               United Nations                                                                   S/RES/2274 (2016)
               Security Council                                               Distr.: General
                                                                              15 March 2016




               Resolution 2274 (2016)
               Adopted by the Security Council at its 7645th meeting, on
               15 March 2016

                    The Security Council,
                    Recalling its previous resolutions on Afghanistan, in particular its resolution
               2210 (2015) extending through 17 March 2016 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, as well as its continued
               support for the Government and people of Afghanistan as they rebuild their country
               and strengthen the foundations of sustainable peace and development and
               constitutional democracy,
                     Recalling the completion at the end of 2014 of the Transition (Inteqal) Process
               and the initiation of the Transformation Decade (2015 -2024) with the assumption of
               full responsibility for the security sector by Afghan institutions, 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 completion
               of the transition process in Afghanistan,
                    Emphasizing the Kabul Process towards the primary objective of reinforced
               Afghan leadership and ownership, strengthened international partnership and
               regional cooperation, improved Afghan governance, enhanced capabilities of
               Afghan security forces, economic growth, sustainable development and better
               protection for the rights of all Afghan citizens, in particular women and girls, 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,
                    Welcoming the start of the second year of the National Unity Government and
               emphasizing the importance of all parties in Afghanistan working within its
               framework in order to achieve a unified, peaceful and prosperous future for all the
               people of Afghanistan,

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                     Welcoming further the strategic consensus between the Government of
               Afghanistan and the International Community on a renewed and enduring
               partnership for the Transformation Decade based on the ir refreshed mutual
               commitments as laid down in the Self-Reliance through Mutual Accountability
               Framework (SMAF) adopted by the Senior Officials Meeting on 5 September 2015
               in Kabul, welcoming progress made towards meeting the mutual commitments set
               out in the Tokyo Mutual Accountability Framework (TMAF) and reaffirmed at the
               2014 London Conference, to support the sustainable economic growth and
               development of Afghanistan, and reaffirming the importance of continued efforts by
               the Government of Afghanistan and the international community towards meeting
               their mutual commitments, and looking forward to the Ministerial Conference on
               Afghanistan to be held in Brussels in October 2016,
                     Affirming that sustainable progress on security, political stability, gover nance,
               fiscal sustainability, human rights, especially women’s rights, rule of law and
               development as well as the cross-cutting issues of counter-narcotics, anti-corruption
               and accountability are mutually reinforcing and that governance and development
               programmes should be consistent with the goals set forth in the Tokyo Declaration
               and be consistent with the Government of Afghanistan’s reform agenda, and
               welcoming the continuing efforts of the Government of Afghanistan and the
               international community to address these challenges through a comprehensive
               approach,
                     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 and Kabul Conferences Communiqués, and in the Self-Reliance
               through Mutual Accountability Framework (SMAF) outcome document of the
               Afghan Government reform agenda and of the National Drugs Control Strategy, as
               part of the comprehensive implementation strategy to be taken forwar d by the
               Government of Afghanistan with the support of the region and the international
               community, and with a coordinating role for the United Nations as facilitator and
               co-convener of donors, consistent with the Kabul Process,
                     Welcoming the Afghan government reform programme entitled “Realizing
               Self-Reliance: Commitments to Reforms and Renewed Partnership” that contains
               strategic policy priorities for Afghanistan towards realizing self -reliance in the
               Transformation Decade for improving security, politic al stability, economic and
               fiscal stabilization, advancing good governance, including electoral reform and
               strengthening democratic institutions, promoting the rule of law and respect for
               human rights, particularly in relation to women and girls, fighting corruption and
               the illicit economy, including narcotics, and paving the way for enhanced private
               sector investment and sustainable, social, environmental and economic
               development, and in this context affirming its support for the implementation of this
               reform programme under leadership and ownership of the Government of
               Afghanistan,
                     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, and noting



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           international and regional initiatives such as the two Afghan -led regional processes,
           namely the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process on Regional Security and Cooperation for
           a Secure and Stable Afghanistan and the Regional Economic Cooperation
           Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) process, as well as other initiatives such as
           the Trilateral Summit of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, the Trilateral Summit of
           Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey and the Trilateral Summit of Afghanistan,
           Pakistan and the UK, as well as those by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization
           (SCO), the Collective Security Organization (CSTO) and the South Asian
           Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC),
                 Commending the outcome of the Fifth Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process
           Ministerial Conference, convened in Islamabad in December 2015, where
           Afghanistan and its regional partners, while stating their belief that “a secure,
           peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan, with strong commi tment to human
           rights” is “vital to peace, stability and prosperity of the region as a whole”,
           recognized that “Afghanistan is one of the countries at the forefront of the war
           against terrorism, fighting regional and international terrorist groups and
           safeguarding the region against the spread of terrorism”, reaffirmed that it is their
           “collective responsibility to help and support Afghanistan in combating” the
           collective challenges it faces, and urged “the international community to stand by its
           commitments made during the London Conference of continued financial support to
           Afghanistan’s National Unity Government”, welcoming the confidence-building
           measures on Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Narcotics and Trade, Commerce and
           Investment Opportunity, and those on Education, Disaster Management and
           Regional Infrastructure, welcoming the Sixth Heart of Asia Ministerial Conference,
           to be held in New Delhi in 2016, and noting that the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process
           is intended to complement and cooperate with, and not substitute for, existing
           efforts of regional organizations, particularly where they relate to Afghanistan,
                Welcoming also the outcome of the high-level segment of the UNHCR
           Executive Committee on the Afghan refugee situation held in Geneva on 6 and
           7 October 2015, and the International Conference on the Solutions Strategy for
           Afghan Refugees to Support Voluntary Repatriation, Sustainable Reintegration and
           Assistance to Host Countries, held in Geneva on 2 and 3 May 2012, and looking
           forward to the further implementation of the joint communiqué of the Conference,
           aimed at increased sustainability of returns and continued su pport for host countries,
           through sustained support and directed efforts of the international community,
                 Stressing the important role that the United Nations will continue to play in
           promoting peace and stability in Afghanistan by coordinating amongst in ternational
           donors and supporting the Afghan Government’s efforts in the role it plays in
           leading and coordinating between the Government and the international community
           and by working closely with the Government of Afghanistan and the international
           community to advocate for allocation of critical international resources for
           Afghanistan, all of this consistent with the principle of Afghan leadership,
           ownership and sovereignty in governance and development and in line with the
           Kabul Process and the Self-Reliance through Mutual Accountability Framework
           (SMAF) and based on the Government of Afghanistan’s reform agenda, 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 affirmed at the Tokyo and London Conferences; and expressing its


