DOCSLIB.ORG

Security Council Distr.: General 29 March 2019

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Security Council Distr.: General 29 March 2019 United Nations S/2019/278 Security Council Distr.: General 29 March 2019 Original: English Letter dated 14 March 2019 from the Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council On 21 December 2018, Sweden and France partnered with Belgium, Côte d’Ivoire, Germany and Peru to host an Arria formula meeting on the protection of health care in armed conflict (see the concept note for the meeting, annex I). The purpose of the meeting was to take the important debate on the protection of health care in armed conflict – and the implementation of Security Council resolution 2286 (2016) – from policy to practice, to the country contexts where its implementation matters the most. Another objective was to identify key actions and support measures needed to strengthen the protection of medical care. Please find attached to the present letter – as a contribution to the further work in New York and beyond – a report that summarizes the discussions and main findings of the meeting (see annex II). I would be grateful if, in your capacity as President of the Security Council for the month of March 2019, you could have the present report and its annexes circulated as a document of the Security Council. (Signed) Olof Skoog On behalf of the six co-hosts Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative 19-05327 (E) 030419 *1905327* S/2019/278 Annex I to the letter dated 14 March 2019 from the Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council Concept note for the Arria formula meeting on “Protecting medical care in armed conflict – from policy to practice”, hosted by the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations, in partnership with the Permanent Missions of Belgium, Côte d’Ivoire, France, Germany and Peru on 21 December 2018 in New York Objective 1. Reiterate the need to protect medical care in armed conflict and implement Security Council resolution 2286 (2016). 2. Take discussion from policy to practice by looking at country-level challenges and implications with field-level practitioners. 3. Identify key actions and support measures needed to strengthen the protection of medical care in the field. Background International humanitarian law is clear – parties to conflict must search for, collect, evacuate and provide medical treatment to the wounded and sick, regardless of whether they are combatants or not, regardless of which side they belong to. This is the very foundation of contemporary international humanitarian law. Attacks against medical care in situations of armed conflict are prohibited. Medical personnel, transport and facilities exclusively assigned to medical duties must be respected and protected in all circumstances. Punishing a person for performing medical duties compatible with medical ethics or compelling a person engaged in medical activities to perform acts contrary to medical ethics is prohibited. Attacks directed against medical personnel and objects displaying the distinctive emblems of the Geneva Conventions in conformity with international law are war crimes. The landmark Security Council resolution 2286 (2016), adopted in May 2016, reiterates the legal framework that protects the wounded and sick and those endeavouring to assist them in situations of armed conflict. Resolution 2286 (2016) reaffirms applicable law by clearly stating that States have an obligation to ensure the protection of all the wounded and sick, medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transport and equipment, as well as hospitals and other medical facilities, in situations of armed conflict. The Council has confirmed these obligations in a number of resolutions. Only in 2018 the Council has condemned attacks on health care and called for respect for obligations under international law, inter alia, in resolutions 2401 (2018) on Syria, 2405 (2018) on Afghanistan, 2406 (2018) on South Sudan, 2409 (2018) on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as in thematic resolutions 2417 (2018) on conflict and hunger, 2427 (2018) on children and armed conflict and 2439 (2018) on Ebola. However, there is a steady and often daily flow of horrendous reports from conflict situations around the world of attacks against medical facilities, transport and personnel: and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Access to medical care is often impeded by parties to conflict in more insidious, less visible ways: doctors and nurses are threatened or attacked for performing their duties; medical equipment is looted; and ambulances are prevented from reaching those in need. 2/6 19-05327 S/2019/278 The World Health Organization has reported 583 attacks on health care to date in 2018, resulting in 132 deaths and 742 injuries, each of them equally unacceptable. In recent years, the United Nations and Member States have strengthened their response, notably following the adoption in May 2016 of resolution 2286 (2016) and – later the same year – the presentation of a set of concrete recommendations by the Secretary-General to enhance the protection of medical care in armed conflict. Additional efforts have been made to maintain and reinforce multilateral momentum for the protection of medical care in armed conflict, including through the organization of successive high-level side events and seminars in New York and the signing of a political declaration on the protection of humanitarian and health workers on 31 October 2017. Progress has been made in a number of areas, including monitoring within the United Nations system; however, the