Holly Cairns
Question:6. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he intends to press for the renewal of the mandate of the UN assistance mission in Afghanistan when it expires in March 2024. [43711/23]
View answerTuesday, 10 October 2023
Questions (6)
Written answers
Ireland has consistently supported the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). We were a member of the UN Security Council when UNAMA was established in 2002 and voted in favour of renewal of its mandate in 2021 and 2022, during our most recent tenure on the Council.
The EU has underlined its full support to UNAMA, including its comprehensive mandate with a strong human rights component, as set out in Security Council Resolution 2678 (2023). I will continue to support the work of UNAMA, led by Roza Otunbayeva, Special Representative of the Secretary General, in promoting an integrated approach to addressing Afghanistan’s challenges. In the first place, the role that UNAMA plays in the coordination of humanitarian aid is of critical importance. Its human rights monitoring role ensures that ongoing abuses are documented and brought to the attention of the international community.
I note in particular the latest reports of August 2023 and September 2023 which document human rights abuses against former government employees, as well as the shocking treatment of detainees in Afghanistan. UNAMA’s June 2023 update on the Human rights situation in Afghanistan laid bare the erosion of rights being faced by women and girls in Afghanistan including limitations on their freedom of movement, participation in employment and access to education.
The renewal of UNAMA's mandate, and the substance of that mandate, is a matter for members of the UN Security Council. However, it is critical that the broader international community continue to support its work. Most recently, Ireland supported the EU’s statement to the 54th Session of the Human Rights Council highlighting the importance of UNAMA in safeguarding human rights in Afghanistan. I will ensure that Ireland continues to work with EU and UN partners to advocate for renewal of UNAMA’s mandate and the continuation of its vital work on the ground.