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               appreciation and strong support for the ongoing efforts of the Secretar y-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,
                    Taking note of the March 2015 Portfolio Review presented by the UN Country
               Team to the Government of Afghanistan, which highlights the work of the United
               Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes in meeting the development objectives
               and expectations of the people of Afghanistan,
                    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 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 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), 1988 (2011), 2082 (2012), 2160
               (2014) and 2255 (2015), as well as other relevant resolutions of the Council,
                    Welcoming the direct talks held in 7 July 2015 in Muree, Pakistan, between the
               Government of Afghanistan and Taliban representatives, facilitated by Pakistan and
               observed by China and the United States of America,
                     Recalling the Government of Afghanistan’s commitments at the Kabul, Tokyo
               and London Conferences and in the agreement creating the National Unity
               Government to strengthen and improve Afghanistan’s electoral process, including
               long-term electoral reform, in order to ensure that future elections will be
               transparent, credible, inclusive and democratic, looking forward to preparations for
               the upcoming parliamentary elections, and emphasizing the need for continued
               support of UNAMA, at the request of the Afghan authorities in this regard,
                     Reaffirming that Afghanistan’s peaceful future lies in the building of a stable,
               secure, economically sustainable state, free of terrorism and n arcotics 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, welcoming the contribution of the
               International Contact Group to the United Nations efforts in coordinating and
               broadening international support for Afghanistan,
                     Underlining the importance of operationally capable, professional, inclusive
               and sustainable Afghan National Defence and Security Forces (ANDSF) for meeting
               Afghanistan’s security needs, with a view to lasting peace, security and stability
               both in Afghanistan and the region, stressing the long-term commitment of the
               international community to support, throughout the Tra nsformation Decade (2015-
               2024), the further development, including training, and professionalization of the
               ANDSF, and the recruitment and retention of women to the ANDSF, acknowledging
               the contribution of Afghanistan’s partners to peace and security in Af ghanistan,
               welcoming the agreement between NATO and Afghanistan which led to the
               establishment on 1 January 2015 of the non-combat Resolute Support Mission, for
               training, advising and assisting the ANDSF at the invitation of the Islamic Republic



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           of Afghanistan, noting the responsibility of the Government of Afghanistan to
           sustain a sufficient and capable ANDSF, noting also NATO and contributing
           partners’ contribution to the financial sustainment of the ANDSF and the long -term
           NATO-Afghanistan “Enhanced Enduring Partnership”, with a clear view to the
           gradual assumption of full financial responsibility by the Government of
           Afghanistan for its own security forces, recalling in this context resolution 2189
           (2014), and looking forward to the 2016 Warsaw NATO summit deliberations on
           Afghanistan,
                 Stressing 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 further increase its focus
           on joint programming at all levels, to avoid duplication, ensure value for money and
           reduce transaction costs, as well as to establish progress indicators and transition
           benchmarks with the view to moving from co-ownership to affirming the full
           ownership and management of programmes by the Government, in full consultation
           and cooperation with the Government of Afghanistan, to achieve further greater
           coherence, coordination, efficiency and full alignment with the Government of
           Afghanistan’s reform agenda,
                 Encouraging the international donor community to continue their civilian and
           development efforts from 2017 to 2020 to assist the Government and the people of
           Afghanistan in advance of the Ministerial Conference on Afghanistan to be held in
           Brussels in October 2016 and hosted by the European Union, and also encouraging
           the international community to continue their contributions consistent with the Self -
           Reliance through Mutual Accountability Framework (SMAF) in a coordinated
           manner with the Afghan authorities and UNAMA, with a view to strengthening
           Afghan leadership and ownership as reaffirmed in the Kabul Process and at the
           Tokyo Conference in July 2012 and the London Conference in December 2014,
                 Stressing the need to further improve the efficient and effective 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, welcoming the establishment of the
           United Nations Common Humanitarian Fund, and supporting the Afghan
           Government’s essential role in the coordination of 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 region based violent extremist activities by the Taliban, including the
           Haqqani Network, as well as 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 women, children,
           national security forces and international military and civilian personnel, including
           humanitarian and development workers, and expressing also its deep concern for the
           record number of civilian casualties, in particular women and children from