situation as regards the protection – or lack thereof – of medical care in armed conflict remains unacceptable and the current trends worrisome. Most importantly, there is still often a clear gap between the principles and priorities set out in Security Council and General Assembly documents and the real-life behaviour of parties to armed conflict – a gap between norms and practice that unfortunately is not uncommon under the protection of civilians agenda. In view of this, the purpose of the Arria meeting – open to the whole United Nations membership, as well as stakeholders in civil society – will be to take the debate on the protection of health care in armed conflict and the implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution 2286 (2016) from policy to practice, to the field level and to the country contexts where its implementation really matters the most. The meeting will focus on two country situations, Afghanistan and South Sudan, hear from practitioners dealing with health-care issues in those two countries and with the aim of identifying a set of key measures that could be taken by national Governments, international partners and/or the United Nations system to improve the situation and reverse current trends. Programme Introductory remarks Olof Skoog, Permanent Representative, Sweden Legal framework and the main challenges for protecting medical care in conflicts Alice Debarre, Policy Analyst, Humanitarian Affairs, International Peace Institute Experiences from medical practitioners in the field Farhad Javid, Country Director, Marie Stopes International, Afghanistan Dr. Evan Atar Adaha, Medical Director, Maban Hospital, South Sudan Statements by co-hosts, other Council Members and – time permitting – other participants Concluding remarks 19-05327 3/6 S/2019/278 Annex II to the letter dated 14 March 2019 from the Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council Summary report of the Arria formula meeting on “Protecting medical care in armed conflict – from policy to practice”, held in New York on 21 December 2018 On 21 December 2018, Sweden – in partnership with Belgium, Côte d’Ivoire, France, Germany and Peru – hosted an Arria formula meeting on the protection of health care in armed conflict. The purpose of the meeting was to take the important debate on the protection of health care in armed conflict – and the implementation of Security Council resolution 2286 (May 2016) – from policy to practice, to the field level and to the country contexts where its implementation matters the most, as well as to identify key actions and relevant support measures needed to strengthen the protection of medical care. The present report summarizes the discussions and main findings of the meeting. The meeting was opened by Olof Skoog, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations, who recalled that, despite some progress on the policy side (notably the adoption of Security Council resolution 2286 (2016) in May 2016), there was still a steady and almost daily flow of horrendous reports from conflict situations around the world of attacks against medical facilities, transports and personnel – “there is a wide and unacceptable gulf between what is said and what is done”. Following that introduction, Alice Debarre of the International Peace Institute then set out the legal framework for the subject matter and pointed to the robust and longstanding rules and principles of international humanitarian law in relation to medical care in armed conflict. Ms. Debarre underlined the importance of resolution 2286 (2016), which reaffirms international humanitarian law and calls for respect for and implementation of those rules. Ms. Debarre then pointed to three main challenges to its implementation: first, lack of accountability; second, inadequate or burdensome national legislation
Load more

Recommended publications
  • United Nations Security Council Open Arria Formula Meeting
    United Nations Security Council Open Arria Formula Meeting “Transnational Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking in the Caribbean Region as a Threat to International Stability” Friday 7 June 2019 (15:00 – 18:00) Trusteeship Council Chamber - UNHQ Hosted by the Permanent Missions of the Dominican Republic, the United Kingdom, France, the United States, Peru, Barbados and the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Opening remarks and moderation: - H.E. Miguel Vargas, Minister of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic. High-level panel discussion: - Mr. Jose Vila del Castillo, Representative, UNODC Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean; - Lt. Gen. Ruben Paulino Sem, Defense Minister of the Dominican Republic; - Ms. Tonya Ayow, Director of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS); - Ms. Kurba-Marie Questelles, Youth Activist (Trinidad and Tobago). Statements by the co-hosts: - H.E. Karen Pierce, DCMG, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations; - H.E. François Delattre, Permanent Representative of France to the United Nations; - H.E. Jonathan R. Cohen, a.i. Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations; - H.E. Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, Permanent Representative of Peru to the United Nations; - H.E. H. Elizabeth Thompson, Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations; - H.E. Mr. Karel J.G. van Oosterom, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations. 1 Members of the Security Council will be given the floor after the co-hosts. Other Member States and accredited civil society may also deliver brief remarks and make interventions from the floor during the interactive session.
