking into account the
               transition process, will continue to lead international civilian efforts with an
               emphasis on enabling and strengthening the role of Afghan institutions to perform
               their responsibilities in the following priority areas:
                     (a) promote through an appropriate UNAMA presence, to be determined in
               full consultation and cooperation with the Government of Afghanistan, and in
               support of the Afghan Government’s efforts, implementation of the Kabul Process
               throughout the country including through enhanced cooperation with the United
               Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and facilitate inclusion in and understanding of
               the Government’s policies;
                     (b) support the efforts of the Afghan Government, in fulfilling its
               commitments as stated at the London, Kabul and Bonn Conferences, to improve
               governance and the rule of law including transitional justice, budget execution and
               the fight against corruption, throughout the country in accordance with the Kabul
               Process, with a view to helping bring the benefits of peace and the delivery of
               services in a timely and sustainable manner;
                     (c) continue, with the support of the Office of the United Nations High
               Commissioner for Human Rights, to cooperate with and build capacity of the
               Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), to cooperate also with
               the Afghan Government and relevant international and local non-governmental
               organizations to monitor the situation of civilians, to coordinate efforts to ensure
               their protection, to promote accountability, and to assist in the full implementation
               of the fundamental freedoms and human rights provisions of the Afghan
               Constitution and international treaties to which Afghanistan is a State party, in
               particular those regarding the full enjoyment by women of their human rights;
                     (d) coordinate and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance, in
               support of the Afghan Government and in accordance with humanitarian principles,
               with a view to building the capacity of the Government so it can assume the central
               and coordinating role in the future, including by providing effective support to
               national and local authorities in assisting and protecting internally displaced persons
               and to creating conditions conducive to the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable
               return of refugees from neighbouring and other countries and internally displaced
               persons;
                     8.   Calls upon all Afghan and international parties to coordinate with
               UNAMA in the implementation of its mandate and in efforts to promote the security
               and freedom of movement of United Nations and associated personnel throughout
               the country;
                    9.    Reiterates the need to ensure security of United Nations staff and its
               support for the measures already taken by the Secretary-General in this regard;
                    10. Stresses the importance of a continued presence of UNAMA and other
               United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in the provinces, consistent with
               the transition process, in support of and in cooperation with the Afghan



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           Government, in response to needs and with a view to security and including the
           objective of overall United Nations effectiveness, and strongly supports the
           authority of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in the coordination
           of all activities of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes in Afghanistan
           based on a “One-UN” approach;
                11. Encourages the Secretary-General to continue his current efforts to take
           necessary measures to address the security issues associated with the United Nations
           presence and, during the current process of transition, particularly encourages
           careful coordination with the Afghan national security forces, supported by the
           Assistance Force, as appropriate;
                 12. Underscores the importance of a sustainable democratic development in
           Afghanistan with all Afghan institutions acting within their clearly defined areas of
           competence, in accordance with the relevant laws and the Afghan Constitution and
           welcomes, in this regard, the commitment of the Government of Afghanistan at the
           Kabul Conference, reaffirmed at the Bonn Conference, to deliver further
           improvements to the electoral process, including addressing the sustainability of the
           electoral process, and, taking into account the commitments by the international
           community and the Afghan Government made at the London, Kabul and Bonn
           Conferences, reaffirms UNAMA’s supporting role, at the request of the Afghan
           Government, in the realization of these commitments, and requests that, upon the
           request of the Government of Afghanistan, UNAMA provide assistance to the
           relevant Afghan institutions to support the integrity of the electoral process; and
           further calls upon members of the international community to provide assistance as
           appropriate;
                 13. Welcomes the continuing efforts of the Afghan Government to advance
           the peace and reconciliation process, including by the High Peace Council and the
           implementation of the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Programme, to promote
