In her address to the Security Council, Dr. Samar recognized that the United Nations commitment to the peace process in Afghanistan had given the Afghan people the confidence to stand against the forces of oppression and evil. Great progress had been made in putting in place political processes and a government framework for reconstruction. She advocated that without the assistance of the international community and the immediate expansion of international peacekeeping forces, democracy, reconstruction and the restoration of women's rights and human rights would not be possible.

Security was a vital element for the future of women's rights in her country. Without more security, Dr. Samar stressed, the inclusion of women in the Loya Jirga would be undermined and the distribution of identification cards to enable their participation in future elections imperilled. Security could only be ensured through immediate and long-term funds to strengthen the Government. Assistance through international aid and other financial resources was imperative to demonstrate that peace created changes in the conditions of the Afghan people's lives. The task of restoring peace in Afghanistan should not be left half-finished, and the mistakes of the past not repeated. [Security Council press release]

Following the Security Council briefing, Dr. Samar participated in a special briefing hosted by Ms. Angela E.V. King, Special Adviser to the Secretary General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, and Ms. Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director, United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). The briefing entitled "Women and the Rebuilding of Afghanistan: Challenges and Opportunities" also featured Professor Mahbooba Hoquqmal, the Vice-Chair of the Special Independent Commission for the Convening of the Emergency Loya Jirga, and H.E. Mr. Ravan A.G. Farhâdi, Ambassador of the Permanent Mission of Afghanistan.

Dr. Samar elaborated on recent changes in the status of Afghan women and girls, including their access to education and employment. For the first time in Afghan history, a Ministry for Women's Affairs had been established with its principal goal being to lay the groundwork for sustainable work to promote women's rights. She explained that a minimum of 160 seats had been reserved for women in the upcoming Emergency Loya Jirga. She planned to work with the women delegates to the Loya Jirga so that women would be empowered to present concrete demands in a unified voice.

With regard to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, she noted that women should not be only beneficiaries of a welfare approach, but active participants at all levels of reconstruction. Other priorities for women included education of women, support for reproductive health needs, and foremost of all, security. Dr. Samar observed that not all girls who wanted to go to school were able to do so due to the lack of sufficient schools. She contended that further advocacy was necessary for parents to support girls' education.

Professor Hoquqmal, in her statement noted that with regard to the Loya Jirga, women from all ethnic groups and backgrounds would be brought together. The Ministry for Women's Affairs was assigned the responsibility of taking the lead in that area. She further noted that the future of Afghanistan would begin with the Loya Jirga, which would enable the creation of new opportunities for women and men, girls and boys.