    [Show full text]
  • Speakers' List for the High-Level Arria Formula Meeting: “75 Years From
    Speakers’ list for the high-level Arria Formula meeting: (as of midnight 7 May; subject to change) “75 Years from the End of the Second World War on European Soil - Lessons Learned for Preventing Future Atrocities, Responsibility of the Security Council” On 8 May 2020, starting at 10:00 AM (EDT, New York time) The debate will be chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, H.E. Mr. Urmas Reinsalu. GUEST SPEAKERS: H.E. Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the European Union (10 minutes) H.E. Ms. Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (10 minutes) Professor Timothy Snyder, Professor of History at Yale University (10 minutes) REPRESENTATIVES OF SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERS: (Estimated time at 10:40 AM (EDT, New York time)) 1. Germany, Foreign Minister 2. Viet Nam, Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister 3. France, Foreign Minister 4. Belgium, Foreign Minister 5. Dominican Republic, Foreign Minister 6. United Kingdom, Minister of State 7. United States of America, Deputy Secretary of State 8. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Permanent Representative 9. Russian Federation, Permanent Representative 10. South Africa, Permanent Representative 11. Indonesia, Permanent Representative 12. Niger, Permanent Representative 13. Tunisia, Permanent Representative 14. China, Permanent Representative 15. Estonia, Foreign Minister REPRESENTATIVES NOT MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL: (Estimated starting time at 11:20 AM (EDT, New York time)) 1. Georgia, Foreign Minister 2. Poland, Foreign Minister 3. Turkey, Foreign Minister 4. Ukraine, Foreign Minister 5. Finland, Foreign Minister 6. Latvia, Foreign Minister 7. Canada, Foreign Minister 8. Czech Republic, Foreign Minister 9.
    [Show full text]
  • Monthly Forecast
    May 2021 Monthly Forecast 1 Overview Overview 2 In Hindsight: Is There a Single Right Formula for In May, China will have the presidency of the Secu- Da’esh/ISIL (UNITAD) is also anticipated. the Arria Format? rity Council. The Council will continue to meet Other Middle East issues include meetings on: 4 Status Update since our virtually, although members may consider holding • Syria, the monthly briefings on political and April Forecast a small number of in-person meetings later in the humanitarian issues and the use of chemical 5 Peacekeeping month depending on COVID-19 conditions. weapons; China has chosen to initiate three signature • Lebanon, on the implementation of resolution 7 Yemen events in May. Early in the month, it will hold 1559 (2004), which called for the disarma- 8 Bosnia and a high-level briefing on Upholding“ multilateral- ment of all militias and the extension of gov- Herzegovina ism and the United Nations-centred internation- ernment control over all Lebanese territory; 9 Syria al system”. Wang Yi, China’s state councillor and • Yemen, the monthly meeting on recent 11 Libya minister for foreign affairs, is expected to chair developments; and 12 Upholding the meeting. Volkan Bozkir, the president of the • The Middle East (including the Palestinian Multilateralism and General Assembly, is expected to brief. Question), also the monthly meeting. the UN-Centred A high-level open debate on “Addressing the During the month, the Council is planning to International System root causes of conflict while promoting post- vote on a draft resolution to renew the South Sudan 13 Iraq pandemic recovery in Africa” is planned.
