The United Nations Security Council today unanimously extended the mission of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan for another year and called for it to be strengthened in the face of increased violence and terrorism from the Taliban, Al-Qaida and drug smugglers.
ISAF, which now has 47,600 personnel on the ground, was established after United States-led forces ousted the Taliban regime in late 2001 to help the then-interim authorities maintain security across the impoverished nation.
In today's resolution the 15-member body recognized "the need to further strengthen ISAF to meet all its operational requirements, and in this regard calls upon Member States to contribute personnel, equipment and other resources."
It expressed serious concern with the high number of civilian casualties resulting from the fighting. While recognizing ISAF's efforts to minimize this risk, it called on the Force "to take additional robust efforts" by continuously reviewing tactics and procedures and conducting after-action reviews in cooperation with the Afghan Government.
The Council called on all Afghan parties and groups to engage in peaceful political dialogue and in socio-economic development and to avoid resorting to violence including through the use of illegal armed groups.
Stressing the importance of increasing the functionality, professionalism and accountability of the Afghan security sector, it urged ISAF and other partners to continue training Afghan national security forces towards the accelerated goal of setting up self-sufficient and ethnically balanced national forces to provide security and the rule of law.
The 12-month extension begins on 13 October.
(UN: September 22, 2008)
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Posts tonen met het label terrorism. Alle posts tonen
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dinsdag 23 september 2008
maandag 22 september 2008
Ban deplores ‘heinous’ terrorist attack in Pakistani capital
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has strongly condemned today's "heinous" terrorist attack on the Marriott Hotel in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, which has reportedly killed and injured a large number of people.
"He expresses his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of this appalling attack, as well as to the Government and people of Pakistan," Mr. Ban's spokesperson said in a statement.
Media reports say the bombing killed at least 40 people and wounded some 200.
"No cause can justify the indiscriminate targeting of civilians," today's statement added.
(Source: UN, Sep 20 2008)
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"He expresses his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of this appalling attack, as well as to the Government and people of Pakistan," Mr. Ban's spokesperson said in a statement.
Media reports say the bombing killed at least 40 people and wounded some 200.
"No cause can justify the indiscriminate targeting of civilians," today's statement added.
(Source: UN, Sep 20 2008)
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donderdag 11 september 2008
UN envoy: “Children becoming increasingly vulnerable in conflict situations”
The changing nature of warfare around the world has meant that more and more children are being used in conflict situations, a senior United Nations child advocate said Tuesday, urging that greater action be taken to protect the rights of young people.
"The main challenge we face for children and armed conflict lies in the changing nature of warfare where civilian life is far less protected," Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, told the Human Rights Council today in Geneva.
Ms. Coomaraswamy said this is true not only in places that she has recently visited, such as Iraq, Afghanistan and the occupied Palestinian territories, but in many others that are grappling with the scourge of terrorism.
"In the battle between terrorism and counter-terrorism, many insurgent groups are not only mobilizing children in their political and military activities but are using them as child suicide bombers," she said.
The Special Representative also drew attention to children who are held in military detention without adequate judicial process, and the fact that children are often the victims of aerial bombardments which result in collateral damage.
"This Council must make it clear that the rules of engagement as defined by international law must be implemented and civilians, especially children, must remain a protected category."
Another problem is that non-State actors are engaging in violations against children during armed conflict. "By tolerating their actions, including the recruitment and mobilization of children, a climate of impunity prevails and grave violations against children and the general population continue unabated, making life less secure for everyone," she stated.
It is important that the Council deal comprehensively with the issue of all non-State actors, including making them accountable for human rights violations, she added.
Ms. Coomaraswamy also noted that sexual violence continues to be prevalent, but added that it was not just limited to girls. She said that during her visit to Afghanistan, she was appalled by the scale of sexual violence committed against boys by war lords and commanders.
The vulnerability of boys is an often neglected aspect of war, she noted, adding that the report on Afghanistan that will be published next month might help redress this situation.
(Source: UN)
"The main challenge we face for children and armed conflict lies in the changing nature of warfare where civilian life is far less protected," Radhika Coomaraswamy, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, told the Human Rights Council today in Geneva.
Ms. Coomaraswamy said this is true not only in places that she has recently visited, such as Iraq, Afghanistan and the occupied Palestinian territories, but in many others that are grappling with the scourge of terrorism.
"In the battle between terrorism and counter-terrorism, many insurgent groups are not only mobilizing children in their political and military activities but are using them as child suicide bombers," she said.
The Special Representative also drew attention to children who are held in military detention without adequate judicial process, and the fact that children are often the victims of aerial bombardments which result in collateral damage.
"This Council must make it clear that the rules of engagement as defined by international law must be implemented and civilians, especially children, must remain a protected category."
Another problem is that non-State actors are engaging in violations against children during armed conflict. "By tolerating their actions, including the recruitment and mobilization of children, a climate of impunity prevails and grave violations against children and the general population continue unabated, making life less secure for everyone," she stated.
It is important that the Council deal comprehensively with the issue of all non-State actors, including making them accountable for human rights violations, she added.
Ms. Coomaraswamy also noted that sexual violence continues to be prevalent, but added that it was not just limited to girls. She said that during her visit to Afghanistan, she was appalled by the scale of sexual violence committed against boys by war lords and commanders.
The vulnerability of boys is an often neglected aspect of war, she noted, adding that the report on Afghanistan that will be published next month might help redress this situation.
(Source: UN)
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