Statement by H.E. Ambassador YAMAZAKI Kazuyuki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the United Nations Security Council Briefing, Agenda item “the Situation in Afghanistan”

 

Thank you, Madam President.
 
I would like to thank Special Representative Otunbayeva and USG Fletcher for their updates. I also thank Ms. Roya Mahboob for her sharing her experience and views on the difficult conditions, as well as prospects for Afghans, especially women and girls. My appreciation also goes to Ambassador Montalvo Sosa of Ecuador.
 
This is the last mandated UNAMA meeting of the year. The Security Council adopted Resolution 2721 in late December last year to promote the implementation of the recommendations contained in the Independent Assessment report. Since then, two Special Envoys meetings were convened by the United Nations in Doha in order to discuss how the international community should address the many challenges faced by Afghanistan. The latter meeting was attended by Taliban officials and was recently followed up by a technical working group, both of which we believe were useful to build confidence among relevant parties.

However, I regret to say that this constructive atmosphere was undermined by new restrictions on women and girls. Three months have passed since the announcement of the so-called “morality law”, and it appears that this directive has actually been implemented and enforced on the ground, which makes people increasingly anxious and fearful. The recent SG report also mentioned that this law has impacted aid delivery by constraining the activities of Afghan women.
 
Furthermore, we are deeply concerned about the reported new edict banning women and girls from receiving education at medical institutions. If implemented, this directive would not only further restrict women’s and girls’ rights to education and access to healthcare, but would also have a negative impact on Afghanistan’s social and health system, as well as its development. We call on the Taliban not to put this directive in place.
 
As I stated in the previous meeting, these restrictions are not only about human rights. They undermine efforts to tackle the country’s wide-ranging challenges, including international engagement and the Taliban’s own initiatives.
 
That is why Japan will continue to strongly urge the Taliban to reverse all policies and practices that restrict the enjoyment by women and girls of their human rights and fundamental freedoms. I also would like to reiterate the need to ensure the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women and girls in Afghanistan as called for in Resolution 2681.
 
Madam President,
 
The international community should not cease its engagement and support for the people of Afghanistan. In addition to severe human rights restrictions, they are enduring a dire humanitarian situation, a fragile economy, widespread poverty, and the effects of climate change. All the while, another harsh winter approaches. On our part, Japan decided in October to provide more than 7 million US dollars in support through UN-HABITAT for approximately 160,000 vulnerable people in Kabul and Herat provinces.
 
As I have repeatedly mentioned in this Chamber, these problems cannot be solved by Afghanistan or its neighboring countries alone. The international community must remain involved for the sake of the Afghan people.
 
In this context, the United Nations’ Doha Format is the only platform we currently have to address the challenges of Afghanistan as the international community as a whole. Therefore, the UN, particulary UNAMA, continues to play an important role and we remain fully supportive.

Madam President,
 
Japan will soon leave the Security Council and end its role as the penholder, but we will remain actively involved next year and beyond, including by supporting the full implementation of Resolution 2721, in cooperation with relevant countries and UN organizations.
 
Listening to the voices of the Afghan people, we continue to strive for our common goal: an Afghanistan at peace with itself and its neigbours, fully reingrated into the international community and meeting its international obligations.
 
I thank you.