Afghanistan is on the agenda of the Security Council with two key Council mandated international peacekeeping and political missions: the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) (managed by NATO) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) (managed by the UN Department of Political Affairs). The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) was established in March 2002 through the adoption of Security Council resolution 1401 (2002) and is charged with managing all humanitarian, relief, recovery and reconstruction activities, in coordination with the Government. Women, Peace and Security challenges include participation of women in public and political life and all Afghan peace processes, consultation with women in reconciliation efforts and justice and implementation of laws. There are multiple references to Women, Peace and Security in the mandate of UNAMA focusing on participation, protection of women’s rights and empowerment. Notably, the mandate resolution encourages increased involvement of civil society engagement in the peace process. However there are opportunities to strengthen implementation. In terms of Secretary-General Reports on UNAMA, there is information on Women, Peace and Security including references to engagement with civil society, sexual and gender-based violence, including response mechanisms; sex-disaggregated data on civilian casualties; systematic monitoring and reporting on gender commitments; political participation and representation; and judicial sector reform. Benchmark reporting includes information on the women’s committee of the High Peace Council and workshops held on women’s roles in peace and security; women’s political participation constitutional guarantees of gender equality; legal and policy measures to combat violence against women and girls; women’s participation in peace processes; as well as the implementation of 1325. Some improvement can be made to reporting, including references to the gendered dimension of humanitarian situations, including the displacement and the development of durable solutions; humanitarian assistance and delivery; as well as counter-narcotics efforts.