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               conflict-related violence in Afghanistan, as noted in the February 2016 UNAMA
               report on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict,
                    Recognizing the continuously alarming threats posed by the Taliban, including
               the Haqqani Network, as well as Al-Qaida, ISIL (Da’esh) affiliates 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 all the above -mentioned
               groups on the capacity of the Afghan Government to guarantee the rul e 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,
                    Expressing serious concern at the presence and potential growth of ISIL
               (Da’esh) affiliates in Afghanistan, and affirming its support to the efforts by the
               ANDSF to combat them as well as assistance by Afghanistan’s international
               partners in this regard,
                     Recalling its resolutions 1674 (2006), 1738 (2006) and 1894 (2009) on the
               protection of civilians in armed conflict, expressing its grave concern with the 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, condemning the suicide
               attacks, often in civilian-populated areas, and the targeted and deliberate killings, in
               particular of women and girls, including high-level women officials and those
               promoting women’s rights, as well as journalists, reaffirming that all parties to
               armed conflict must take all feasible steps to ensure the protection of affected
               civilians, especially women, children and displaced persons, including from sexual
               violence and all other forms of gender-based violence, and that perpetrators of such
               violence must be held accountable, calling for all parties to comply with their
               obligations under international law including international humanitarian law 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, of the situation of civilians
               and in particular civilian casualties, taking note of the efforts made by Afghan and
               international forces in minimizing civilian casualties, and noting the February 2016
               report by UNAMA on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, and the
               December 2015 UNAMA special report on Kunduz Province,
                     Expressing also concern with the serious threat that anti-personnel mines,
               explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices (IED) pose to the
               civilian population, and stressing the need to refrain from the use of any weapons
               and devices prohibited by international law,
                      Supporting the Afghan Government’s continued ban of ammonium nitrate
               fertilizer, urging prompt action to implement applicable regulations for the control
               of all explosive materials as well as raw materials and components, including
               detonators, that can be used to manufacture IEDs, thereby reducing the ability of
               Taliban, Al-Qaida and other violent and extremist groups to use them for that
               purpose, noting the need to enhance coordination and information-sharing, both
               between Member States and with the private sector, to prevent the flow of IED
               components to those groups, and calling upon the international community to
               support the Afghan Government’s efforts in this regard,




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                 Encouraging the international community and regional partners to further
           effectively support Afghan-led sustained efforts to address drug production and
           trafficking in a balanced and integrated approach, including through the JCMB’s
           working group on counter-narcotics as well as regional initiatives, and recognizing
           the threat posed by the production, trade and trafficking of illicit drugs 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,
                 Taking note of the recent decrease in production and cultivation of drugs
           suggested by the 2015 UNODC Afghanistan Opium Survey, reiterating the serious
           harm that opium cultivation, production and trafficking and consumption continue
           to cause to the stability, security, public health, social and economic development
           and governance of Afghanistan as well as to the region and internationally, and
           stressing the important role of the United Nations to continue to monitor the drug
           situation in Afghanistan,
                 Acknowledging that illicit proceeds of drug trafficking significantly contribute
           to the financial resources of the Taliban and its associates, and stressing the need for
           increased coordinated regional efforts to combat the drug problem,
                 Welcoming the ongoing work of the Paris Pact Initiative as one of the most
           important frameworks in the fight against opiates originating in Afghanistan, taking
           note of the Vienna Declaration, and emphasizing the aim of the Paris Pact to
           establish a broad international coalition to combat the traffic of illicit opiates, as
           part of a comprehensive approach to peace, stability, and development in
           Afghanistan, the region and beyond,
                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, 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 t he
           United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and
           Psychotropic Substances, 1988, and encouraging further international and regional
           cooperation with a view to prevent the diversion and trafficking of chemical
           precursors into Afghanistan,
                 Recalling its resolutions 1265 (1999), 1296 (2000), 1674 (2006), 1738 (2006),
           1894 (2009) and 2222 (2015) on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, its
           resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008) and 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010),
           2106 (2013), 2122 (2013) and 2242 (2015) on women and peace and security, its
           resolution 1612 (2005), 1882 (2009), 1998 (2011), 2068 (2012) and 2143 (2014) on
           children and armed conflict, and 2117 (2013) on small arms and light weapons, and
           taking note of the reports of the Secretary-General on the Protection of Civilians in
           Armed Conflict (S/2015/453), on Children and Armed Conflict (S/2015/409), and in
           particular the report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed Conflict in
           Afghanistan (S/2015/336) as well as the conclusions of the Security Council
           Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict,




