UNITED NATIONS, July 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy said Friday that the international community must support Afghanistan in enhancing protection of women to ensure their full access to the decision-making in the political sphere and peace process.
"An important force for maintaining international peace and security, women are also a vulnerable group prone to be victimized in armed conflicts," Wu Haitao, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council meeting on the situation in Afghanistan, adding that "women are important builders, contributors and participants of the peace process."
The Chinese envoy said that the situation in Afghanistan is "at a critical juncture," adding that the preparation of the election, and the peace and reconciliation process is moving ahead side by side. "Its security situation is a source of concern and its humanitarian situation remains grim."
"The United Nations and international community must continue to support the Afghan political and reconciliation process, its preparation for the presidential election and its capacity building in fighting terrorism and maintaining stability.
"Alongside international community, China is ready to continue to contribute to security, stability, development and prosperity in Afghanistan," said the envoy.
The Security Council held the meeting following a recent trip to Afghanistan by a high-level UN delegation with a focus on women, peace and security. The delegation, which was in Afghanistan on July 20-21, was led by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed.
Afghan presidential elections are scheduled for September 28, and talks geared toward peace in Afghanistan continue.
The talks in early July included participants from the Afghan government, the Taliban and civil society representatives. As in the past, participants attended these intra-Afghan talks in their personal capacity. As the Taliban do not recognize the legitimacy of the Afghan government, they continue to refuse to talk to Afghan government officials in their official capacity. The outcome document of the intra-Afghan talks refers to assurances for women's rights within the framework of Islamic values.
