UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)

In news-UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to expire in September this year.

About UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA)

- UNAMA is a political mission that was established in 2002 (with UNSC resolution 1401 )to help rebuild the country after the 2001 US-led invasion.
- Its Vision: A stable and prosperous Afghanistan that lives at peace with itself and its neighbours, where the Afghan peoples’ human rights are upheld and basic services are available to all.
- UNAMA’s mission is to support the people and institutions of Afghanistan in achieving peace and stability, in line with the rights and obligations enshrined in the Afghan constitution.

Mandate: Its original mandate was to support the implementation of the Bonn Agreement (December 2001).
Reviewed annually, this mandate has changed over time to reflect the needs of the country.
Unanimously adopting resolution 2543 (2020), the 15-member Council decided to extend the Mission’s mandate until 17 September 2021.
The United Nations has been involved in the region since 1946 when Afghanistan joined the United Nations as a member state of the Organization.

Its current mandate

UNAMA’s current mandate comprises the following priorities:

The provision of good offices.
Support for the organization of future elections.
Strengthening capacity in the protection and promotion of human rights including the protection of children affected by armed conflict and prevention of child recruitment.
Support for gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment.
The coordination and facilitation of humanitarian assistance.
Support for Afghanistan’s development and governance priorities, including the rule of law, transitional justice as an essential component of the ongoing peace process, budget execution and the fight against corruption throughout the country.

The Bonn Agreement

It was officially known as the Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-Establishment of Permanent Government Institutions.
The agreement was the initial series of agreements passed on December 5, 2001 and intended to re-create the State of Afghanistan following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
This agreement was provided to establish an Interim Authority until the Transitional Authority is established by the emergency Loya Jirga.
The agreement also provided the legal framework until the adoption of a new constitution.
It also called for the integration of all armed groups into the new Afghan Armed Forces under the authority of the Interim Authority.
The Agreement called for the UN to assist in the formation of a national army and for the UN Representative to lend his Good Offices to facilitate post agreement implementation.