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                    1.   Welcomes the report of the Secretary-General of 7 March 2016
               (S/2016/218);
                     2.   Expresses its appreciation for the United Nations long-term commitment,
               including throughout the Transformation Decade, 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, and stresses the need to ensure
               continued adequate resourcing for UNAMA to fulfil its mandate;
                    3.    Welcomes the work by the Tripartite Review Commission on the United
               Nations in Afghanistan, established in accordance with Security Council resolution
               2210 (2015) in order to examine the role, structure and activities of all United
               Nations entities in Afghanistan, in full consultation and engagement with the
               Government of Afghanistan and key stakeholders, including the donor community,
               and acknowledges the conclusions and recommendations contained in its final
               report;
                    4.    Decides to extend until 17 March 2017 the mandate of UNAMA, as
               defined in its resolutions 1662 (2006), 1746 (2007), 1806 (2008), 1868 (2009), 1917
               (2010), 1974 (2011), 2041 (2012), 2096 (2013), 2145 (2014) and 2210 (2015), and
               paragraphs 4, 5, 6 and 7 below;
                     5.   Recognizes that the renewed mandate of UNAMA is in support of
               Afghanistan’s full assumption of leadership and ownership in the security,
               governance and development areas, consistent with the Transformation Decade
               (2015-2024) and with the understandings reached between Afghanistan and the
               international community in the international conferences in Kabul (2010), London
               (2010 and 2014), Bonn (2011) and Tokyo (2012) and the Lisbon (2010), Chicago
               (2012) and Wales (2014) Summits;
                    6.   Calls on the United Nations, with the support of the international
               community, to support the Government of Afghanistan’s reform agenda outlined in
               the document entitled “Realising Self-Reliance: Commitments to Reforms and
               Renewed Partnerships” regarding 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 international Conferences, as well as on
               continuing implementation of the National Drug Control Strat egy fully consistent
               with the principle of Afghan leadership, ownership and sovereignty reaffirmed in
               Kabul, Tokyo and London Conferences;
                     7.     Decides further that UNAMA and the Special Representative of the
               Secretary-General, within their mandate and in a manner consistent with Afghan
               sovereignty, leadership and ownership, will continue to lead and coordinate the
               international civilian efforts, in full cooperation with the Government of
               Afghanistan and in accordance with the London, Kabul and Tokyo Confer ences
               Communiqués and the Bonn Conference Conclusions, 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 Government’s reform agenda,
               mobilization of resources, coordination of international donors and organizations as
               facilitator and co-convener of development policy fora, including in developing and


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           monitoring frameworks of mutual accountability, promoting coherent information
           sharing and analysis, design and delivery of development assistance in a manner
           consistent with Afghan sovereignty, leadership and ownership, 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,
           coordinate also in a manner consistent with the Afghan leadership, ownership and
           sovereignty, international partners for follow-up, in particular through information
           sharing, prioritize efforts to increase the proportion of development aid delivered
           through the Afghan Government, in line with the commitments made at the Kabul
           and Tokyo Conferences, and support efforts to increase the mutual accountability
           and transparency, and the effectiveness of aid use in line with the commitments
           made at the Kabul and Tokyo Conferences, including cost-effectiveness in this
           regard;
                 (b) support, at the request of the Afghan authorities, the organization of
           future Afghan elections, including the upcoming parliamentary elections, as well as
           to strengthen, in support of the Government of Afghanistan’s effo rts, including
           electoral reform efforts, the sustainability, integrity and inclusiveness of the
           electoral process, as agreed at the London, Kabul, Bonn and Tokyo Conferences and
           the Chicago Summit; and provide capacity-building and technical assistance to the
           Afghan institutions involved in this process in close consultation and coordination
           with the government of Afghanistan;
                 (c) provide outreach as well as good offices to support, if requested by and
           in close consultation with the government of Afghanistan, the Afghan-led and
           Afghan-owned peace process, including through support to the High Peace Council
           and its activities and proposing and supporting confidence -building measures also in
           close consultation with the government of Afghanistan within the fr amework 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), 1989 (2011) and 2082 (2012), 2083 (2012) and 2255
           (2015) as well as other relevant resolutions of the Council;
                 (d) 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;
                 (e) continue, with the support of the Office of the United Nations High
           Commissioner for Human Rights, to cooperate with and strengthen the capacity of
           the Afghanistan 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,
           including the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against
           Women (CEDAW);
                 (f) closely coordinate and cooperate, where relevant, with the non -combat
           Resolute Support Mission agreed upon between NATO and Afghanistan, as well as
           with the NATO Senior Civilian Representative;



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                     8.    Calls on UNAMA and the Special Representative to further increase
               efforts to achieve greater coherence, coordination and efficiency among relevant
               United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes in Afghanistan based on a
               “One-UN” approach in close cooperation with the Government of Afghanistan with
               a view to maximizing their collective effectiveness in full alignment with the
               Government of Afghanistan’s reform agenda, and continue to lead, in a manner fully
               consistent with the Afghan leadership, ownership and sovereignty, international
               civilian efforts aimed at reinforcing the role of Afghan institutions to perform their
               responsibilities, with an increased focus on capacity building in key areas identified
               by the Afghan Government, with a view, in all UN programmes and activities, to
               move towards a national implementation model with a clear action -oriented strategy
               for mutually agreed condition-based transition to Afghan leadership and ownership
               including making greater use of country systems, in the following priority areas:
                     (a) support 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, in line with the Government’s policies;
                    (b) support the efforts of the Afghan Government in fulfilling its
               commitments as stated at the London, Kabul, Bonn and Tokyo 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 and the Self-Reliance through Mutual Accountability
               Framework (SMAF), with a view to helping bring the benefits of peace and the
               delivery of services in a timely and sustainable manner;
                    (c) coordinate and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance,
               including in support of the Afghan Government and in accordance with
               humanitarian principles, with a view to reinforcing the Government’s capacity,
               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, with a particular focus on
               development solutions in areas of high returns;
                     9.   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;
                    10. 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;
                     11. Stresses the critical importance of a continued and broad subnational
               presence of UNAMA and other United Nations Agencies, Funds and Programmes in
               the provinces, in close consultation and coordination with and in support of the
               Afghan 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;



