Resolution adopted by the General Assembly  on 27 November 2019          [without reference to a Main Committee (A/74/L.13 and A/74/L.13/Add.1)]        74/9. The situation in Afghanistan        The General Assembly,    Recalling its resolution 73/88 of 6 December 2018 and all its previous relevant  resolutions,    Recalling also all relevant Security Council resolutions and statements by the  President of the Council on the situation in Afghanistan, in particular resolutions  2189 (2014) of 12 December 2014, 2210 (2015) of 16 March 2015, 2274 (2016) of  15 March 2016, 2344 (2017) of 17 March 2017, 2405 (2018) of 8 March 2018 and  2489 (2019) of 17 September 2019,    Reaffirming its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, territorial  integrity and national unity of Afghanistan, and respecting its multicultural,  multi-ethnic and historical heritage,    Welcoming the efforts by Afghanistan in the framework of the Transformation  Decade (2015–2024) to consolidate its sovereignty through strengthening a fully  functioning, sustainable State in the service of its people, with the goal of becoming  fully self-reliant,    Recalling the importance of the development of the institutions of the  Government of Afghanistan, including at the subnational level, the strengthening of  the rule of law, democratic processes and civil society, the fight against corruption,  the continuation of justice sector reform, the promotion of the peace process,  including women’s full and meaningful participation in the peace process, without  prejudice to the fulfilment of the measures introduced by the Security Council in its  relevant resolutions, in particular resolutions 1267 (1999) of 15 October 1999 and  1988 (2011) of 17 June 2011, and of an Afghan-led transitional justice process, the  safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of Afghan refugees and internally  displaced persons, the promotion and protection of all human rights, including the   A/RES/74/9  The situation in Afghanistan   19-20508 2/16    rights of women and girls, interfaith and intrafaith tolerance and the advancement of  economic and social development,    Reaffirming the long-term partnership between the Government of Afghanistan  and the international community based on their renewed mutual commitments, as laid  down in the Geneva Mutual Accountability Framework, as agreed upon at the Geneva  Conference on Afghanistan held on 27 and 28 November 2018, and recalling the long- term commitment of the international community to Afghanistan, reaffirmed at the  Geneva Conference, with the aim of continuing to strengthen national ownership and  leadership,    Reaffirming also the commitment of the international community to continuing  to support the training, equipping, financing and development of the capacity of the  Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, including as agreed upon in the  Summit Declarations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Afghanistan, and  honouring the memory of the men and women of the Afghan and international security  forces who have given their lives in the course of duty,    Reiterating its serious concern about the security situation in Afghanistan and  the urgent need to tackle the challenges facing the country, in particular the region- based violence, attacks and all forms of terrorist and criminal activities and violent  extremist activities of the Taliban, including the Haqqani Network, as well as  Al-Qaida, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh) and their affiliates, in  particular ISIL-Khorasan Province, and other terrorist groups, and foreign terrorist  fighters,    Expressing its deep concern about the continuing high level of violence in  Afghanistan, especially the number of civilian casualties, including the continuing  high number of women and children killed and maimed, urging an immediate  reduction in current levels of violence, condemning in the strongest terms all terrorist  activity and all violent and unlawful attacks and killings, recalling that the Taliban,  including the Haqqani Network, as well as Al-Qaida, Islamic State in Iraq and the  Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh) and their affiliates, in particular ISIL-Khorasan Province, and  other terrorist groups, and foreign terrorist fighters, are responsible for the significant  majority of the civilian casualties, including those involving humanitarian and  medical personnel, in Afghanistan, calling for compliance with international  humanitarian law and international human rights law, as applicable, calling upon all  parties to armed conflict to take all measures necessary and appropriate to ensure  respect for and the protection of civilians and humanitarian and medical personnel,  as well as aid and humanitarian and medical facilities, and urging that credible reports  of civilian casualties be thoroughly investigated and steps taken to avoid such  incidents,    Welcoming the efforts made by the Government of Afghanistan to promote an  Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, and calling upon the Taliban to respond  to the call for peace from the people and the Government of Afghanistan,    Welcoming also the achievements of the National Unity Government in political,  economic, governance and social reforms and in the management of the transition,  underlining the need to preserve past achievements, and urging further improvement  in this regard, in particular to address poverty and the delivery of services, stimulate  economic growth, create employment opportunities, tackle corruption, enhance  transparency, increase domestic revenue and promote and implement commitments  on human rights, especially women’s full and equal enjoyment of these rights, the  rights of the child, the rights of persons belonging to minorities and the freedom of  expression and opinion, as envisaged in the Constitution of Afghanistan, including  for journalists and in accordance with obligations under international law,   The situation in Afghanistan  A/RES/74/9   3/16 19-20508      Emphasizing the important role of regional cooperation to promote long-term  peace, security, prosperity, sustainable development and human rights in Afghanistan,    Welcoming the inauguration of the new parliament on 26 April 2019, noting the  holding of the presidential election on 28 September 2019, which marked another  important step towards the consolidation of democracy in the country, commending  the people of Afghanistan for their courage and determination in defying terrorism  and violence to take part in that national process, as well as the Afghan National  Defence and Security Forces for the effective manner in which they provided security  for the elections, and condemning in the strongest terms all terrorist activity and  violent attacks aimed at disrupting the elections,    Emphasizing the central and impartial role of the United Nations in promoting  peace and stability in Afghanistan, expressing its appreciation and strong support for  all the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Special Representative for Afghanistan  in this regard, expressing its appreciation also for the work of the United Nations  Assistance Mission in Afghanistan in accordance with Security Council resolution  2489 (2019), and stressing the important role of the Assistance Mission in seeking to  further improve the coherence and coordination of international civilian efforts, based  on the “One United Nations” approach and guided by the principle of reinforcing  Afghan ownership and leadership,    Recalling with appreciation the visit of the Security Council to Kabul in January  2018 in the context of peace and security, and welcoming the joint high-level visit by  the Deputy Secretary-General and other senior United Nations officials to  Afghanistan in July 2019 in the context of women and peace and security,    Welcoming also the reports of the Secretary-General and the recommendations  contained therein,1    1.  