           an inclusive, Afghan-led dialogue on reconciliation and political participation as
           laid forth in the 20 July 2010 Kabul Conference Communiqué on dialogue for all
           those who “renounce violence, have no links to international terrorist
           organizations,” including Al-Qaida, “respect the constitution,” including its human
           rights provisions, notably the rights of women, “and are willing to join in building a
           peaceful Afghanistan,” and as further elaborated in the principles and outcomes of
           the 5 December 2011 Bonn Conference Conclusions, and encourages the
           Government of Afghanistan to make use of UNAMA’s good offices to support this
           process as appropriate, in full respect of the implementation of measures and
           procedures introduced by the Security Council in its resolution 1267 (1999) and
           1988 (2011) as well as other relevant resolutions of the Council;
                  14. Welcomes also the measures taken by the Government of Afghanistan,
           and encourages it to continue to increase the participation of women as well as
           minorities and civil society in outreach, consultation and decision-making
           processes, and recalls that women play a vital role in the peace process, as
           recognized in Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) and related resolutions,
           therefore reiterates the need for the full, equal and effective participation of women
           at all stages of peace processes and urges their involvement in the development and
           implementation of post-conflict strategies in order to take account of their
           perspectives and needs;




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                     15. Notes the establishment of the Committee pursuant to Security Council
               resolution 1988 (2011), its methods and procedures, welcomes, in this context, the
               cooperation of the Afghan Government and UNAMA with the Committee including
               by providing relevant information for updating the 1988 List, and by identifying
               individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with the Taliban in
               constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan, as per the
               designation criteria set out in Security Council Resolution 1988 (2011), and notes
               that means of financing or supporting these individuals, groups, undertakings and
               entities includes but is not limited to proceeds derived from illicit cultivation,
               production and trafficking of narcotic drugs and their precursors originating in and
               transiting through Afghanistan, and encourages the continuation of such
               cooperation;
                     16. Stresses the role of UNAMA in supporting, if requested by the
               Government of Afghanistan, an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of
               peace and reconciliation, including the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Programme,
               while continuing to assess, including in collaboration with the AIHRC, its human
               rights and gender implications, including the promotion and protection of human
               rights, and encourages the international community to assist the efforts of the
               Government of Afghanistan in this regard including through continued support to
               the Peace and Reintegration Trust Fund;
                     17. Commends the outcome of the Istanbul Conference for Afghanistan held
               on 2 November 2011 and welcomes the ongoing Afghan-led regional effort within
               the framework of the Istanbul Process on Regional Security and Cooperation for a
               Secure and Stable Afghanistan and calls on Afghanistan and its regional partners to
               continue to enhance regional dialogue and confidence;
                     18. Welcomes ongoing efforts by the Government of Afghanistan, its
               neighbouring and regional partners and international organizations including the
               Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to foster trust and cooperation with each
               other as well as recent cooperation initiatives developed by the countries concerned
               and regional organizations, including the Trilateral Summits of Afghanistan,
               Pakistan and Turkey, the Trilateral Summit of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan in
               February 2012 in Islamabad as well as SCO and SAARC, and further welcomes the
               reaffirmation in the outcome documents of the Istanbul and Bonn Conferences of
               the principles set out in the Good Neighbourly Relations Declaration of 2002;
                    19. Stresses the importance of increasing cooperation between Afghanistan
               and its international and regional partners against the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other
               violent and extremist groups and illegal armed groups, in promoting peace and
               prosperity in Afghanistan and in fostering cooperation in the economic and
               development sectors as a means to achieve the full integration of Afghanistan into
               regional dynamics and the global economy;
                     20. Calls for strengthening the process of regional cooperation, including
               measures to facilitate regional trade and transit, including through regional and
               bilateral transit trade agreements, expanded consular visa cooperation and
               facilitation of business travel, to expand trade, to increase foreign investments and
               to develop infrastructure, including infrastructural connectivity, energy supply,
