The Commission on the Status of Women recommends the following resolution for adoption by the Economic and Social Council:

The Economic and Social Council,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,¹ the International Covenants on Human Rights,² the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,³ the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women,⁴ the Convention on the Rights of the Child, ⁵ the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,⁶ and other instruments of human rights and international humanitarian law,

Deeply concerned by the continuing and substantiated reports of violations of the human rights of women and girls, including all forms of discrimination against them, particularly in areas under control of the Taliban, resulting, inter alia, in restrictions upon movement, denial of equal access of women to health care, prohibition of most forms of female employment, restrictions upon education for women and girls, the closing of girls' schools, and severe limitations upon the enrolment of females in institutions of higher education and upon their access to humanitarian assistance,

Welcoming the ongoing work of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, in particular his special focus on violations of the human rights of women and girls, especially in territories under the control of the Taliban faction,

Welcoming the Secretary General's decision to send a gender mission to Afghanistan, hoping that it will serve as a model for future efforts to address the gender dimension of crisis/conflict situations, and encouraging him to continue to send such high-level missions, when appropriate,

Taking into account the report of the Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women on her visit to Afghanistan in November 1997,

Expressing appreciation for the support and solidarity of the international community with the women and girls of Afghanistan, supportive of the women of Afghanistan who protest violations of their human rights, and encouraging women and men worldwide to continue efforts to draw attention to their situation and to promote the immediate restoration of their ability to enjoy their human rights,

1. Condemns the continuing violations of the human rights of women and girls, including all forms of discrimination against them, in all areas of Afghanistan;

2. Calls on all parties within Afghanistan to recognize, protect, promote and act in accordance with all human rights and fundamental freedoms, regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion, in accordance with international human rights instruments, and to respect international humanitarian law;

3. Strongly urges all of the Afghan factions to end discriminatory policies and to recognize, protect and promote the equal rights and dignity of women and men, including their rights to full and equal participation in the life of the country, freedom of movement, access to education and health facilities, employment outside the home, personal security, and freedom from intimidation and harassment, with special respect to the implications of discriminatory policies for the distribution of aid;

4. Appeals to all States and to the international community to ensure that all humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan integrates gender concerns and actively attempts to promote the participation of both women and men and to promote peace and human rights;

5. Encourages the continuing efforts of the United Nations, international and non-governmental organizations and donors to ensure that all United Nations-assisted programmes in Afghanistan are formulated and coordinated in such a way as to promote and ensure the participation of women in those programmes, and that women benefit equally with men from such programmes;

6. Welcomes the establishment of the ad hoc Inter-Agency Task Force on Gender in Afghanistan under the leadership of the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, and encourages States to make particular efforts to promote the human rights of women in Afghanistan;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to ensure that reports of future gender missions are made available to the Commission on the Status of Women.

----- * In accordance with rule 69 of the rules of procedure of the functional commissions of the Economic and Social Council.

¹General Assembly resolution 217 A (III).

²General Assembly resolution 2200 A (XXI).

³General Assembly resolution 39/46.

⁴General Assembly resolution 34/180.

⁵General Assembly resolution 44/25.

⁶Report of the Fourth World Conference on Women, Beijing, 4-15 September 1995 (United Nations publication, Sales No. 96.IV.13), chap. I, resolution 1, annex II.