Pledges its continued support to the Government and people of  Afghanistan as they rebuild a stable, secure and economically self-sufficient State,  free of terrorism and narcotics, and strengthen the foundations of a constitutional  democracy as a responsible member of the international community;    2.  Encourages all partners to constructively support the reform agenda of the  Government of Afghanistan, as envisaged in the Afghanistan National Peace and  Development Framework and the Geneva Mutual Accountability Framework, so as to  secure a prosperous and democratic Afghanistan, focusing on strengthening the  constitutional checks and balances that guarantee citizens’ rights and obligations and  implementing structural reform to enable an accountable and effective Government  to deliver concrete progress to its people;    3.  Supports the continuing and growing ownership of reconstruction and  development efforts by the Government of Afghanistan, emphasizes the crucial need  to achieve ownership and accountability in all fields of governance and to improve  institutional capabilities, including at the subnational level, in order to use aid more  effectively, and reiterates in this regard the importance of effectively implementing  mutual commitments of the Government of Afghanistan and the international  community on a reciprocal basis, as underscored in the Geneva Mutual Accountability  Framework;    4.  Notes that the funding commitments made at the Brussels Conference on  Afghanistan will end in 2020, and underlines, in the light of the continued acute  development and humanitarian needs, the necessity for a ministerial pledging  conference to be held in late 2020 to set frameworks both for sustained assistance for  __________________    1  A/71/682-S/2016/1049, A/71/826-S/2017/189, A/71/932-S/2017/508, A/72/392-S/2017/783,  A/73/374/Rev.1-S/2018/824/Rev.1 and A/74/348-S/2019/703.   A/RES/74/9  The situation in Afghanistan   19-20508 4/16    the remainder of the Transformation Decade (2015–2024) to address this need and for  future donor assistance to Afghanistan beyond 2024;    5.  Recalls with appreciation the adoption of the Geneva Mutual  Accountability Framework, as reflected in the communiqué adopted at the  international Geneva Conference on Afghanistan, which underscores the importance  of effectively implementing mutual commitments of the Government of Afghanistan  and the international community on a reciprocal basis;    6.  Emphasizes that threats to stability and development in Afghanistan and  the region require closer and more coordinated cooperation as well as greater  coherence and complementarity of approach between countries of the region and the  international community, for the long-term peace, security, prosperity and sustainable  development of the country, and underscores in this regard the standing of  Afghanistan as a platform for such international cooperation;        Security      7.  Recognizes the commitment of the international community to supporting  the training, equipping, financing and development of capacity-building for the  Afghan National Defence and Security Forces throughout the Transformation Decade  (2015–2024), as agreed upon most recently in the Brussels Summit Declaration in  2018, including through the Resolute Support Mission, as welcomed by the Security  Council in its resolution 2189 (2014);    8.  Welcomes the pledges and commitments made, most recently at the  Brussels Summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, held on 11 and 12 July  2018, to continuing national contributions to the financial sustainment of the Afghan  National Defence and Security Forces until the end of 2024, to sustaining the Resolute  Support Mission and to continuing to deliver training, advice and assistance to the  Afghan security institutions, including the police, the air force and special operations  forces;    9.  Recognizes the positive impact and ongoing importance of commitments  made by the European Union as part of the continued international support for  security, development and stability in Afghanistan;    10. Reiterates once again its serious concern about the security situation in  Afghanistan, stresses the need to continue to address the threat to the security and  stability of Afghanistan caused by the region-based violent extremist and other illegal  armed groups and criminals, including those involved in the narcotics trade, the  Taliban, including the Haqqani Network, as well as Al-Qaida, Islamic State in Iraq  and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh) and their affiliates, in particular ISIL-Khorasan  Province, and other terrorist groups, and foreign terrorist fighters, expresses concern  about the serious threat posed by the presence of foreign terrorist fighters, reiterates  in this regard its call for the full and serious implementation of measures and the  application of procedures introduced in relevant Security Council resolutions, in  particular resolutions 1267 (1999), 1988 (2011), 1989 (2011) of 17 June 2011,  2082 (2012) and 2083 (2012) of 17 December 2012, 2160 (2014) and 2161 (2014) of  17 June 2014, 2253 (2015) of 17 December 2015, 2255 (2015) of 21 December 2015  and 2368 (2017) of 20 July 2017, and calls upon all States to strengthen their  international and regional cooperation to enhance information-sharing, border  control, law enforcement and criminal justice to better counter the threat posed by  foreign terrorist fighters and returning foreign terrorist fighters in Afghanistan and  the region;    11.  Expresses its serious concern regarding the presence of terrorist  organizations, such as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh) and its   The situation in Afghanistan  A/RES/74/9   5/16 19-20508    affiliates, in particular ISIL-Khorasan Province, and other terrorist groups, and  foreign terrorist fighters, and the increased number of cowardly and heinous terrorist  attacks for which they have claimed responsibility, including killings of Afghan  nationals, and their deplorable attempts to undermine relations between communities,  posing a serious threat to the security of Afghanistan and the countries of the region,  commends the progress of the Government of Afghanistan in combating these threats  in the country, calls for enhanced regional cooperation in the fight against these  groups, and affirms its support for continued efforts in this regard;    12. Condemns in the strongest terms all unlawful acts of violence, intimidation  and attacks, including improvised explosive device attacks, suicide attacks,  assassinations, including of public figures, abductions, indiscriminate attacks against  civilians, violence perpetrated against women and children and sexual and gender- based violence, killings, attacks against individuals, media groups and organs of  society engaged in the promotion and protection of universally recognized human  