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                12. 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, particularly encourages careful coordination with the Afghan
           National Defence and Security Forces;
                 13. 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, a nd
           welcomes, in this regard, the commitment of the Government of Afghanistan at the
           Kabul Conference, reaffirmed at the Bonn and Tokyo Conferences, 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, Bonn, and
           Tokyo Conferences, reaffirms UNAMA’s important 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 and inclusiveness of the
           electoral process, including measures to enable the full and safe participation of
           women, welcomes the participation of women in the electoral process as candidates,
           registered voters and campaigners, and further calls upon members of the
           international community to provide assistance as appropriate;
                 14. Welcomes the continuing efforts of the Afghan Government to advance
           the peace process, including by the High Peace Council and the implementation of
           the Afghanistan Peace and Reintegration Programme, to promote an inclusive,
           Afghan-led and Afghan-owned dialogue on reconciliation and political participation
           as laid forth in the 20 July 2010 Kabul Conference Communiqué on dialogue for all
           those who as part of an outcome of such a process 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 resolutions 1267
           (1999), 1988 (2011), 2082 (2012), 2160 (2014) and 2255 (2015), as well as other
           relevant resolutions of the Council;
                15. Welcomes the recent appointment of chairman and senior members of the
           High Peace Council, and expresses support to its efforts to promote peace and
           reconciliation in the country;
                 16. Welcomes also in this regard the establishment in January 2016 of the
           Quadrilateral Coordination Group of Afghanistan, China, Pakistan and the United
           States of America on the Afghan Peace and Reconciliation process, aimed at
           facilitating an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process with
           a view to achieving lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region,
           welcomes the finalization of the roadmap stipulating the status and steps in the
           process and the beginning of the implementation review of this roadmap, takes note
           of the work of the Group towards the holding of early direct peace talks between the
           Afghan Government and authorized representatives of the Taliban groups, calls
           upon the member countries of the Group to continue in their efforts, welcoming also



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               the important role of the International Contact Group as well as regional support,
               and also calls upon all those other actors in a position to do so to cooperate in
               creating an environment conducive to commencement of such a process, which will
               lead towards a political settlement resulting in the cessation of violence and durable
               peace in Afghanistan and further prosperity and stability to the region;
                     17. Stresses the role of UNAMA in supporting, if requested by and in close
               consultation with the Government of Afghanistan, an inclusive Afghan -led and
               Afghan-owned peace process, while continuing to assess, including in collaboration
               with the AIHRC, the impact of the aforementioned peace process on human rights
               and gender, including on the promotion and protection of human rights and on the
               participation of women, and encourages the international community to assist the
               efforts of the Government of Afghanistan in this regard, politically and financially;
                     18. Welcomes also the measures taken by the Government of Afghanistan,
               including the publication, in June 2015, of the National Action Plan for the
               implementation of the Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), 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, 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 as affirmed by the Bonn and
               Tokyo Conferences;
                     19. Notes the ongoing work of the Committee established pursuant to
               Security Council resolution 1988 (2011), its role in supporting the peace and
               reconciliation process, welcomes the continuation of the cooperation of the Afghan
               Government, the High Peace Council and UNAMA with the Committee including
               its Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, including through
               submitting travel ban exemption requests in support of the peace and reconciliation
               process to the Committee, 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
               2255 (2015), 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 originating in and transiting
               through Afghanistan, the trafficking of precursors into Afghanistan, the illegal
               exploitation of natural resources in Afghanistan, kidnap for ransom, extortion and
               other criminal activities, and notes with concern the increasing cooperation of the
               Taliban with other organizations involved in criminal activities;
                     20. Reaffirms its support to the ongoing Afghan-led regional effort within the
               framework of the “Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process on Regional Security and
               Cooperation for a Secure and Stable Afghanistan”, looks forward to the next
               Ministerial Conference to be held in New Delhi (India) in 2016, calls on
               Afghanistan and its regional partners to keep up the momentum and continue their
               efforts to enhance regional dialogue and confidence through the Heart of Asia -
               Istanbul Process, and notes that the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process is intended to