    [Show full text]
  • Arria-Formula Meetings
    Arria-Formula Meetings This table has been jointly compiled by Sam Daws and Loraine Sievers, as co-authors of The Procedure of the UN Security Council, and the staff of Security Council Report. The support extended by the Security Council Affairs Division in the compilation of the list is hereby recognised and greatly appreciated. ARRIA-FORMULA MEETINGS DATE SUBJECT/DOCUMENT IN WHICH INVITEE(S) ORGANISER(S) THE MEETING WAS MENTIONED March 1992 Bosnia and Herzegovina; S/1999/286; Fra Jozo Zovko (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Venezuela ST/PSCA/1/Add.12 18 December 1992 Persecution of Shiite ‘Marsh Arabs’ M.P. Emma Nicholson (UK) Venezuela, Hungary in Iraq 3 March 1993 Bosnia and Herzegovina Alija Izetbegović, President of Bosnia and Herzegovina 24 March 1993 Former Yugoslavia David Owen and Cyrus Vance, Co-Chairs of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia 15 April 1993 South Africa Richard Goldstone, Chair of the Commission of Inquiry regarding Venezuela the Prevention of Public Violence and Intimidation in South Africa 25 June 1993 Bosnia and Herzegovina Contact Group of the Organization of the Islamic Conference 12 August 1993 Bosnia and Herzegovina Organization of the Islamic Conference ministerial mission 6 September 1993 Bosnia and Herzegovina Alija Izetbegović, President of Bosnia and Herzegovina 28 September 1993 Croatia Permanent Representative of Croatia 2 March 1994 Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze, President of Georgia Czech Republic 18 March 1994 Croatia Franjo Tudjman, President of Croatia 11 April 1994 Bosnia and Herzegovina
    [Show full text]
  • Security Council Distr.: General 10 November 2020
    United Nations S/2020/1102 Security Council Distr.: General 10 November 2020 Original: English Letter dated 10 November 2020 from the Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council I have the honour to transmit herewith an assessment of the work of the Security Council for the month of May 2020 during the presidency of the Republic of Estonia (see annex). The assessment was prepared by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Estonia to the United Nations. While other members of the Council have been consulted, the assessment should not be considered as representing the views of the Council. I should be grateful if the present letter and its annex could be circulated as a document of the Security Council. (Signed) Sven Jürgenson Ambassador Permanent Representative 20-14951 (E) 231120 *2014951* S/2020/1102 Annex to the letter dated 10 November 2020 from the Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council Assessment of the Work of the Security Council during the presidency of the Republic of Estonia (May 2020) Introduction During the month of May 2020, the Security Council, being unable to gather physically due to restrictions caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, held 30 open and closed meetings by videoconference. In addition, two Arria formula meetings and one informal interactive dialogue were also held during this time. The Security Council adopted five resolutions and agreed upon three press statements
    [Show full text]
  • A Climate for Change in the UN Security Council? Member States’ Approaches to the Climate-Security Nexus
    RESEARCH REPORT #005 A Climate for Change in the UN Security Council? Member States’ Approaches to the Climate-Security Nexus JUDITH NORA HARDT / ALINA VIEHOFF | 07/2020 IFSH Research Report #005 Table of Contents Abstract 4 Funding 5 1. Introduction 6 2. Climate change and security at the United Nations Security Council 9 3. Mapping the climate-security nexus: Analytical background and approach 12 3.1. Security Studies: Security concepts, perceptions and analytical categories 12 3.2. Climate-security nexus: Evolution and approaches in research 14 3.3. Analytical approach 16 4. Climate-security nexus in UNSC member states: Case studies 18 4.1. Findings on the climate-security nexus in Belgium 19 4.2. Findings on the climate-security nexus in China 24 4.3. Findings on the climate-security nexus in the Dominican Republic 29 4.4. Findings on the climate-security nexus in Estonia 34 4.5. Findings on the climate-security nexus in France 38 4.6. Findings on the climate-security nexus in Germany 44 4.7. Findings on the climate-security nexus in Indonesia 50 4.8. Findings on the climate-security nexus in Niger 56 4.9. Findings on the climate-security nexus in Russia 62 4.10. Findings on the climate-security nexus in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 68 4.11. Findings on the climate-security nexus in South Africa 74 4.12. Findings on the climate-security nexus in Tunisia 79 4.13. Findings on the climate-security nexus in the United Kingdom 83 4.14. Findings on the climate-security nexus in the United States 90 4.15.