rights, attacks against development aid, humanitarian and medical personnel and  civilian infrastructure facilities, including schools, health clinics and hospitals, as  such, and the targeting of Afghan and international forces, which have a deleterious  effect on stabilization and development efforts in Afghanistan, and condemns the use  of civilians as human shields, as well as Taliban attacks and acts of international  terrorists;    13. Stresses the need for the Government of Afghanistan and the international  community to continue to work closely together and to improve coordination in  countering such acts, which are threatening peace and stability in Afghanistan and the  democratic process, the achievements and the continued implementation of the  development process in Afghanistan, as well as humanitarian aid measures,  recognizes the achievements of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces in  this regard, and calls upon all Member States, in particular neighbouring countries,  to deny those groups any form of sanctuary, freedom of operations, movement,  recruitment and financial, material or political support;    14. Welcomes the assumption of full security responsibility by the Afghan  National Defence and Security Forces, commends the resilience and courage  displayed in this regard, calls upon the international community to provide the support  necessary to increase security, including public order, law enforcement, the security  of Afghanistan’s borders and the preservation of the constitutional rights of Afghan  citizens, as well as to provide continued support by training, equipping and  contributing to the financing of the Forces to take on the task of securing their country  and fighting against terrorism, and underscores the importance of all the Summit  Declarations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Afghanistan and other  relevant agreements with regional and international partners;    15. Also welcomes, in this regard, the presence of the Resolute Support  Mission, expresses its appreciation to Member States for having contributed  personnel, equipment and other resources to the Mission and for the support provided  to the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces by all international partners, in  particular by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization through its previous combat and  current non-combat missions in Afghanistan, as well as other bilateral training  programmes, and encourages further coordination, where appropriate;    16. Further welcomes the commitment of the Government of Afghanistan,  with a view to ensuring stability and providing conditions for the effective rule of law  and respect for human rights for all, including women’s full and equal enjoyment of  these rights, to continuing its security sector reform by making the security provision,  management and oversight of the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces more  effective and accountable, welcomes in this regard the progress being made in the   A/RES/74/9  The situation in Afghanistan   19-20508 6/16    Afghan national security institutions, as presented at the Geneva Conference on  Afghanistan, and expresses its appreciation for the support that States have provided  to the Forces;    17. Recalls that regional security cooperation plays a key role in maintaining  stability in Afghanistan and the region, welcomes the progress achieved by  Afghanistan and regional partners in this regard, calls for further efforts by  Afghanistan and regional partners and organizations, including the Shanghai  Cooperation Organization, to strengthen their partnership and cooperation, takes note  of the discussion related to Afghanistan at the meeting of the Council of Heads of  State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization held in Bishkek on 13 and 14 June  2019, and in this regard also takes note of the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation  Organization-Afghanistan Contact Group held in Bishkek on 19 April 2019;    18. Welcomes the efforts of the United Nations Regional Centre for Preventive  Diplomacy for Central Asia to address regional security cooperation, including its  holding of a preventive diplomacy academy and cross-border workshop with Afghan  participants,    19. Remains deeply concerned about the persistent problem of anti-personnel  landmines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices, welcomes  the achievements to date in the implementation of the Mine Action Programme for  Afghanistan, aimed at declaring Afghanistan mine-free by 2023, underscores the  importance of sustained international assistance, encourages the Government of  Afghanistan, with the support of the United Nations and all relevant actors, to  continue its efforts to meet its responsibilities under the Convention on the  Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines  and on Their Destruction, 2  expresses concern at the use of improvised explosive  devices by the Taliban against civilians and the Afghan security forces, and notes the  need to enhance coordination and information-sharing between both Member States  and the private sector to prevent the flow of improvised explosive device components  to the Taliban;        Peace and reconciliation      20. Recognizes that an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned inclusive peace process  backed by regional actors, in particular Pakistan, and supported by the international  community, is essential for achieving long-term peace and stability in Afghanistan,  reiterating its firm commitment to supporting the Government of Afghanistan in its  efforts in this regard, and that, to be successful, a political solution must ensure the  renunciation of violence and the breaking of all ties to international terrorism, protect  the human rights of all, including women, children and persons belonging to  minorities, in accordance with international law and as enshrined in the Constitution  of Afghanistan, and build a peaceful Afghanistan, with full respect for the  implementation of the measures and application of the procedures introduced by the  Security Council in its resolutions 1267 (1999), 1988 (2011), 2082 (2012),  2160 (2014) and 2255 (2015), as well as other relevant resolutions of the Council,  calls upon all relevant States, especially neighbouring countries, and international  organizations to remain engaged in the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process,  and recognizes the impact that terrorist attacks have on the Afghan people, while  underlining that such acts should not hinder efforts to achieve a peace settlement;    21. Welcomes the efforts made by the Government of Afghanistan to begin  direct negotiations within the framework of a comprehensive peace plan, as laid out  in the declaration of the consultative peace loya jirga held from 29 April to 3 May  __________________    2  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2056, No. 35597.   