United Nations Security Council Resolution 1536
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1536, adopted unanimously on March 26, 2004, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Afghanistan
, particularly Resolution 1471
(2003), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for an additional period of twelve months until March 26, 2005.
, territorial integrity
, independence and unity of Afghanistan and welcomed the constitution
adopted by the Loya Jirga
on January 4, 2004. It also endorsed the agreement of the "Kabul Declaration on Good Neighbourly Relations" and stressed the central role of the United Nations in assisting the Afghan people in rebuilding their country. The legitimacy of the Afghan Transitional Administration
and endorsement of a the Bonn Agreement
was reaffirmed, including a planned international conference pledging long-term commitment to Afghanistan.
Additionally, the preamble of the resolution stressed the importance of extending government authority throughout the country, as well as security sector reform and a comprehensive demobilisation
, disarmament
and rehabilitation (DDR) programme.
. The Afghan authorities were urged to put in place a representative electoral process, including that of women and refugee
s. In this regard, the acceleration of voter registration
was called for.
The resolution welcomed progress made since the establishment of a DDR programme in October 2003 and contribution of the International Observer Group. Meanwhile, efforts to combat the illegal drug trade
by the Afghan authorities was welcomed by the Council, while at the same time it was stressed that such efforts could not be separated from the creation of a strong economy
and secure environment through increased efforts of the international community
along the trafficking routes.
Welcoming the appointment of Jean Arnault
as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
for Afghanistan, the Council requested UNAMA, in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to assist the Afghan Human Rights Commission. The Afghan parties were further urged to ensure the freedom of movement
and safety of UNAMA personnel.
The Council praised progress made by the International Security Assistance Force
in expanding its presence beyond the capital Kabul
and in implementing its mandate contained in resolutions 1444
(2002) and 1510
(2003). Furthermore, the development of the Afghan National Army
and Afghan National Police
was welcomed by Council members. Finally, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
was directed to report regularly on the situation in Afghanistan and the future role of UNAMA.
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"....
1536, adopted unanimously on March 26, 2004, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in 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...
, particularly Resolution 1471
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1471
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1471, adopted unanimously on March 28, 2003, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Afghanistan, the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for an additional period of twelve months until March...
(2003), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) for an additional period of twelve months until March 26, 2005.
Observations
The Security Council reaffirmed its commitment to the sovereigntySovereignty
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent authority over a geographic area, such as a territory. It can be found in a power to rule and make law that rests on a political fact for which no purely legal explanation can be provided...
, territorial integrity
Territorial integrity
Territorial integrity is the principle under international law that nation-states should not attempt to promote secessionist movements or to promote border changes in other nation-states...
, independence and unity of Afghanistan and welcomed the constitution
Constitution of Afghanistan
The Constitution of Afghanistan is the supreme law of the state Afghanistan, which serves as the legal framework between the Afghan government and the Afghan citizens...
adopted by the Loya Jirga
Loya jirga
A loya jirga is a type of jirga regarded as "grand assembly," a phrase in the Pashto language meaning "grand council." A loya jirga is a mass meeting usually prepared for major events such as choosing a new king, adopting a constitution, or discussing important national political or emergency...
on January 4, 2004. It also endorsed the agreement of the "Kabul Declaration on Good Neighbourly Relations" and stressed the central role of the United Nations in assisting the Afghan people in rebuilding their country. The legitimacy of the Afghan Transitional Administration
Afghan Transitional Administration
The Afghan Transitional Administration was the name of a temporary administration of Afghanistan put in place by the 2002 Loya Jirga and followed the Afghan Interim Administration which was installed after the Bonn Conference.-Background:Following the US Invasion in Afghanistan, a UN sponsored...
and endorsement of a the Bonn Agreement
Bonn Agreement (Afghanistan)
Officially the Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-Establishment of Permanent Government Institutions, the Bonn Agreement was the initial series of agreements intended to re-create the State of Afghanistan following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in response to the...
was reaffirmed, including a planned international conference pledging long-term commitment to Afghanistan.