    [Show full text]
  • Security Council Distr.: General 14 September 2020
    United Nations S/2020/900 Security Council Distr.: General 14 September 2020 Original: English Letter dated 14 September 2020 from the Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council I have the honour to transmit herewith the Chair’s summary of the open Arria- formula meeting of the Security Council on the theme “Human rights in Belarus”, which was held on 4 September 2020 (see annex). I would be grateful if the present letter and its annex could be issued as a document of the Security Council. (Signed) Sven Jürgenson Ambassador, Permanent Representative 20-11863 (E) 180920 *2011863* S/2020/900 Annex to the letter dated 14 September 2020 from the Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations addressed to the President of the Security Council Chair’s summary of the open Arria-formula meeting of the Security Council on human rights in Belarus, held on 4 September 2020 Introduction On 4 September 2020, the Security Council members Estonia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America together with additional co-sponsors Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Ukraine hosted an informal online briefing of the Security Council on the situation in Belarus. The debate was chaired by Urmas Reinsalu, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia. The briefers were the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Anaïs Marin; the former presidential candidate of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya; the Vice-Chairman of the Viasna Human Rights Centre, Valiantsin Stefanovic; and a legal expert for the Belarusian Association of Journalists, Volha Siakhovich.
    [Show full text]
  • Lessonsforpeace. United Nations Security Council Estonian
    2 3 #LessonsForPeace United Nations Security Council Estonian Presidency Arria-Formula Meeting on 8 May 2020 75 Years Since the End of World War II on European Soil – Lessons Learned for Preventing Future Atrocities, Responsibility of the Security Council #LessonsForPeace United Nations Security Council Estonian Presidency Arria-Formula Meeting on 8 May 2020 75 Years Since the End of World War II on European Soil – Lessons Learned for Preventing Future Atrocities, Responsibility of the Security Council Collection of Statements Tallinn 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword by Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu ......................... 8 1. Josep Borrell Fontelles, European Union ............................ 13 2. Rosemary A. DiCarlo, United Nations .................................. 20 3. Timothy Snyder, Yale University ........................................... 25 4. Germany ......................................................................................... 30 5. Viet Nam ......................................................................................... 33 6. France ............................................................................................... 36 7. Belgium ............................................................................................ 39 8. Dominican Republic .................................................................... 42 9. United Kingdom ........................................................................... 45 10. United States of America ........................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Virtual Arria Meeting on “End Unilateral Coercive Measures Now”
    PALAIS DES NATIONS • 1211 GENEVA 10, SWITZERLAND www.ohchr.org • TEL: +41 22 917 9000 • FAX: +41 22 917 9008 • E-MAIL: [email protected] Mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights 25 November 2020 Virtual Arria meeting on “End Unilateral Coercive Measures Now” Statement of the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights Honorable Chair, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is an honor for me to speak at the Arria Formula Meeting and I would like to thank the sponsors of the event: China, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa and Niger. The UN Charter empowers the UN Security Council as the only organ able to take any enforcement measures in response to the use of force, the threat of force or an act of agression. It does not provide any possibility for imposing unilateral sanctions for these or other purposes. Unilateral sanctions are changing so much, that many existing forms were not envisaged even five years ago. Every day we discuss new types, means, methods and purposes of unilateral sanctions. We argue about extraterritoriality and over-compliance, identify direct or indirect targets, discuss the permitted level of human suffering caused by sanctions, and cannot find any consensus. Unfortunately, very little attention is paid to assessing the legality and humanitarian impact of measures taken. Excellencies, it has been generally recognized that the violations of fundamental human rights undermine stability within and between states, contribute to flows of migrants and may constitute a threat to international peace and security.
