I am writing to you regarding the International Security Assistance Force (peacekeeping force) in Afghanistan.
Security is absolutely essential to peace in Afghanistan so that the Afghan Interim Administration can fully function throughout the country, the rights of women can be restored, reconstruction can begin, and desperately-needed assistance can be delivered to women and children.
In order to maintain peace and security and to restore democracy and human rights in Afghanistan, I urge members of the Security Council to support the increase in the size of peacekeeping forces to at least 30,000, the deployment of peace troops throughout the country with a mandate to disarm warring factions, and the extension of term of the forces beyond six months. I also urge members of the Security Council to ensure that Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security is implemented in Afghanistan, in particular through the mainstreaming of a gender perspective and the provision of gender training for the peacekeeping force as well as the inclusion of women peacekeepers.
The future of women and indeed of a peaceful, democratic Afghanistan depends on an international commitment to a robust peacekeeping force. The deployment of additional international forces in Afghanistan must be made an urgent priority before the situation deteriorates further and the risk of relapse into civil war becomes a reality. We hope that members of the Security Council will heed this call.
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