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           complement and cooperate with, and not substitute for, existing efforts of regional
           organizations, particularly where they relate to Afghanistan;
                21. Welcomes ongoing efforts by the Government of Afghanistan, its
           neighbouring and regional partners and international organizations, including the
           Organization 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 Trilateral, Shanghai Cooperation
           Organization (SCO), Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), South Asian
           Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and Regional Economic
           Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) Summits;
                 22. Calls for strengthening the process of regional cooperation, including
           measures to facilitate regional trade and transit, including through regional
           development initiatives such as the “Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century
           Maritime Silk Road” initiative, and regional and bilate ral 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 integ rated border
           management, with a view to strengthening Afghanistan’s role in regional economic
           cooperation, promoting sustainable economic growth and the creation of jobs in
           Afghanistan;
                23. 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;
                 24. Reaffirms the central role played by the JCMB, in a manner consistent
           with Afghan leadership, ownership and sovereignty, in coordinating, facilitating and
           monitoring the implementation of the Government of Afghanistan’s reform agenda,
           and calls upon all relevant actors to enhance their cooperation with the JCMB in
           this regard, with a view to further improve its efficiency;
                 25. Calls on international donors and organizations and the Afghan
           Government to adhere to their commitments made at the Kabul and Tokyo
           Conferences and previous international conferences, and reaffirmed in the 2014
           London Conference, and reiterates the critical importance of enhancing the
           predictability and effectiveness of aid by increasing on -budget assistance to Afghan
           government in tandem with the improvements to Afghan budget and expenditure
           systems and improving aid coordination and effectiveness, through ensuring
           transparency, combating corruption, and enhancing the capacity of the Government
           of Afghanistan to coordinate aid;
                 26. Reiterates its support for the Government of Afghanistan, and in
           particular to the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces, in their task of
           securing their country and in their fight against terrorism and violent extremism,
           and calls upon the Afghan Government, with the assistance of the international
           community, to continue to address the threat to the security and stability of
           Afghanistan posed by the Taliban, including the Haqqani Network, as well as
           Al-Qaida and other violent and extremist groups, illegal armed groups, criminals



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               and those involved in the production, trafficking or trade of illicit drugs, and
               encourages the Government of Afghanistan to continue its efforts to prevent violent
               extremism with the support of the international community;
                    27. Welcomes the increasing cooperation between Afghanistan and relevant
               regional and neighbouring partners and organizations against the Taliban, including
               the Haqqani Network, as well as Al-Qaida and other violent extremist and criminal
               groups and illegal armed groups;
                     28. Reiterates the importance of increasing, in a comprehensive framework,
               the functionality, professionalism and accountability of the Afghan security sector
               through appropriate vetting procedures, training including on women’s and
               children’s rights and on gender issues in support of the implementation of resolution
               1325 and Afghanistan’s 1325 National Action Plan, mentoring, equipping and
               empowerment efforts, for both women and men, in order to accelerate progress
               towards the goal of self-sufficient, ethnically balanced and women-inclusive Afghan
               security forces providing security and ensuring the rule of law throughout the
               country, stresses the importance of the long-term commitment by the international
               community to ensure a capable, professional and sustainable Afghan National
               Security Force and notes in this context the establishment of the non-combat, train,
               advise and assist Resolute Support Mission, based on the bilateral agreements
               between NATO and Afghanistan and at the invitation of Afghanistan;
                    29. Welcomes in this context the continued progress in the development of
               the Afghan National Army and its improved ability to plan and und ertake
               operations, and encourages sustained training efforts and assistance, including
               through the contribution of trainers, resources and Advisory Teams through the
               NATO Resolute Support Mission, and advice in developing a sustainable defence
               planning process as well as assistance in defence reform initiatives;
                     30. 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 Resolute Support Mission, as agreed to and accepted by the
               Government of Afghanistan, the European Gendarmerie Force (EGF) contribution to
               this mission and the European Union’s through its police mission (EUPOL
               Afghanistan), as well as the German Police Project Team (GPPT) and the
               contribution of the Russian Federation to the international effort supporting
               capabilities of the Afghan National Police by the recent transfer of non -repayable
               weapons and ammunition, notes the importance of a sufficient and capable police
               force for Afghanistan’s long-term security, takes note of the commitment by the
               Ministry of Interior and the Afghan National Police to develop an effective strategy
               for coordinating increased recruitment, retention, training, and capacity
               development for women in the Afghan National Police, as well as furthering the
               implementation of their gender integration strategy, and welcomes UNAMA’s
               continued support for women police associations;
                     31. 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
               harmonized efforts for further progress, with support from the international
               community;


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                 32. 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 violent and extremist groups of civilians as
           human shields;
                 33. Strongly condemns the continued flow of weapons, including small arms
           and light weapons (SALW), military equipment and IED components to the Taliban,
           including the Haqqani network and other violent and extremist groups, expresses
           serious concern at the destabilizing impact of such weapons on the security and
           stability of Afghanistan, and emphasizing the need for enhancing control over the
           transfer of illicit SALW in this regard encourages Member States to share
           information, establish partnerships and develop national strategies and capabilities
           to counter IEDs;
                 34. Further condemns recent terrorist acts against diplomatic missions as
           well as all acts of violence against diplomatic and consular officials and other
           representatives of the international community in Afghanistan, which apart from
           endangering or taking innocent lives seriously impede the normal work of such
           officials and representatives;
                 35. Notes with concern the continued high incidence of attacks against
           humanitarian and development workers, including attacks on health -care workers
           and medical transports and facilities, condemns these attacks in the strongest terms
           emphasizing that the attacks impede efforts to aid the people of Afghanistan, and
           calls on all parties to ensure full, safe and unhindered access of all humanitarian
           actors, including United Nations staff and associated personnel, to comply fully
           with applicable international humanitarian law, and to respect the United Nations
           guiding principles of emergency humanitarian assistance;
                36. Recalls the obligations of all States and parties to an armed conflict, in
           accordance with international humanitarian law, to respect and protect humanitarian
           personnel, including medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively
           engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, and hospitals
           and other medical facilities, which must not be attacked, and to ensure that the
           wounded and sick receive, to the fullest extent practicable, and with the least
           possible delay, the medical care and attention required and stresses that those
           responsible for such violations and abuses shall be held accountable;
                 37. Welcomes the achievements to date in the implementation of the Mine
           Action Programme of Afghanistan, encourages the Government of Afghanistan,
           with the support of the United Nations and all the relevant actors, to continue its
           efforts towards the removal and destruction 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, expresses the need to provide
           assistance for the care, rehabilitation, and economic and social reintegration of
           victims, including persons with disabilities and calls on the Government of
           Afghanistan, with support of UNAMA, UNMAS and relevant actors, to strengthen
           mine risk education programmes in order to reduce the risks posed to civilians, in
           particular to children, by anti-personnel landmines, anti-tank mines, IEDs and
           explosive remnants of war;