    [Show full text]
  • Remarks by Mrs Pramila Patten United Nations CEDAW Expert At
    Remarks by Mrs Pramila Patten United Nations CEDAW Expert at The Security Council Arria Formula Meeting on the “ Synergy between CEDAW and Security Council Resolutions on Women Peace and Security ” 5 December 2016, New York Excellencies, Fellow briefers, Ladies and Gentlemen Let me begin by thanking H.E. Mr. Elbio Rosselli, Permanent Representative of the Permanent Mission of Uruguay to the United Nations for convening this Security Council Arria formula meeting on the synergy between CEDAW and Security Council resolutions on WPS . I would also like to sincerely thank the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) and commend them for their active promotion of CEDAW and General Recommendation 30 on Women in Conflict Prevention, Conflict and Post-conflict Situations as a complementary monitoring, reporting and accountability instrument to UNSCR 1325 and other supporting resolutions on women and peace security. Sixteen years since the adoption of resolution 1325, there has been significant normative developments and global, regional and national commitments in support of the implementation of the different aspects of the women, peace and security agenda. Despite the existence of a strong normative framework, major challenges remain at the implementation level and in sustaining progress. The reality of conflict today is a catalogue of inhumanity and there are no signs of abating. Women and children continue to comprise the majority of casualties and to suffer the greatest harm. Harrowing reports continue to pour in about the extent and cruelty of acts of sexual violence committed against women and girls in diverse conflicts across regions, some of which have sent shock waves around the world.
    [Show full text]
  • United Nations Security Council Open Arria Formula Meeting “Impact Of
    United Nations Security Council Open Arria Formula meeting “Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on violations against children in situations of armed conflict” 7 May 2021 Mr. President At the very outset, I would like to thank the delegation of the Estonia and all the co-sponsors for organizing this meeting. I also thank the briefers for sharing their insights on this issue. Our reservations on the Arria format of meetings are well known and on record. Mr. President Mahatma Gandhi had said and I quote "If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children." Children constitute one third of the humanity, but they make all of its future. It is our common and primary responsibility to protect them as they remain most susceptible to suffering and vulnerable to volatilities. Over the last two decades the UN Security Council has actively engaged in this pursuit and significant progress has been achieved to protect children in armed conflict situations. However, grave violations against children persist and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the challenges that children in conflict situations are faced with. Mr. President The pandemic has exacerbated the complex challenges for protection of children in armed conflicts which calls for determined actions by the Member States. In this regard my delegation wishes to submit the following suggestions for Council’s consideration: First, protecting the rights of the child, as mandated under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, is the primary responsibility of every government.
    [Show full text]
  • Concept Note the United Nations Security Council Arria Formula Meeting on the Peace Process in Afghanistan
    Concept Note The United Nations Security Council Arria Formula Meeting on the Peace Process in Afghanistan The United Nations Security Council members Estonia, Germany, Indonesia, together with additional co-sponsors Afghanistan, Finland, Norway and Qatar will hold a high-level virtual Arria Formula meeting on the theme “What can the Security Council do to support the peace process in Afghanistan?” 20 November 2020 9.00 – 12.00 (EST) Venue : Videoconference (supported by Global Virtual Solutions) OBJECTIVES The meeting provides an opportunity to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, with a focus on the peace process. As the UN Security Council has a responsibility in the prevention of violent conflict and war, this meeting seeks to identify ways in which Security Council members and the international community can support the Afghanistan Peace Negotiations and ensure the maintenance of peace and stability for post-war Afghanistan. The meeting also highlights the importance of the upcoming 2020 Afghanistan Conference in Geneva on future civilian assistance to Afghanistan. BACKGROUND In February 2020, the United States signed the “Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan” with the Taliban, paving the way for intra-Afghan peace negotiations. The start of the Afghanistan Peace Negotiations on 12 September in Doha represents a significant step forward in the efforts to end decades of conflict. However, lasting peace in the country is far from guaranteed. The general conditions needed for a sustainable political settlement, permanent and comprehensive ceasefire and national reconciliation have yet to be met. The unacceptably high level of violence and civilian casualties remain outstanding issues. According to the Secretary General’s latest report, there were over 2000 armed clashes during a mere two-month period, which remains a staggering number.
    [Show full text]