The situation in Afghanistan  A/RES/74/9   7/16 19-20508    2019, 3  calls upon the Taliban to accept this offer without any preconditions and  without the threat of violence, and calls for the resumption of the peace process, for  the continuation of the intra-Afghan dialogue and for the start of inclusive direct talks  of the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban, with the aim of agreeing on a  political settlement that leads to sustainable peace for the people of Afghanistan;    22. Encourages Afghanistan and Pakistan to enhance their relationship, which  could lead to cooperation to combat terrorism effectively and move forward the  Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, and to effectively implement the  Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity as an important  mechanism of cooperation;    23. Recalls that women play a vital role in the peace process, as recognized  by the Security Council in its resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 and in  related resolutions, including resolution 2242 (2015) of 13 October 2015, welcomes  the steps taken by the Government of Afghanistan in implementing its national action  plan on women, peace and security and in enhancing the role of women in the peace  process, as manifested in their contribution to the development of the Afghanistan  peace and reconciliation strategy, and encourages the Government of Afghanistan to  further implement the women and peace and security agenda, including by supporting  the full and meaningful participation of women, locally and at the highest level, in  peace and transition;    24. Recognizes that there is no purely military solution to ensure the stability  of Afghanistan and that sustainable peace can be achieved only through a negotiated  political settlement that includes the Government of Afghanistan, calls for an  immediate halt to unlawful violence to create an environment conducive to peace  negotiations, welcomes the efforts made by the Government of Afghanistan, including  the convening of the second meeting of the Kabul Process for Peace and Security  Cooperation and the convening of the consultative peace loya jirga, as well as all  other ongoing efforts to initiate a peace process in Afghanistan with Afghan-led and  Afghan-owned negotiations inclusive of both the Government and civil society at its  core, and commends the role of the Ulama of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Indonesia in  advancing the peace process by sending a message of peace through the Trilateral  Ulama Conference;    25. Calls upon all Afghan, regional and international parties to continue to  support these peace efforts to include the effective and meaningful participation of  women and to safeguard and further consolidate the achievements with regard to  State-building, social, political and economic reforms and the implementation of  obligations and commitments relating to fundamental freedoms and human rights in  Afghanistan, especially those of women and children;    26. Notes the work of regional and international partners and formats,  including the Quadrilateral Coordination Group, the International Contact Group on  Afghanistan, the Tashkent dialogue consultations, the Moscow format consultations  and the intra-Afghan dialogue, including the dialogues held in Doha and in Moscow,  to facilitate Afghan-led and Afghan-owned efforts towards direct peace talks between  the Government of Afghanistan and the Taliban, and calls upon all regional and  international partners of Afghanistan to continue their efforts, recognizing that  success can be achieved only through the unified and close coordination of efforts  under the leadership and ownership of the Government of Afghanistan;    __________________    3  S/2019/410, annex.   A/RES/74/9  The situation in Afghanistan   19-20508 8/16        Democracy      27. Emphasizes the importance of all parties in Afghanistan working together  to achieve a unified, peaceful, democratic and prosperous future for all the people of  Afghanistan;    28. Recalls the commitment and welcomes the efforts of the Government of  Afghanistan to improving and reforming the electoral process in Afghanistan and the  holding of presidential elections on 28 September 2019, condemns in the strongest  terms all terrorist activity and violent attacks aimed at disrupting the elections,  commends the commitment shown by Afghans in exercising their right to vote and  their belief in democracy, emphasizes the important role of the independent Afghan  electoral institutions in upholding the integrity of the electoral process, including by  clearly communicating their decisions to all stakeholders, urges all stakeholders to  support the elections commissioners in delivering an election result that is credible  and transparent, and calls upon the Government of Afghanistan and its institutions,  including the Independent Election Commission and the Electoral Complaints  Commission, to ensure that future elections are credible and transparent by building  on the lessons learned in 2019 and continuing to implement the electoral reforms and  further technical and operational improvements necessary to strengthen voter trust  and confidence;    29. Welcomes the increasingly wide and comprehensive dialogue on the  political transition towards strengthening the unity of the Afghan people, and  underscores its importance for consolidating democracy and Afghan political  stability;    30. Calls upon the Government of Afghanistan to continue to effectively  reform the public administration sector in order to implement the rule of law and to  ensure good governance and accountability, and welcomes the commitments, efforts  and progress made by the Government in this regard;        Rule of law, human rights and good governance      31. Emphasizes that the rule of law, human rights and good governance form  the foundation for the achievement of a stable and prosperous Afghanistan;    32. Recalls the constitutional guarantee of respect for human rights and  fundamental freedoms for all Afghans, without discrimination of any kind, stresses  the need to fully implement the human rights provisions of the Constitution of  Afghanistan, in accordance with obligations under applicable international law, in  particular those regarding the full enjoyment by women, children, persons with  disabilities and persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities of their human  rights, and acknowledges efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in this regard;    33. Recognizes the membership of Afghanistan in the Human Rights Council,  and welcomes the commitment and responsibility assumed in upholding and  promoting human rights at the national, regional and international levels, within the  framework of relevant international human rights instruments to which it is a party;    34. Reiterates its concern at the destructive consequences of violent and  terrorist activities, including against persons belonging to ethnic and religious  minorities, for the enjoyment of human rights and for the capacity of the Government  to ensure human rights and fundamental freedoms for all Afghans, and stresses the  need to further promote tolerance and to ensure respect for the right to freedom of  expression, including for journalists, and the right to freedom of thought, conscience,  religion or belief as enshrined in the Constitution of Afghanistan and the international  covenants to which Afghanistan is a party;   The situation in Afghanistan  A/RES/74/9   9/16 19-20508      35. Emphasizes the necessity of investigating allegations of current and past  violations, and stresses the importance of facilitating the provision of efficient and  effective remedies to the victims and of bringing the perpetrators to justice in  accordance with national and international law;    36. Calls for the full implementation of the