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                      38. Expresses its strong concern about the recruitment and use of children by
               the Taliban, Al-Qaida and other violent and extremist groups in Afghanistan, in
               particular the use of children in suicide attacks, 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, including those involving killing and maiming of children, rape and
               other forms of sexual violence against children, abduction of children, denial of
               humanitarian access, and attacks against schools, education and health -care
               facilities, including the burning and forced closure of schools, and the intimidation,
               abduction and killing of education personnel, particularly those attacks targeting
               girls’ education by illegal armed groups, including the Taliban, and noting, in this
               context, the listing of the Taliban in the annex of the report of the Secretary-General
               on Children and Armed Conflict (S/2015/409), and calls for those responsible to be
               brought to justice;
                     39. In this context, stresses the importance of implementing Security Council
               resolution 1612 (2005) on children and armed conflict and subsequent resolutions,
               noting concern over increasing child casualties, continuing instances of recruitment
               and use of children and the need for protection of schools and hospitals, supports
               the decree by the Minister of the Interior reaffirming the Afghan Government’s
               commitment to preventing violations of the rights of the child dated 6 July 2011,
               welcomes the progress made on the implementation of the Action Plan and its annex
               on children associated with the ANDSF signed in January 2011, and the Road Map
               to Compliance, in particular the establishment of the Afghan Inter -Ministerial
               Steering Committee on Children and Armed Conflict, the entry into force of the
               presidential decree criminalising child recruitment and use by the ANDSF, the
               establishment of child protection units within Afghan National Police recruitment
               centres and the endorsement of national age assessment guidelines to prevent
               underage recruitment, calls for further implementation of the above mentioned
               provisions, in close cooperation with UNAMA and other relevant United Nations
               agencies, and for those responsible for violations and abuses against children to be
               held accountable;
                    40. Requests UNAMA to continue to support efforts to strengthen the
               protection of children affected by armed conflict, including engagement with the
               Afghan Government to fully implement the Action Plan and Road Map, and actions
               to address other violations and abuses, including sexual violence against children,
               and requests the Secretary-General to continue to give priority to the child
               protection activities and capacity of UNAMA and continue to include in his future
               reports the matter of children and armed conflict in the country i n line with the
               relevant Security Council resolutions;
                     41. Remains concerned at the serious harm that opium cultivation,
               production and trafficking and consumption continue to cause to the stability,
               security, public health, social and economic development and governance of
               Afghanistan as well as to the region and internationally, takes note of the UNODC
               Afghanistan Opium Survey 2015 released in October 2015 and of the decrease in
               production and cultivation of drugs suggested in it, welcomes the launch in
               September 2015 of the National Drug Action Plan, calls on the Afghan Government,
               with the assistance of the international community, to accelerate its implementation
               as well as that of the National Drug Control Strategy, including through alternative
               livelihood programmes, and to mainstream counter-narcotics throughout national


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           programmes, encourages additional international support for the four priorities
           identified in that Strategy, and 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;
                 42. Acknowledges that illicit proceeds of the drug trafficking significantly
           contributes to the financial resources of the Taliban and its associates, and calls for
           a review, in close consultation with the Government of Afghanistan, of the United
           Nations role in supporting the Government of Afghanistan to combat illicit
           economy, including counter-narcotics, and encouraging international cooperation in
           this regard including to further address regional linkages and concerns;
                 43. Welcomes the continued efforts of the United Nations Office on Drugs
           and Crime in empowering the Afghan Ministry of Counter Narcotics -led
           implementation of the Afghan National Drug Control Str ategy, including through
           the JCMB’s Counter Narcotics Monitoring Mechanism;
                 44. 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);
                 45. 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 convo ys, 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;
                 46. Reiterates the importance 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 and welcomes steps taken by the
           Government of Afghanistan in this regard such as ensuring the declaration of asse ts
           by the members of the Supreme Court, launching a systematic performance review
           and further increasing the number of female judges;
                 47. 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, calls for full respect for relevant international law
           including humanitarian law and human rights law, notes the recommendations
           contained in the report of the Assistance Mission dated 25 February 2015, welcomes
           the adoption of the National Action Plan to fully eliminate tortu re in Afghan
           detention facilities, and encourages the Government of Afghanistan to consider



