Security Council resolution 2681 (2023) [on condemning the decision of the Taliban to ban Afghan women from working for the UN in Afghanistan]
Symbol: S/RES/2681 (2023)
Date: 2023-04-27
Status: adopted
Agenda: S/78 [46] AFGHANISTAN SITUATION
S/78 [47] UN ASSISTANCE MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN
S/ X The situation in Afghanistan.
Subjects: UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan|WOMEN'S RIGHTS|WOMEN WORKERS|HUMANITARIAN STANDARDS|HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE|WOMEN'S STATUS|AFGHANISTAN
Votes in favour: 15
Votes against: 0
Abstentions: 0
Voting record:
country: ALBANIA
vote: yes
country: BRAZIL
vote: yes
country: CHINA
vote: yes
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: yes
country: SWITZERLAND
vote: yes
country: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
vote: yes
country: UNITED KINGDOM
vote: yes
country: UNITED STATES
vote: yes

               United Nations                                                                      S/RES/2681 (2023)
               Security Council                                                  Distr.: General
                                                                                 27 April 2023




               Resolution 2681 (2023)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 9314th meeting, on
               27 April 2023

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling its previous resolutions 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, and expressing its support for the principle of a comprehensive
               and inclusive, Afghan-led and Afghan-owned determination of the country’s political
               future and development path,
                     Recognizing the need to address the multifaceted challenges faced by
               Afghanistan, including but not limited to, humanitarian, economic and social
               challenges, development, security and terrorism, narcotics, dialogue and engagement,
               governance and the rule of law, as well as human rights and especially the rights of
               women and girls, religious and ethnic minorities,
                     Reaffirming the indispensable role of women in Afghan society, including in the
               prevention and resolution of conflicts, in peace-building, and in the humanitarian
               response, and stressing the importance of their full, equal, meaningful, and safe
               participation for Afghanistan’s future and long-term development, involvement in all
               efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security, and the need to
               increase their role in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution,
                     Expressing deep concern at the increasing erosion of respect for the human
               rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan by the Taliban,
               in particular women and girls’ lack of equal access to education, economic
               opportunities, including access to work, participation in public life, freedom of
               movement, justice, and basic services, the absence of which make peace, stability,
               and prosperity in the country unattainable,
                     Reiterating that the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance requires all
               actors to allow full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access consistent with
               international law for all humanitarian personnel, including women, for Uni ted
               Nations agencies, international and national non-governmental organizations, and for
               other humanitarian actors, and to allow women and girls safe access to humanitarian
               assistance and basic services,




23-08083 (E)
*2308083*

S/RES/2681 (2023)

                     Expressing deep concern that the recent decision by the Taliban to ban Afghan
               women from working for the United Nations in Afghanistan, in addition to the earlier
               restrictions that banned Afghan women from working for international and national
               non-governmental organizations, will negatively and severely i mpact United Nations
               operations in the country, including the delivery of life-saving assistance and basic
               services to the most vulnerable, and the ability of the United Nations Assistance
               Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to implement fully its mandate, and recalling in
               this regard Article 8 of the Charter of the United Nations,
                     Emphasizing that banning Afghan women from working for the United Nations
               is unprecedented in the history of the United Nations,
                     Expressing its deep concern regarding the dire economic and humanitarian
               situation in Afghanistan, including the funding gap for humanitarian operations, at a
               time when Afghanistan faces a humanitarian crisis with 6 million people one step
               from famine-like conditions, and recognizing the need to help address the substantial
               challenges facing Afghanistan’s economy, including through efforts to restore the
               banking and financial systems, and for strengthened efforts to provide humanitarian
               assistance and other activities that support basic human needs in Afghan istan,
                    1.   Condemns the decision by the Taliban to ban Afghan women from working
               for the United Nations in Afghanistan, which undermines human rights and
               humanitarian principles;
                      2.    Calls for the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women and
               girls in Afghanistan, calls upon the Taliban to swiftly reverse the policies and practices
               that restrict the enjoyment by women and girls of their human rights and fundamental
               freedoms including related to their access to education, employment, freedom of
               movement, and women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in public life, and
               urges all States and organizations to use their influence, in conformity with the Charter
               of the United Nations, to promote an urgent reversal of these policies and practices;
                    3.     Reiterates its demand that all parties allow full, rapid, safe, and unhindered
               humanitarian access for the personnel of United Nations humanitarian agencies, their
               partners, and other humanitarian actors and providers of basic services, regardless of
               gender;
                     4.    Stresses the urgent need to continue addressing the dire economic and
               humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, and the lack of essential services to the Afghan
               population and economic and social conditions that can lead to self -reliance and
               stability in Afghanistan, and recognizes the need to help address the substantial
               challenges facing Afghanistan’s economy, including through efforts to enable the use
               of assets belonging to Afghanistan’s Central Bank for the benefit of the Afghan people;
                     5.    Stresses the critical importance of a continued presence of UNAMA and
               other United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes across Afghanistan, reiterates
               its full support to the work of UNAMA and the Special Representative of the
               Secretary-General, and calls upon all relevant Afghan political actors and
               stakeholders, including relevant authorities as needed, as well as international actors
               to coordinate with UNAMA in the implementation of its mandate and to ensure the
               safety, security and freedom of movement of United Nations and associated personnel
               throughout the country;
                     6.     Underscores that dialogue, consultation, and engagement among all
               relevant Afghan stakeholders, the region and the wider international community is
               critical for a political settlement in Afghanistan, as well as peace and stability in the
               country, the region and beyond, and in this regard welcomes diplomatic efforts
               conducive to such a settlement;
                    7.    Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.


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