Mass Media Law, while noting  with concern and condemning the continuing intimidation and violence targeting  Afghan journalists, such as cases of abduction and even the killing of journalists by  terrorist and violent extremist and criminal groups, and urges that the harassment of  and attacks on journalists be investigated by Afghan authorities and that those  responsible be brought to justice;    37. Reiterates its unwavering commitment and that of the Government of  Afghanistan to the promotion and protection of women’s full enjoyment of human  rights in Afghanistan, in particular the achievement of equality between men and  women, the full and equal participation of women in all spheres of Afghan life, the  eradication of sexual and gender-based violence, including against children, and the  provision of humanitarian responses that are principled and targeted towards the  individuals most in need, including by offering psychosocial support and seeking to  end all forms of gender-based violence;    38. Commends the achievements and efforts of the Government aimed at  increasing women’s participation in policymaking and decision-making, countering  discrimination and protecting and promoting the equal rights of women and men  consistent with its international obligations under the Convention on the Elimination  of All Forms of Discrimination against Women4 and pursuant to the Constitution of  Afghanistan, the National Action Plan for the Women of Afghanistan, the Afghan  national action plan on women, peace and security, the Law on the Elimination of  Violence against Women and the national strategy to prevent violence against women;    39. Welcomes recent measures taken by the Government of Afghanistan  towards the protection of women’s and girls’ full and equal enjoyment of human  rights, including the establishment of a special secretariat within the Afghanistan  Independent Human Rights Commission to investigate allegations of harassment of  women in government institutions and the appointment of women ambassadors,  deputy ministers, human rights commissioners and heads of electoral bodies and a  woman Inspector General;    40. Emphasizes the need to ensure respect for the rights of the child and their  fundamental freedoms in Afghanistan and to prevent grave human rights violations  and abuses against children as a result of the ongoing armed conflict, condemns the  continued recruitment and use of child soldiers, including sexual violence and sexual  exploitation, recalls the need for the full implementation of the Convention on the  Rights of the Child,5 its Optional Protocol on the sale of children, child prostitution  and child pornography6 and its Optional Protocol on the involvement of children in  armed conflict 7  by all States parties, as well as of Security Council resolution  1612 (2005) of 26 July 2005, and all other subsequent resolutions on children and  armed conflict, and Council resolutions 1998 (2011) of 12 July 2011 and 2286 (2016)  of 3 May 2016 on attacks against schools and hospitals, in particular by terrorist and  violent extremist and criminal groups, commends the Government of Afghanistan for  implementing the law on the protection of child rights, adopting a new Penal Code  that envisages punishment for the perpetrators of crimes against children, including  of bacha bazi, for introducing legislation banning the recruitment and use of child  __________________    4  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378.    5  Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531.    6  Ibid., vol. 2171, No. 27531.    7  Ibid., vol. 2173, No. 27531.   A/RES/74/9  The situation in Afghanistan   19-20508 10/16    soldiers and for establishing, equipping, staffing, training and providing adequate  oversight of local child protection units;    41. Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the action plan for  the prevention of underage recruitment, signed in January 2011, and the annex thereto  on children associated with the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, and of  the road map towards compliance, as well as the signing in 2017 of a child protection  policy to protect children from the effects of armed conflict, as reflected in the seventh  report of the Government of Afghanistan on the implementation of the Joint Action  Plan on Children and Armed Conflict, released in April 2019, continues to call for an  end to the recruitment and use of children by all parties within all ranks, and stresses  the need to refrain from detaining children on national security-related charges and  the importance of considering children primarily as victims;    42. Recalls Security Council resolutions 2250 (2015) of 9 December 2015 on  the maintenance of international peace and security and 2419 (2018) of 6 June 2018  on youth, peace and security, in which the Council reaffirmed the important role that  youth can play in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, welcomes the  appointment of Afghanistan’s youth representative to the United Nations, recognizes  in this regard the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in enhancing the  representation of youth for the prevention and resolution of conflict, and encourages  continued efforts in this regard;    43. Reiterates its appreciation for the anti-corruption commitment made by  the Government of Afghanistan, welcomes in this respect the reform efforts of the  Government, including the adoption of a law protecting whistle-blowers, the revision  of the access to information law, the continuation of reform measures in the civil  service through the successful completion of merit-based recruitment for 11,500  teaching positions and 6,500 entry-level civil servant positions in the capital and  provinces, the establishment of the National High Council for Rule of Law and Anti- Corruption, the Anti-Corruption Justice Centre and the National Procurement  Commission, the adoption of the updated Afghanistan National Strategy for  Combating Corruption at the end of 2018, the enactment of the revised Penal Code  and the anti-corruption law of 2018 and the finalization of anti-corruption action plans  for various ministries as measures taken by the Government to implement its  comprehensive reform agenda, strengthen governance and achieve a more effective,  accountable and transparent administration at the national, provincial and local levels  of government, takes note in this regard of the progress made thus far against the  benchmarks of its comprehensive reform agenda presented and endorsed at the third  Senior Officials Meeting and at the Geneva Conference on Afghanistan, urges the  Government of Afghanistan to take continued decisive action and accelerate  implementation, promote the rule of law and address impunity for corruption, and  establish a more effective, accountable and transparent administration at the national,  provincial and local levels of government in order to create conditions for sustained  future peace;    44. Calls upon the international community to support the efforts of  Afghanistan to meet governance objectives in this regard;        Counter-narcotics      45. Welcomes the efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in fighting drug  production in Afghanistan, including recent law enforcement operations aimed at  seizing, dismantling and destroying drug stockpiles and laboratories, as reflected in  the report of the Secretary-General, 8  encourages international and regional  __________________    8  A/74/348-S/2019/703.   