United Nations Security Council Resolution 1401
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1401, adopted unanimously on March 28, 2002, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Afghanistan
, including resolutions 1378
(2001), 1383
(2001) and 1386
(2001), the Council endorsed the establishment of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). It would replace the longstanding United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan
.
The Security Council recalled its support for the Bonn Agreement
and the right of the Afghan people to determine their own political future. It stressed the importance of combating the illegal drug trade
, arms trafficking and threat of land mine
s, and encouraged donor countries that pledged financial aid to fulfil their commitments.
The resolution endorsed the establishment of UNAMA for an initial period of 12 months with a mandate
and structure described in a report of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
. According to the report, UNAMA would focus on two main areas: political affairs and on relief, recovery and reconstruction with offices across the country. The Council reaffirmed the role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
Lakhdar Brahimi
in the conduct of United Nations activities in Afghanistan. Afghan parties were urged to ensure the security and freedom of movement
of UNAMA personnel.
The Council stressed the provision of recovery and reconstruction assistance could assist in the implementation of the Bonn Agreement. Furthermore, it stressed that humanitarian assistance
should be provided when needed and for Afghan authorities to maintain a secure environment and respect human rights
.
Finally, the International Security Assistance Force
was asked to work closely with the Secretary-General and his Special Representative, and the Secretary-General was required to report every four months on the implementation of the current resolution.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1401, adopted unanimously on March 28, 2002, after recalling all previous resolutions on the situation in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, including resolutions 1378
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1378
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1378, adopted unanimously on November 14, 2001, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Afghanistan, including resolutions 1267 , 1333 and 1363 , the Council affirmed that the United Nations would play an important role in the country and...
(2001), 1383
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1383
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1383, adopted unanimously on December 6, 2001, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Afghanistan, particularly Resolution 1378 , the Council endorsed the Bonn Agreement signed the previous day concerning the transition period in the...
(2001) and 1386
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1386
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1386, adopted unanimously on December 20, 2001, after reaffirming all resolutions on the situation in Afghanistan, particularly resolutions 1378 and 1383 , the Council authorised the establishment of the International Security Assistance Force to assist...
(2001), the Council endorsed the establishment of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). It would replace the longstanding United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan
United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan
The United Nations Special Mission to Afghanistan was established by United Nations Secretary-General following a request by the General Assembly in December 1993.Its offices were forced to close in May 2001....
.
The Security Council recalled its support for the Bonn Agreement
Bonn Agreement (Afghanistan)
Officially the Agreement on Provisional Arrangements in Afghanistan Pending the Re-Establishment of Permanent Government Institutions, the Bonn Agreement was the initial series of agreements intended to re-create the State of Afghanistan following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in response to the...
and the right of the Afghan people to determine their own political future. It stressed the importance of combating the illegal drug trade
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
, arms trafficking and threat of land mine
Land mine
A land mine is usually a weight-triggered explosive device which is intended to damage a target—either human or inanimate—by means of a blast and/or fragment impact....
s, and encouraged donor countries that pledged financial aid to fulfil their commitments.
The resolution endorsed the establishment of UNAMA for an initial period of 12 months with a mandate
Mandate (international law)
In international law, a mandate is a binding obligation issued from an inter-governmental organization like the United Nations to a country which is bound to follow the instructions of the organization....
and structure described in a report of the Secretary-General Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
. According to the report, UNAMA would focus on two main areas: political affairs and on relief, recovery and reconstruction with offices across the country. The Council reaffirmed the role of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General
Special Representative of the Secretary-General
A Special Representative of the Secretary-General is a highly respected expert who has been appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to represent her/him in meetings with heads of state on critical human rights issues...
Lakhdar Brahimi
Lakhdar Brahimi
Lakhdar Brahimi is a veteran United Nations envoy and advisor. He retired from his duties at the end of 2005. Brahimi is a member of the Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor, the first global initiative to focus specifically on the link between exclusion, poverty and law...
in the conduct of United Nations activities in Afghanistan. Afghan parties were urged to ensure the security and freedom of movement
Freedom of movement
Freedom of movement, mobility rights or the right to travel is a human right concept that the constitutions of numerous states respect...
of UNAMA personnel.
The Council stressed the provision of recovery and reconstruction assistance could assist in the implementation of the Bonn Agreement. Furthermore, it stressed that humanitarian assistance
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
should be provided when needed and for Afghan authorities to maintain a secure environment and respect human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
.
Finally, the International Security Assistance Force
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
was asked to work closely with the Secretary-General and his Special Representative, and the Secretary-General was required to report every four months on the implementation of the current resolution.
See also
- Civil war in AfghanistanCivil war in AfghanistanThe Afghan civil war began when the communist People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan took power in a military coup, known as the Saur Revolution, on 27 April 1978. Most of Afghanistan subsequently experienced uprisings against the unpopular Marxist-Leninist PDPA government. The Soviet Union...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1401 to 1500 (2002 – 2003)
- War in Afghanistan (2001–present)War in Afghanistan (2001–present)The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...