               transport and integrated border management, with a view to promoting sustainable
               economic growth and the creation of jobs in Afghanistan, noting the historic role of
               Afghanistan as a land bridge in Asia and looks forward to the Fifth Regional


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           Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) to be held in
           Tajikistan on 26-27 March 2012;
                 21. Reaffirms the central role played by the JCMB in coordinating,
           facilitating and monitoring the implementation of the Afghanistan National
           Development Strategy (ANDS) and the National Priority Programmes and calls
           upon all relevant actors to enhance their cooperation with the JCMB in this regard
           with a view to further improve its efficiency;
                 22. Calls on international donors and organizations and the Afghan
           Government to adhere to their commitments made at the Kabul Conference and
           previous international conferences, as reaffirmed at the Bonn Conference, and
           reiterates the importance of further efforts in improving aid coordination and
           effectiveness, including by ensuring transparency, combating corruption; and
           enhancing the capacity of Government of Afghanistan to coordinate aid;
                 23. Calls upon the Afghan Government, with the assistance of the
           international community, including ISAF and the Operation Enduring Freedom
           coalition, in accordance with their respective designated responsibilities as they
           evolve, to continue to address the threat to the security and stability of Afghanistan
           posed by the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other violent and extremist groups, illegal armed
           groups, criminals and those involved in the production, trafficking or trade of illicit
           drugs;
                 24. Reiterates the importance of increasing, in a comprehensive framework,
           the functionality, professionalism and accountability of the Afghan security sector
           through appropriate vetting procedures, training, mentoring, equipping and
           empowerment efforts, for both women and men, in order to accelerate progress
           towards the goal of self-sufficient and ethnically balanced Afghan security forces
           providing security and ensuring the rule of law throughout the country and stresses
           the importance of the long-term commitment by the international community,
           beyond 2014, to ensure a capable, professional and sustainable Afghan National
           Security Force;
                 25. Welcomes in this context the continued progress in the development of
           the Afghan National Army and its improved ability to plan and undertake
           operations, and encourages sustained training efforts, including through the
           contribution of trainers, resources and Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams
           through the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, and advice in developing a
           sustainable defence planning process as well as assistance in defence reform
           initiatives;
                26. Takes note of the ongoing efforts of the Afghan authorities to enhance the
           capabilities of the Afghan National Police, calls for further efforts towards that goal
           and stresses the importance, in this context, of international assistance through
           financial support and provision of trainers and mentors, including the contribution
           of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, the European Gendarmerie Force
           (EGF) contribution to this mission and the European Union through its police
           mission (EUPOL Afghanistan);
                 27. Welcomes the progress in the implementation by the Afghan Government
           of the programme of disbandment of illegal armed groups and its integration with
           the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Programme, and calls for accelerated and



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               harmonized efforts for further progress, with support from the international
               community;
                     28. Condemns in the strongest terms all attacks, including Improvised
               Explosive Device attacks, suicide attacks, assassinations and abductions, targeting
               civilians and Afghan and international forces and their deleterious effect on the
               stabilization, reconstruction and development efforts in Afghanistan, and condemns
               further the use by the Taliban and other extremist groups of civilians as human
               shields;
                     29. Condemns also attacks against humanitarian workers, emphasizing that
               the attacks impede efforts to aid the people of Afghanistan, and underlines the need
               for all parties to ensure full, safe and unhindered access of all humanitarian actors,
               including United Nations staff and associated personnel, and comply fully with
               applicable international humanitarian law;
                     30. Welcomes the achievements to date in the implementation of the Mine
               Action Programme of Afghanistan, and encourages the Government of Afghanistan,
               with the support of the United Nations and all the relevant actors, to continue its
               efforts towards the removal of anti-personnel landmines, anti-tank landmines and
               explosive remnants of war in order to reduce the threats posed to human life and
               peace and security in the country; and expresses the need to provide assistance for
               the care, rehabilitation, and economic and social reintegration of victims, including
               persons with disabilities;
