United Nations Security Council Resolution 1193
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1193, adopted unanimously on August 28, 1998, after recalling Resolution 1076
(1996) concerning Afghanistan
, the Council discussed the deteriorating political, military and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan during the ongoing civil war in the country.
In the preamble of the resolution, the Council expressed concern at the escalation of the Afghan conflict due to an offensive by the Taliban in the north of the country, causing a threat to international peace and security, destruction and the displacement of large numbers of people and refugee
s. It was also concerned at the increasingly ethnic and religious nature of the conflict, particularly against the Shiites. Despite calls from the United Nations to cease foreign interventions in Afghanistan, there was continued interference including the involvement of foreign military personnel in addition to arms
and ammunition
supplies to all parties in the country.
The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan also concerned the Security Council, which deplored measures by the Taliban which forced the evacuation of United Nations humanitarian personnel from the country. There was concern for Iran
ian Consulate-General who was kidnapped and the fate of several other Iranian nationals that were missing. It remained disturbed at the deteriorating security situation, the presence of terrorists
, drug trafficking, discrimination against girls and women and other violations of human rights
and international humanitarian law
in Afghanistan.
The Security Council reiterated that the conflict could only be settled through peaceful means, and demanded that all Afghan factions stop fighting and work together towards the aim of establishing a fully representative government that would protect the rights of Afghans. Attacks on United Nations personnel which resulted in casualties from the World Food Programme
and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
in Taliban territory and the kidnap of Iran's Consulate-General in Mazar-i-Sharif were both condemned. All groups had to ensure that humanitarian relief supplies
could be delivered and they were reminded of their obligations under the Geneva Conventions
.
The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was requested to continue investigations into alleged mass killings of prisoners of war
and civilians, ethnically-motivated forced displacement and other instances of persecution. He was also required to keep the Council informed on the situation in Afghanistan. Finally, the Afghan factions were urged to end the discrimination against girls and women, to respect human rights, to cease supporting terrorists and halt illegal drug activities.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1193, adopted unanimously on August 28, 1998, after recalling Resolution 1076
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1076
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1076, adopted unanimously on October 22, 1996, after considering the situation in Afghanistan, resolutions by the General Assembly and the Joint Declaration made on October 4, 1996 by the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan...
(1996) concerning Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, the Council discussed the deteriorating political, military and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan during the ongoing civil war in the country.
In the preamble of the resolution, the Council expressed concern at the escalation of the Afghan conflict due to an offensive by the Taliban in the north of the country, causing a threat to international peace and security, destruction and the displacement of large numbers of people and refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s. It was also concerned at the increasingly ethnic and religious nature of the conflict, particularly against the Shiites. Despite calls from the United Nations to cease foreign interventions in Afghanistan, there was continued interference including the involvement of foreign military personnel in addition to arms
Weapon
A weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
and ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
supplies to all parties in the country.
The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan also concerned the Security Council, which deplored measures by the Taliban which forced the evacuation of United Nations humanitarian personnel from the country. There was concern for Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian Consulate-General who was kidnapped and the fate of several other Iranian nationals that were missing. It remained disturbed at the deteriorating security situation, the presence of terrorists
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
, drug trafficking, discrimination against girls and women and other violations of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and international humanitarian law
International humanitarian law
International humanitarian law , often referred to as the laws of war, the laws and customs of war or the law of armed conflict, is the legal corpus that comprises "the Geneva Conventions and the Hague Conventions, as well as subsequent treaties, case law, and customary international law." It...
in Afghanistan.
The Security Council reiterated that the conflict could only be settled through peaceful means, and demanded that all Afghan factions stop fighting and work together towards the aim of establishing a fully representative government that would protect the rights of Afghans. Attacks on United Nations personnel which resulted in casualties from the World Food Programme
World Food Programme
The World Food Programme is the food aid branch of the United Nations, and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger worldwide. WFP provides food, on average, to 90 million people per year, 58 million of whom are children...
and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...
in Taliban territory and the kidnap of Iran's Consulate-General in Mazar-i-Sharif were both condemned. All groups had to ensure that humanitarian relief supplies
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
could be delivered and they were reminded of their obligations under the Geneva Conventions
Geneva Conventions
The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for the humanitarian treatment of the victims of war...
.
The Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
was requested to continue investigations into alleged mass killings of prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
and civilians, ethnically-motivated forced displacement and other instances of persecution. He was also required to keep the Council informed on the situation in Afghanistan. Finally, the Afghan factions were urged to end the discrimination against girls and women, to respect human rights, to cease supporting terrorists and halt illegal drug activities.
See also
- Civil war in AfghanistanCivil war in AfghanistanThe Afghan civil war began when the communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan took power in a military coup, known as the Saur Revolution, on 27 April 1978. Most of Afghanistan subsequently experienced uprisings against the unpopular Marxist-Leninist PDPA government. The Soviet Union...
- Civil war in Afghanistan (1992–1996)
- Civil war in Afghanistan (1996–2001)
- Human rights in AfghanistanHuman rights in AfghanistanThe situation of Human Rights in Afghanistan is a topic of some controversy and conflict. While the Taliban were well known for numerous human rights abuses, several human rights violations continue to take place in the post-Taliban government era....
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1101 to 1200 (1997 – 1998)
- United Nations Special Mission to AfghanistanUnited Nations Special Mission to AfghanistanThe United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan was established by United Nations Secretary-General following a request by the General Assembly in December 1993.Its offices were forced to close in May 2001....