The situation in Afghanistan  A/RES/74/9   11/16 19-20508    cooperation with Afghanistan in its sustained efforts to address illicit drug production  and trafficking, recognizes the threat posed by illicit drug production, trade 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 in this  regard, expresses its continued deep concern at the serious harm that opium  cultivation, production and trafficking continue to cause to the security, development  and governance of Afghanistan, as well as to the region and beyond, and that such  activities can also significantly contribute to the financial resources of terrorist  groups, as reflected in the report of the Office entitled Afghanistan Opium Survey  2018: Challenges to Sustainable Development, Peace and Security, released on  30 July 2019;    46. Stresses the importance of a comprehensive and balanced approach in  addressing the drug problem of Afghanistan, which, to be effective, must be  integrated into the wider context of efforts carried out in the areas of security,  governance, the rule of law, human rights, public health and economic and social  development, in particular in rural areas, including the development of improved  alternative livelihood programmes;    47. Notes with great concern the strong nexus between drug trafficking and  the terrorist activities of the Taliban, including the Haqqani Network, as well as  Al-Qaida, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) (Da’esh) and their affiliates, in  particular ISIL-Khorasan Province, and other terrorist groups, and foreign terrorist  fighters, which pose a serious threat to security, the rule of law and development in  Afghanistan and the region, and stresses the importance of the full implementation of  all relevant Security Council resolutions in this regard, including resolutions 2255  (2015) and 2368 (2017), and in this regard emphasizes the need for the Security  Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) and the Committee  pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) to continue to pay  attention to the linkages between the proceeds of organized crime, inter alia, the illicit  production of and trafficking in drugs and their chemical precursors and the financing,  respectively, of the Taliban, including the Haqqani Network, and of ISIL (Da’esh),  Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities;    48. Calls upon the international community to continue to assist the  Government of Afghanistan in its National Drug Control Strategy and National Drug  Action Plan, calls for such efforts to eliminate the cultivation and production of,  trafficking in and consumption of illicit drugs, increase support for Afghan law  enforcement and criminal justice agencies, agricultural and rural development for the  creation of improved alternative, licit livelihoods for farmers and demand reduction  support, increase public awareness of counter-narcotics issues and build the capacity  of drug control institutions and care and treatment centres for drug users, reiterates  its call upon the international community to channel counter-narcotics funding  through the Government of Afghanistan, the United Nations Office on Drugs and  Crime and other relevant organizations and mechanisms to the extent possible, notes  that the problem of the production, cultivation, trafficking and consumption of  narcotic drugs, as well as the problem of precursors, should be addressed on the basis  of the principle of common and shared responsibility of the Government and the  international community, and welcomes and supports relevant international and  regional projects and activities, including those carried out by Afghanistan, Iran  (Islamic Republic of) and Pakistan within the framework of the triangular initiative  to counter narcotics, as well as the Paris Pact initiative,9 stresses the need to further  strengthen joint, coordinated and resolute efforts by the Government, supported by  the international community and regional partners, to intensify sustained efforts to  __________________    9  See S/2003/641, annex.   A/RES/74/9  The situation in Afghanistan   19-20508 12/16    address drug production and trafficking through a balanced and integrated approach,  in accordance with the principle of common and shared responsibility in addressing  the drug problem of Afghanistan, and welcomes the holding of the Joint Regional  Conference on Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Narcotics in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on  22 July 2019, within the framework of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process on Regional  Security and Cooperation for a Secure and Stable Afghanistan;        Social and economic development      49. Recalls the position of Afghanistan as the top improver in the World Bank  Doing Business 2019 report and the work of the Government of Afghanistan in  implementing reforms to improve the business regulatory framework;    50. Welcomes the Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework  setting out the strategic policy priorities of Afghanistan towards achieving self- reliance and the presentation of five national priority programmes, on a citizens’  charter, women’s economic empowerment, urban development, comprehensive  agriculture and national infrastructure, to improve the conditions for advancing  sustainable development and stability;    51. Renews its commitment to long-term support for the economic  development of Afghanistan on the basis of mutual accountability, as stated in the  Geneva Mutual Accountability Framework, urgently appeals to all States, the United  Nations system and international and non-governmental organizations, including the  international and regional financial institutions, to continue to provide, in close  coordination with the Government of Afghanistan and in accordance with the  Afghanistan National Peace and Development Framework and the national priority  programmes contained therein, all possible and necessary humanitarian, recovery,  reconstruction, development, financial, educational, technical and material assistance  for Afghanistan, and underscores the crucial importance of continued and sequenced  implementation of the reform agenda, national priority programmes and the  development and governance goals as agreed upon in the Geneva Mutual  Accountability Framework;    52. Recognizes the substantial development and notable progress achieved by  Afghanistan with the steadfast support of the international community in the past  years, expresses its support for the reaffirmation and consolidation of the partnership  between Afghanistan and the international community midway through the  Transformation Decade (2015–2024), during which Afghanistan will consolidate its  sovereignty through strengthening a fully functioning, sustainable State in the service  of its people, urges the Government of Afghanistan to involve all elements of Afghan  society, in particular women, in the development and implementation of relief,  rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction programmes, recalls with appreciation the  presentation by the Government of Afghanistan of the National Priority Programme  on Women’s Economic Empowerment and encourages its continued implementation,  and recalls with appreciation the launch of the women’s economic empowerment plan  in March 2017 and