                     31. Recognizes the progress made by ISAF and other international forces in
               minimizing the risk of civilian casualties, as described in the 4 February 2012
               UNAMA report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, and calls on them to
               continue to take robust efforts in this regard, notably by the continuous review of
               tactics and procedures and the conduct of after-action reviews and investigations in
               cooperation with the Afghan Government in cases where civilian casualties have
               occurred and when the Afghan Government finds these joint investigations
               appropriate;
                     32. Expresses its strong concern about the recruitment and use of children by
               Taliban, Al-Qaida and other violent and extremist groups in Afghanistan as well as
               the killing and maiming of children as a result of the conflict, reiterates its strong
               condemnation of the recruitment and use of child soldiers in violation of applicable
               international law and all other violations and abuses committed against children in
               situations of armed conflict, in particular attacks against schools, education and
               health care facilities, and the use of children in suicide attacks and calls for those
               responsible to be brought to justice;
                     33. Stresses the importance of implementing Security Council resolution
               1612 (2005), 1882 (2009) and 1998 (2011), in this context, supports the decree by
               the Minister of the Interior reaffirming the government’s commitment to preventing
               violations of the rights of the child dated 6 July 2011, welcomes the establishment of
               the Afghan Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee on Children and Armed Conflict
               and the subsequent signing by the Afghan Government of the action plan, and its
               annex, on children associated with national security forces in Afghanistan and calls
               for the full implementation of the provisions of the plan, in close cooperation with
               UNAMA, and requests the Secretary-General to continue to give priority to the
               child protection component of UNAMA;



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                 34. Remains concerned at the serious harm that opium cultivation,
           production and trafficking and consumption continue to cause to the security,
           development and governance of Afghanistan as well as to the region and
           internationally, takes note of the UNODC Afghanistan Opium Survey 2011 released
           in October 2011, calls on the Afghan Government, with the assistance of the
           international community, to accelerate the implementation of the National Drug
           Control Strategy, including through alternative livelihood programmes, and to
           mainstream counter-narcotics throughout national programmes, and encourages
           additional international support for the four priorities identified in that Strategy,
           commends the support provided by the UNODC to the Triangular Initiative and the
           Central Asian Regional Coordination and Information Centre (CARICC) within the
           framework of the Paris Pact Initiative and the Rainbow Strategy and the UNODC
           regional programme for Afghanistan and neighbouring countries; as well as the
           contribution of the Domodedovo Police Academy of Russia;
                 35. Calls upon States to strengthen international and regional cooperation to
           counter the threat to the international community posed by the production,
           trafficking, and consumption of illicit drugs originating in Afghanistan, with a view
           to its progressive elimination, in accordance with the principle of common and
           shared responsibility in addressing the drug problem of Afghanistan, including
           through strengthening the law enforcement capacity and cooperation against the
           trafficking in illicit drugs and precursor chemicals and money-laundering and
           corruption linked to such trafficking, and calls for full implementation of its
           resolution 1817 (2008);
                 36. Appreciates the work of the Paris Pact initiative and its “Paris-Moscow”
           process in countering the production, trafficking and consumption of opium and
           heroin from Afghanistan and the elimination of poppy crops, drug laboratories and
           stores as well as the interception of drug convoys, underlines the importance of
           border management cooperation and welcomes the intensified cooperation of the
           relevant United Nations institutions with the OSCE and the CSTO in this regard;
                 37. Reiterates the importance of the full, sequenced, timely and coordinated
           implementation of the National Priority Programme on Law and Justice for All, by
           all the relevant Afghan institutions and other actors in view of accelerating the
           establishment of a fair and transparent justice system, eliminating impunity and
           contributing to the affirmation of the rule of law throughout the country;
                 38. Stresses in this context the importance of further progress in the
           reconstruction and reform of the prison sector in Afghanistan, in order to improve
           the respect for the rule of law and human rights therein, emphasizes the importance
           of ensuring access for relevant organizations, as applicable, to all prisons and places
           of detention in Afghanistan, and calls for full respect for relevant international law
           including humanitarian law and human rights law, noting the recommendations