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               measures that focus on the rehabilitation and reintegration for children formerly
               associated with armed forces and armed groups and to ensure they are treated in
               accordance with international juvenile justice standards, including as outlined in the
               Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant for Civil and
               Political Rights;
                     48. Notes with strong concern the effects of corruption on security, good
               governance, counter-narcotics efforts and economic development, welcomes the
               anti-corruption commitments made by the Government of Afghanistan at the Tokyo
               Conference in 2012 and reinforced in September 2015 in the Self -Reliance through
               Mutual Accountability Framework (SMAF), welcomes the efforts of the
               Government of Afghanistan in this regard, including the issuance of the presidential
               decree in July 2012, calls for continued action by the Government to fulfil those
               commitments in order to establish a more effective, accountable and transparent
               administration at the national, provincial and local levels of government and also
               welcomes continued international support for Afghanistan’s governance objectives;
                     49. Encourages all Afghan institutions, including the executive and
               legislative branches, to work in a spirit of cooperation, recognizes the Afghan
               Government’s continued efforts in pursuing 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
               recognizes the Government of Afghanistan efforts in this regard;
                     50. Calls for full respect for and protection 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 by terrorist as well as extremist and criminal
               groups, 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, stresses the importance of full cooperation
               with the AIHRC by all relevant actors and promoting 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, reiterates
               the important role of the AIHRC, and supports the efforts of the AIHRC to
               strengthen its institutional capacity and independence within the framework of the
               Afghan Constitution;
                     51. Recognizes that despite progress achieved on gender equality, enhanced
               efforts, including on measurable and action-oriented objectives, are necessary to
               secure the rights and full participation of women and girls and to ensure that all
               women and girls in Afghanistan are protected from violence and abuse, that
               perpetrators of such violence and abuse are held accountable, and that women and
               girls enjoy equal protection under the law and equal access to justice, welcomes the
               publication, in June 2015, of the National Action Plan for the implementation of the
               Security Council resolution 1325 (2000), emphasizes the importance of maintaining
               adequate legislative protections for women, and of ensuring that women fleeing



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           domestic violence are able to find safe and secure re fuge, strongly condemns
           discrimination and violence against women and girls, in particular violence aimed at
           preventing girls from attending schools, and stresses the importance of
           implementing Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820 (2008), 1888 (2 009),
           1889 (2009), 1960 (2010), 2106 (2013), 2122 (2013) and 2242 (2015) noting the
           mainstreaming commitments introduced therein, and welcomes in this regard the
           establishment in January 2016 of a new Trust Fund for Victims of Violence against
           Women by the Government of Afghanistan to support victims of violence against
           women;
                 52. Welcomes the Afghan Government’s commitment to strengthen the
           participation of women in the Afghan political life and in all Afghan governance
           institutions including elected and appointed bodies and the civil service and notes
           the progress in this regard, welcomes its continued efforts to protect and promote the
           full participation of women in the electoral processes and requests the Secretary-General to continue to include in his reports to the Security Council relevant
           information on the process of integration of women into the political, economic and
           social life of Afghanistan, notes the UNAMA report on the Implementation of the
           Law on Elimination of Violence against Women in Afghanistan, and calls on the
           Government of Afghanistan to urgently develop a strategy to fully implement it,
           including services to victims and access to justice, welcomes in this regard the
           launch in November 2014 by the Ministry of Public Health of the Gen der-based
           Violence Treatment Protocol for Healthcare Providers, recalls that the promotion
           and protection of women’s rights are an integral part of development, peace,
           reintegration and reconciliation and that women play a vital role in the peace
           process, welcomes the Afghan Government’s commitment to developing,
           implementing and monitoring the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and
           Security and identifying further opportunities to support participation of women in
           the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process, and welcomes the commitment of
           the Government of Afghanistan to develop a Women’s Economic Empowerment
           Action Plan;
                 53. Expresses its concern over the recent increase in the number of internally
           displaced persons in and refugees from Afghanistan, stresses that stability and
           development of Afghanistan require that its citizens can see a future for themselves
           within their country, welcomes the commitment of the Government of Afghanistan
           in making repatriation and reintegration of Afghan refugees amon g its highest
           national priorities including their voluntary, safe and dignified return and their
           sustainable reintegration in the national development planning and prioritization
           processes, encourages all efforts of the Government of Afghanistan towards the
           implementation of this commitment, and calls for continued and enhanced
           international assistance in this regard;
                 54. Strongly supports the Government of Afghanistan in its commitment to
           create the necessary conditions for the repatriation and sustaina ble reintegration of
           Afghan refugees in the country with emphasis on youth empowerment, education,
           livelihoods, social protection and infrastructure, and stresses in this regard the key
           importance of attaining peace and stability for solving the refugee cr isis as well as
           of advances in social and economic welfare leading to the improvement of the living
           conditions inside Afghanistan through the coordinated efforts of the Government of
           Afghanistan with the support of the international community;



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                     55. Notes the need to continue to strengthen, with the support of the
               international community, Afghanistan’s absorption capacity for the full
               rehabilitation and sustainable reintegration of Afghan returnees and internally
               displaced persons;
                     56. 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, including at the subnational level, and
               priorities as set out in this resolution;
                    57.   Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.




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