Additionally, the preamble of the resolution stressed the importance of extending government authority throughout the country, as well as security sector reform and a comprehensive demobilisation
Demobilization
Demobilization is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and military force will not be necessary...
, disarmament
Disarmament
Disarmament is the act of reducing, limiting, or abolishing weapons. Disarmament generally refers to a country's military or specific type of weaponry. Disarmament is often taken to mean total elimination of weapons of mass destruction, such as nuclear arms...
and rehabilitation (DDR) programme.
Acts
The Security Council stressed the need for the provision of adequate security and donor support for the holding of electionsElections in Afghanistan
This article gives information on elections in Afghanistan.Though Afghanistan has had democratic elections throughout the 20th century, the election institutions have varied as changes in regimes have disrupted political continuity...
. The Afghan authorities were urged to put in place a representative electoral process, including that of women 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. In this regard, the acceleration of voter registration
Voter registration
Voter registration is the requirement in some democracies for citizens and residents to check in with some central registry specifically for the purpose of being allowed to vote in elections. An effort to get people to register is known as a voter registration drive.-Centralized/compulsory vs...
was called for.
The resolution welcomed progress made since the establishment of a DDR programme in October 2003 and contribution of the International Observer Group. Meanwhile, efforts to combat the illegal drug trade
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
by the Afghan authorities was welcomed by the Council, while at the same time it was stressed that such efforts could not be separated from the creation of a strong economy
Economy of Afghanistan
The economy of Afghanistan has improved significantly since 2002 due to the infusion of multi-billion dollars in international assistance and investments, as well as remittances from Afghan expats. It is also due to dramatic improvements in agricultural production and the end of a four-year drought...
and secure environment through increased efforts of the international community
International community
The international community is a term used in international relations to refer to all peoples, cultures and governments of the world or to a group of them. The term is used to imply the existence of common duties and obligations between them...
along the trafficking routes.
Welcoming the appointment of Jean Arnault
Jean Arnault
Jean Arnault currently serves as United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Georgia and Head of the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia . He was appointed to the position by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in July 2006.He has gained much experience in working for...
as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
A Special Representative of the Secretary-General is a highly respected expert who has been appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to represent her/him in meetings with heads of state on critical human rights issues...
for Afghanistan, the Council requested UNAMA, in conjunction with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, to assist the Afghan Human Rights Commission. The Afghan parties were further urged to ensure the freedom of movement
Freedom of movement
Freedom of movement, mobility rights or the right to travel is a human right concept that the constitutions of numerous states respect...
and safety of UNAMA personnel.
The Council praised progress made by the International Security Assistance Force
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
in expanding its presence beyond the capital Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
and in implementing its mandate contained in resolutions 1444
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1444
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1444, adopted unanimously on November 27, 2002, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Afghanistan, particularly resolutions 1386 and 1413 and resolutions 1368 and 1373 on terrorism, the Council extended the authorisation of the...
(2002) and 1510
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1510
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1510, adopted unanimously on October 13, 2003, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Afghanistan, particularly resolutions 1386 , 1413 and 1444 , and resolutions 1368 and 1373 on terrorism, the Council extended the authorisation of the...
(2003). Furthermore, the development of the Afghan National Army
Afghan National Army
The Afghan National Army is a service branch of the military of Afghanistan, which is currently trained by the coalition forces to ultimately take the role in land-based military operations in Afghanistan. , the Afghan National Army is divided into seven regional Corps. The strength of the Afghan...
and Afghan National Police
Afghan National Police
The Afghan National Police - ANP - is the primary national police force in Afghanistan. It serves as a single law enforcement agency all across the country. The Afghan police force was first created with the establishment of the Afghan nation in the early 18th century...
was welcomed by Council members. Finally, 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 directed to report regularly on the situation in Afghanistan and the future role of UNAMA.
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...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1501 to 1600 (2003 – 2005)
- War in Afghanistan (2001–present)War in Afghanistan (2001–present)The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...