           contained in the report of the Assistance Mission dated 10 October 2011;
                 39. Notes with strong concern the effects of widespread corruption on
           security, good governance, counter-narcotics efforts and economic development, and
           urges the Afghan Government, with the assistance of the international community,
           to vigorously lead the fight against corruption, and to enhance its efforts to establish
           a more effective, accountable and transparent administration and notes the
           commitments and efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in this regard;



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                     40. Encourages all Afghan institutions, including the executive and
               legislative branches, to work in a spirit of cooperation, calls on the Afghan
               Government to pursue continued legislative and public administration reform in
               order to tackle corruption and to ensure good governance, as agreed at the Bonn
               Conference, with full representation of all Afghan women and men, and
               accountability at both national and subnational levels, and stresses the need for
               further international efforts to provide technical assistance in this area and reiterates
               the importance of the full, sequenced, timely, and coordinated implementation of the
               National Priority Programme on National Transparency and Accountability in this
               regard;
                    41. Calls for full respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms,
               including those of human rights defenders, and of international humanitarian law
               throughout Afghanistan, welcomes the growth in Afghan free media, but notes with
               concern the continued restrictions on freedom of media, and attacks against
               journalists, commends the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission
               (AIHRC) for its courageous efforts to monitor respect for human rights in
               Afghanistan as well as to foster and protect these rights and to promote the
               emergence of a pluralistic civil society, applauds AIHRC for its organization of the
               Civil Society Forum at the Bonn Conference, stresses the importance of full
               cooperation with the AIHRC by all relevant actors and of allowing their
               independence as well as of ensuring their safety, and supports broad engagement
               across government agencies and civil society for the realization of the mutual
               commitments made, including the commitment to provide sufficient government
               financing for the AIHRC;
                     42. Recognizes that despite progress achieved on gender equality, enhanced
               efforts, including on measurable and action oriented objectives, are necessary to
               secure the rights of women and girls and to ensure all women and girls in
               Afghanistan are protected from violence and abuse, enjoy equal protection under the
               law and equal access to justice, strongly condemns discrimination and violence
               against women and girls, in particular violence aimed at preventing girls from
               attending schools, stresses the importance of implementing Security Council
               resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009) and 1960 (2010),
               notes the mainstreaming commitments introduced therein, and of ensuring that
               women fleeing domestic violence are able to find safe and secure refuge;
                     43. Welcomes the Afghan Government’s commitment to strengthen the
               participation of women in all Afghan governance institutions, including elected and
               appointed bodies and the civil service, supports efforts to accelerate implementation
               of the National Action Plan for Women in Afghanistan (NAPWA), to integrate its
               benchmarks into the National Priority Programmes and to develop a strategy to
               implement fully the Elimination of Violence Against Women (EVAW) law, including
               services to victims, recalls that the promotion and protection of women’s rights are
               an integral part of peace, reintegration and reconciliation, and requests the
               Secretary-General to continue to include in its reports to the Security Council
               relevant information on the process of integration of women into the political,
               economic and social life of Afghanistan;
                     44. Recognizes the importance of voluntary, safe, orderly return and
               sustainable reintegration of the remaining Afghan refugees for the stability of the




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           country and the region, and calls for continued and enhanced international
           assistance in this regard;
                 45. Affirms also the importance of voluntary, safe, orderly return and
           sustainable reintegration of internally displaced persons;
                 46. Notes the need to continue to strengthen, with the support of the
           international community, Afghanistan’s absorption capacity for the full
           rehabilitation and reintegration of the remaining Afghan refugees and internally
           displaced persons;
                 47. Requests that the Secretary-General reports to the Council every three
           months on developments in Afghanistan, and to include in his reports an evaluation
           of progress made against the benchmarks for measuring and tracking progress in the
           implementation of UNAMA’s mandate and priorities as set out in this resolution;
                48.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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