the creation of a coordination unit for the Programme within the  Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Disabled as important measures for  the implementation of the Programme;    53. Welcomes the progress made in implementing the Self-Reliance through  Mutual Accountability Framework and the commitment to continuing the reforms  agreed upon in the Geneva Mutual Accountability Framework and the monitoring  mechanism included therein, in which the Government of Afghanistan reaffirmed its  commitment to strengthening governance, grounded in human rights, the rule of law  and adherence to the Constitution of Afghanistan and held it as integral to sustained  growth and economic development, and in which the international community   The situation in Afghanistan  A/RES/74/9   13/16 19-20508    committed to enhancing the efficiency of development aid by aligning assistance with  the Afghan national priority programmes and by channelling assistance through the  national budget of the Government, as outlined in the Tokyo Declaration: Partnership  for Self-Reliance in Afghanistan – From Transition to Transformation 10  and  reaffirmed in the communiqué of the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan and the  new Geneva Mutual Accountability Framework indicators;    54. Commends the Government of Afghanistan for aligning its new  development strategy with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 11  and  urges the international community to assist the Government in achieving the  Sustainable Development Goals;    55. Also commends the Government of Afghanistan for improving budgetary  transparency and its efforts to reach fiscal sustainability, notes the challenges ahead,  and urges that continued efforts be made to meet revenue targets;    56. Recognizes the necessity for further improvement in the living conditions  of the Afghan people, and emphasizes the need to strengthen and support the  development of the capacity of the Government of Afghanistan to deliver basic social  services at the national, provincial and local levels, in particular education and public  health services;    57. Reiterates the necessity of providing Afghan children, especially Afghan  girls, with educational and health facilities in all parts of the country, and welcomes  the progress achieved in the sector of public education;    58. Notes with concern the dire humanitarian situation affecting Afghanistan,  with millions of people facing emergency levels of food insecurity and hundreds of  thousands of Afghans displaced by conflict since January 2019, and urges the  international community to assist in providing the necessary support and to work with  the Government of Afghanistan and humanitarian organizations to respond effectively  to the needs identified in the Humanitarian Response Plan;    59. Recognizes the need to address the impacts of climate change in  Afghanistan, and emphasizes the need for local, subnational, national, regional and  international action to enhance efforts to build resilience, especially for the most  vulnerable, by investing in resilience, including disaster risk reduction, strengthening  adaptation strategies and enhancing joint risk assessments and risk management  strategies, including early warning systems in the country to monitor environmental  changes, to cut the impact and cost of natural disasters;        Refugees      60. Expresses its appreciation to those Governments that continue to host  Afghan refugees, in particular Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran,  acknowledging the huge burden that they have so far shouldered in this regard, asks  for continued generous support by the international community, and also asks relevant  international organizations, in particular the Office of the United Nations High  Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration, to  continue to work closely with Afghanistan and the countries hosting Afghan refugees  with a view to facilitating their voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return,  rehabilitation and reintegration;    61. Welcomes the outcome of the high-level segment on the Afghan refugee  problem of the sixty-sixth session of the Executive Committee of the Programme of  __________________    10  A/66/867-S/2012/532, annex I.    11  Resolution 70/1.   A/RES/74/9  The situation in Afghanistan   19-20508 14/16    the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,12 emphasizes the importance of  the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees to Support Voluntary Repatriation,  Sustainable Reintegration and Assistance to Host Countries, and looks forward to the  further implementation of the joint communiqué of the Conference, aimed at  increased sustainability of returns and continued support for host countries, through  the sustained support and the directed efforts of the international community;    62. Expresses its concern over the increase in the number of internally  displaced persons and refugees from Afghanistan, stresses that stability and  development in Afghanistan can be achieved if its citizens can see a future for  themselves within their country, reiterates to host countries and the international  community the obligations under international refugee law with respect to the  protection of refugees, the principle of voluntary return and the right to seek asylum  and to ensure full, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian relief agencies in  order to provide protection and assistance to internally displaced persons and  refugees, and calls upon countries to continue to accept an appropriate number of  Afghan refugees for resettlement, as a manifestation of their shared responsibility and  solidarity;    63. Takes note of the cooperation framework signed between the Government  of Afghanistan and the European Union, entitled “Joint way forward on migration  issues”, and in this context underscores the importance of close and effective  cooperation to address the problem of irregular migration in a comprehensive manner,  with due focus on and consideration of addressing the root causes of migration,  including through job creation and the establishment of returnees’ livelihoods in  Afghanistan, and in accordance with international commitments and obligations,  including the human rights and legal rights of all migrants and the rights of persons  in need of international protection in line with the provisions of the 1951 Convention  relating to the Status of Refugees13 and the 1967 Protocol thereto,14 as applicable;    64. Welcomes the commitment of the Government of Afghanistan to making  the repatriation and reintegration of Afghan refugees one of its highest national  priorities, including their voluntary, safe and dignified return and their sustainable  reintegration into national development planning and prioritization processes, takes  note in this regard of the accession of Afghanistan to the Protocol against the  Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations  Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, 15  on 2 February 2017, and  encourages and supports all efforts of the Government towards the implementation of  this commitment;    65. Reaffirms its firm support for the implementation of the Solutions Strategy  for Afghan Refugees to Support Voluntary Repatriation, Sustainable Reintegration  and Assistance to Host Countries endorsed by the international community in 2012,  and acknowledges the Enhanced Voluntary Return and Reintegration Package for  Afghan Refugees as an innovative way to enhance sustainable return and  reintegration;    66. Welcomes the continued return of Afghan refugees and internally displaced  persons, in a voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable manner, while noting with  concern the security challenges of Afghanistan;    __________________    12  See Official Records of the General Assembly, Seventieth Session, Supplement No. 12A  (A/70/12/Add.1), annex II.    13  United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 189, No. 2545.    