Afghans and UN share goal of peaceful, prosperous future, says top envoy

23 Feb 2016

Afghans and UN share goal of peaceful, prosperous future, says top envoy

KABUL - A peaceful, sovereign and increasingly prosperous future for Afghanistan is a goal shared by Afghans and the United Nations, said a senior UN official during a university event in Kabul today.

“We are here, committed to work in partnership with the Government and the people of Afghanistan,” said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN Secretary-General’s Deputy Special Representative for Afghanistan and acting of head of UNAMA.

The UN envoy made these comments to students and teachers at a meeting of the Model United Nations club at the American University of Afghanistan.

The university’s Model UN club, like other such clubs around the world, provides a forum for young people to learn about the international body and its work, and to increase support for the UN’s effort to make the world a better place.

Members of the 200-student-strong Kabul club, led by its president, Jawad Fidayee, gather each week to simulate diplomacy and conflict resolution, and to talk about peace efforts in Afghanistan.

Mr. Yamamoto spoke with those gathered today about the UN’s seven-decade partnership with the people of Afghanistan. That partnership, he said, has included humanitarian assistance and support for economic growth, among many other activities and priorities, including peace.

Peace, he said, is the “only viable option” for Afghanistan.  

“Because peace is so fundamental, it must be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned,” he stressed, reiterating the world body’s commitment to support the process and emphasizing that sustainable peace requires an inclusive process to build on the achievements of the past decade.

“It must involve all segments of society, including women, youth and other groups,” said Mr. Yamamoto.

The envoy went on to highlight UNAMA’s work to promote regional cooperation, calling it politically, economically and socially vital. And he pointed to UNAMA’s reports on human rights, and the mission’s advocacy with all parties to the conflict, to make protection of civilians a priority.

Following the discussion, the Model UN club's president, Mr. Fidayee, said today’s gathering was important for the students. “They learned a lot from this programme,” he said, noting that the Kabul club has plans to expand its Model UN programme to involve universities across Afghanistan.

UNAMA is mandated to support the Afghan Government and relevant international and local non-governmental organizations to assist in the full implementation of the fundamental freedoms and human rights provisions of the Afghan Constitution and international treaties to which Afghanistan is a State party, in particular those regarding the full enjoyment by women of their human rights.