UN Security Council Quarterly Debate on UNAMA - Remarks by Canada, June 19, 2019

Thank you Mister/Madam President,

I would first like to thank Special Representative Yamamoto for his informative briefing on the situation in Afghanistan. His analysis helps us all to better support Afghanistan through this critical period ahead of the presidential elections. Through him, let me also express our sincere thanks to the entire staff of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan for its ongoing commitment and work in the country. I would like to thank the other presenters for their insightful and thought-provoking briefings.

Today, I will speak about two important and long-standing issues for Canada: first, the upcoming Presidential election and second, women’s inclusion in the peace process.

First, with regard to the upcoming Presidential elections, holding transparent and fair elections in September is essential to consolidate the gains made. We welcome the Independent Electoral Commission’s decision to postpone the provincial council and Ghazni parliamentary elections in order to focus on the Presidential elections. Moreover, we are glad to see Afghan electoral authorities applying the lessons learned from the October 2018 Parliamentary elections, particularly with respect to the use of biometrics.

Canada supports the continuation of the constitutional government until elections are held, and we encourage all parties involved to show restraint ahead of the elections.

Mister / Madam President,

We are concerned by the increased number of attacks on Afghan schools as a result of them being used as polling centres. Education is not a privilege. It is a right. Schools should be places where all students, regardless of where they live, can learn and thrive in peace. To minimize the negative impact of the elections on education and children, we urge the Government of Afghanistan to seek alternative venues for polling stations where possible.

We underline the importance of providing security to voters as a pre-requisite to ensuring that women are able to safely and meaningfully participate.

Both the elections and peace process will be flawed if women are not effectively engaged at each step.

This brings me to my second point. The research is clear: when women are involved in peacebuilding, peace negotiations, and peace talks, outcomes are better and last longer. Nearly 30% of participants at last month’s Consultative Peace Loya Jirga were women, and although this is an important step, more work is needed to ensure that women’s voices are not just heard but listened to. An agreement that does not bring peace to all members of society is not peace, and men need to stand in solidarity with women to reach a settlement that benefits all Afghans.

Afghan women are not willing to sacrifice the hard-earned gains in their rights for a political settlement with the Taliban. To ensure that women’s rights, democracy and the constitution are not only preserved throughout the peace process, but also extended to women and girls living in Taliban-controlled areas, women must play a substantive role in all peace negotiations.

This is why Canada is working with partners to equip women’s organizations with the skills they need to negotiate effectively and advocate for their seat at the table.Through our support to the International Civil Action Network, Canada is providing grants to women’s organizations to build women’s capacity to be more involved in local and national peace processes, forming youth peace circles, and helping to reintegrate former fighters.

As we all know, the challenges faced by Afghan women are not limited to civic life. Rates of violence against women are amongst the highest in the world, and justice for victims remains utterly inadequate despite efforts by the government to curb this practice. Canada strongly discourages the use of mediation in cases of violence against women, and encourages the government to demonstrate greater due-diligence in ensuring gender equality before the law.

We continue to support Afghan-led efforts towards peace and democracy, and will continue to advocate for the inclusion of women and girls in both of these endeavors.

Thank you.