14  Ibid., vol. 606, No. 8791.    15  Ibid., vol. 2241, No. 39574.   The situation in Afghanistan  A/RES/74/9   15/16 19-20508        Regional cooperation      67. Stresses the crucial importance of advancing constructive and sustainable  regional cooperation as an effective means of promoting and complementing peace,  security, stability and economic and social development in Afghanistan, recognizes  in this regard the importance of the contribution of neighbouring and regional partners  and regional organizations, recalls the importance of the Kabul Declaration on Good- neighbourly Relations of 22 December 2002,16 welcomes in this regard the continued  commitment of the international community to supporting the stability and  development of Afghanistan, encourages further improved relations and enhanced  engagement between Afghanistan and its neighbours, calls for further efforts in this  regard, including in the framework of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process on Regional  Security and Cooperation for a Secure and Stable Afghanistan and by regional  organizations and long-term strategic partnerships and other agreements aimed at  achieving a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan, and welcomes international  and regional initiatives in this regard, such as those of the Collective Security Treaty  Organization, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the Economic  Cooperation Organization, the Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on  Afghanistan process, the European Union, the Organization for Security and  Cooperation in Europe, the Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism  in Counter-Terrorism comprising the armed forces of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan  and Tajikistan, the China-Afghanistan-Pakistan dialogues and the Conference on  Interaction and Confidence-building Measures in Asia;    68. Welcomes the important initiatives for regional connectivity, notably in the  frameworks for ongoing cooperation under the auspices of the Central Asia Regional  Economic Cooperation Programme and of the Regional Economic Cooperation  Conference on Afghanistan, including the inauguration of its Chamber of Commerce  and Industries in Kabul on 10 July, and the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process confidence- building measures to facilitate increased trade throughout the region, welcomes in  this regard the holding of Senior Official Meetings of the Heart of Asia-Istanbul  Process in June and September 2019, with a focus on the revision of the confidence- building measures, and looks forward to the forthcoming Heart of Asia Ministerial  Conference, to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 9 December 2019;    69. Emphasizes, in this regard, the importance of strengthening local and  regional networks of transportation that will facilitate connectivity for economic  development, stability and self-sustainability, particularly the completion and  maintenance of local railroad and land routes, the development of regional projects  to foster further connectivity and the enhancement of international civil aviation  capabilities, and expresses its appreciation for all initiatives and efforts to advance  partnership on connectivity;    70. Welcomes and urges further efforts to strengthen the process of regional  economic cooperation, also welcomes joint efforts to enhance dialogue and  collaboration and to advance economic development across the region, including  measures to facilitate regional connectivity, trade and transit, acknowledges the  progress made on such projects and initiatives as the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan- Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project, the Central Asia South Asia Electricity  Transmission and Trade Project (CASA-1000), the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan- Pakistan (TAP) 500 and Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan  (TUTAP)  electricity  projects,  the  Pakistan-Afghanistan-Tajikistan  Regional  Integration Programme (PATRIP), the Chabahar agreement between Afghanistan,  India and Iran (Islamic Republic of) and the transport of development assistance from  __________________    16  S/2002/1416, annex   A/RES/74/9  The situation in Afghanistan   19-20508 16/16    India to Afghanistan through the Chabahar port, the Lapis Lazuli Transit, Trade and  Transport Route agreement and the Turkmenistan-Aqina railway segment and on  bilateral transit trade agreements, expanded consular visa cooperation and the  facilitation of business travel, to expand trade, increase foreign investments and  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 and the region, notes the historical role  of Afghanistan as a land bridge in Asia, recalls that such regional economic  cooperation plays an important role in achieving stability and development in  Afghanistan, in this regard urges all relevant stakeholders to create a feasible and  secure environment for the full implementation of these development initiatives and  trade agreements, and welcomes the progress made by these initiatives and projects  in enhancing regional connectivity, trade and transit, including the creation of direct  air freight corridors between Afghanistan and China, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, the  Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates;        United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and Joint Coordination  and Monitoring Board      71. Expresses its appreciation for the work of the United Nations Assistance  Mission in Afghanistan, as mandated by the Security Council in its resolution  2489 (2019), stresses the continued importance of the central and impartial  coordinating role of the United Nations in promoting a more coherent international  engagement, and acknowledges the central role played by the Joint Coordination and  Monitoring Board in this regard;    72. Emphasizes the importance of the strategic review of the mandated tasks,  priorities and related resources of the United Nations Assistance Mission in  Afghanistan, and calls for the continued implementation of the recommendations of  the Secretary-General, with a view to supporting efforts for peace and ensuring  greater coordination, coherence and efficiency among relevant United Nations  agencies, funds and programmes, based on the “One United Nations” approach, in  line with the reform agenda and the national priority programmes of the Government  of Afghanistan;    73. Requests the Secretary-General to continue to report every three months  on developments in Afghanistan, as well as on the progress made in the  implementation of the present resolution;    74. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-fifth session  the item entitled “The situation in Afghanistan”.